California State Route 284

California State Route 284 is an eight-mile State Highway located entirely in Plumas County. California State Route 284 begins at California State Route 70 in Chilcoot and terminates at Frenchman Reservoir. California State Route 284 is one of many pre-existing roads which were annexed into the State Highway System by way of 1970 Legislative Chapter 1473. Above as the blog cover photo is a southward view on California State Route 284 (taken by Josh Schmid) as it descends from Frenchman Reservoir on Frenchman Lake Road.

Part 1; the history of California State Route 284 and unconstructed California State Route 285

California State Route 284 (CA 284) was adopted as part of 1970 Legislative Chapter 1473. CA 284 was designated as a highway connecting from Route 70 in Chilhoot to Frenchman Reservoir. Legislative Chapter 1473 defined numerous State Highways during 1970, some of the others include CA 283, CA 281, CA 271, and CA 270.

Notably the Chapter 1473 State Highways appear to have been contingent that an existing roadway be built to State Highway Standards. To that end Frenchman Lake was completed as a California Department of Water Resources irrigation project by 1961 along Little Last Chance Creek. The existing Frenchman Lake Road appears to have been improved during the Frenchman Lake project and was adopted as the alignment of CA 284. Notably modern Frenchman Lake Road appears on the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Plumas County north of Chilhoot.

On the 1975 Caltrans State Highway Map the full 8-mile route of CA 284 appears as a fully functional State Highway.

Chapter 2; a virtual drive on California State Route 284

From CA 70 west in Chilhoot-Vinton traffic is advised that CA 284 can be found on Frenchman Lake Road.

Below is a northward series of photos by Josh Schmid of CA 284 as it climbs from Chilcoot to a terminus at Frenchman Reservoir. CA 284 northbound terminates at Post Mile PLU 8.302 at the south shore of Frenchman Lake.

Below of series of photos by Josh Schmid depicts southbound CA 284 descending from Frenchman Reservoir to CA 70 in Chilcoot.

Update history

- First published on May 24, 2020.

- First updated on September 12, 2022.

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