California State Route 147

Back in 2014 I drove a small portion of California State Route 147 along the eastern shore of Lake Almanor.

CA 147 is a 12 mile north/south State Highway which begins near Canyon Dam at CA 89 in Plumas County and ends at CA 36 in Westwood of Lassen County. CA 147 was originally adopted into the State Highway System in 1961 as Legislative Route Number 183.

CAhighways.org on LRN 183

LRN 183 was adopted onto pre-existing roadways which can be seen by comparing the 1961 State Highway Map to the 1962 Edition.

1961 State Highway Map

1962 State Highway Map

The roadways now comprising CA 147 are presently part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. The roadways comprising CA 147 are shown on California Division of Highways Maps of Plumas County and Lassen County as major County Highways.

1935 Plumas County Highway Map

1935 Lassen County Highway Map

During the 1964 State Highway Renumbering LRN 183 was reassigned CA 147. This change can be seen by comparing the 1963 State Highway Map to the 1964 Edition.

1963 State Highway Map

1964 State Highway Map

CA 147 since 1964 has essentially had no significant changes.

CAhighways.org on CA 147

CA 147 begins at Post Mile PLU 0.000 at CA 89 near Canyon Dam. Canyon Dam is an earthen design that was first completed by 1914. Upon the completion of Canyon Dam the waters of Lake Almanor began be filled by the impounded North Fork Feather River, Benner Creek, Hamilton Creek and Hamilton Branch. Canyon Dam is part of the Upper North Fork Feather River Project which was conceived by the Great Western Powerhouse Company in the early 1900s. Canyon Dam was expanded by 1927 before the entirety of the Great Western Powerhouse Company was acquired by Pacific Gas & Electricity by 1930. Canyon Dam was expanded to it's present 130 foot height by 1962 and the present Lake Almanor has a maximum capacity of approximately 1,308,000 acre feet of water. Much of Canyon Dam and it's spillway are within walking distance of the south terminus of CA 147.

At Post Mile PLU 4.585 CA 147 passes through the community of East Shore. At Post Mile PLU 7.369 CA 147 has a junction with Signed County Route A13 in Hamilton Branch. At approximately PLU 9.990 CA 147 enters Lassen County. At Post Mile LAS 1.15 CA 147 enters Westwood and meets Signed County Route A21 at 3rd Street. Westwood dates back to 1913 when it was founded as a company town for the Red River Lumber County. At approximately Post Mile LAS 1.786 CA 147 has a north terminus at CA 89.

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