Cherokee Rd, Oroville, CA
- Tim Mayhew
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
Cherokee Road is not the obvious choice, but when you look at Oroville, CA on a map and spot a narrow, squiggly line snaking out from the edge of the city flowing northward, it’s impossible not to wonder: Where does that go?
Running north from Oroville, this road serves as a scenic bypass that trades the hurried valley floor for the rugged, volcanic plateau of the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve. To your west, the basalt cliffs of Table Mountain rise sharply—famous for their spectacular springtime wildflower displays and seasonal waterfalls that plunge off the flat-topped mesas. Phantom Falls drops 130 ft into a dramatic grotto and can only be seen during the rainy season (i.e. right now) in NorCal and then completely disappears during the rest of the year.
Cherokee Rd itself is a mix of sweeping curves and 'goaty' pavement that winds through oak woodlands and past massive basalt boulders—remnants of the Lovejoy Formation’s volcanic past.
Historically, this route was the lifeline for the town of Cherokee, once a booming hydraulic mining center. As you crest the higher elevations, you’re riding over ground that produced millions in gold and even California’s first diamonds. Interestingly, those diamonds weren't formed here; they were eroded from an unknown "primary" volcanic source higher in the mountains and washed down into ancient river channels along with gold and platinum. There's also a small covered bridge at Oregon Hill to check out.
The traffic is sparse if any, and the views toward Lake Oroville are world-class. It’s a short, punchy foothills ride that perfectly preps you for the deep canyons of the Feather River further north.
Once you reach the remnants of Cherokee, the ride continues: you can head east to join Highway 70 into the Feather River Canyon, or zigzag onto Pentz Road toward Paradise to continue your northbound trek along Skyway Rd on the ridge top all the way to Butte Meadows. Then the always awesome Highway 32 at Chico and Mount Lassen is just up the hill.
Combine Cherokee Rd with the Feather River Canyon-Highway 70 plus Highway 89 along Lake Almanor and you have an all-day mountain loop based out of Oroville.
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