03/27/2026
Did you know that shortly after establishing the city of Chico, John Bidwell worked to ensure its future by designating it as the western terminus of a trans-Sierra toll road? This bold move was a part of Bidwell's growing opposition to the Big Four, linking the Sacramento Valley to the booming Humboldt mining district of northern Nevada. Known as the Chico-Humboldt Wagon Road, by the end of 1864, packtrains and stagecoaches would be hauling passengers and cargo across the Sierra to Susanville, and the minefields of Nevada, Eastern Oregon, and Idaho.
Today, a portion of Highway 32 runs semi-parallel with the wagon road. Eager explorers, hikers, and (in some legal locations) OHV enthusiasts can still travel in the vicinity of much of the road from Chico to Butte Meadows, and on to the Chester area. Be sure to recreate responsibly and Leave No Trace.
