Highway 174 offers scenic, historic alternative

Most people think of Highway 49 as the major link connecting Placer and Nevada Counties. But Highway 174 is another scenic way to get from here to there.Anchored in Colfax, Highway 174 sails due west, hitting the end of the line in Grass Valley. Along the way are a string of small communities, access to the Bear River and campgrounds edging Rollins Lake, fruit orchards, working ranches, unique eateries and historic sites.After sweeping around Colfax's vintage business district, Highway 174 reaches the Cape Horn overlook. Across the ravine, the knob of land bulges out of the canyon wall, high above the north fork of the American River. Tackling Cape Horn was a tremendous challenge to the builders of the Central Pacific Railroad, the western segment of the Transcontinental Railroad.Dedicated by the Colfax Area Historical Society, a marker on the side of the highway tells the tale of Chinese laborers being lowered down the precipice in wicker baskets to blast a rail bed around the rocky protrusion. Dangling more than 1,300 feet above the river, the workers completed this problematical portion of the railroad in May 1866.Across the ravine nearly 100 years later, another modern marvel came in the form of the Rollins Lake dam. Started in July of 1963 as part of Pacific Gas & Electric's Yuba-Bear River hydro-electric system, the concrete barrier pushed the natural boundary of Placer and Nevada counties into a V-shaped 3,300-acre reservoir. Now, it is a year-round recreation venue.Leaving Colfax behind, Highway 174 rounds the bend at Shady Glen before beginning its descent to cross the Bear River. The old Colfax-Grass Valley Road circles around to the right, with elderly cabins and modern homes sharing the narrow lane.It comes out just below the Rollins Lake Dam near the two Bear River bridges: The lower span was erected in 1924, displaying Roman-style architectural detail in its single arch rails. The higher one was constructed in 1986 to accommodate the larger cars, trucks and recreational vehicles populating the area. Once scheduled for demolition, the older bridge was saved by a local campaign to preserve it. Today, the site offers a lofty view of the river, a parking area and trails to the Bear's fishing and swimming holes.Highway 174 cuts up the hill to the small community of Chicago Park where the pavement covers portions of the Overland Emigrant Trail. Between 1840 and 1870, this historic path carried an estimated 350,000 people across the continental U.S. to claim free land in Oregon and California.Traveling across the land that would become Chicago Park, some pioneers chose to leave the wagon trains, dropping off to homestead land and to build farms in the area. By 1876, there was enough commerce between Placer and Nevada counties to establish the Nevada County Narrow Gauge railroad. It ran 26 miles between Colfax, Grass Valley and Nevada City.Reportedly transporting more gold than any other short line railroad in California, it operated its last revenue train in 1942, as motorized vehicles reduced the need for rail traffic. Its 195-foot steel trestle across the Bear River was removed in 1963 during the construction of the Rollins Lake dam. Today the Gold Country Stage bus shuttles people along Highway 174, following the same general course.Chicago Park and the neighboring villages of Orchard Springs and Peardale remained agricultural, with hundreds of their acres planted in pears, plums and apples. The roadside Happy Apple Kitchen in Chicago Park perpetuates its agrarian legacy, proffering freshly picked fruit as well as serving up treats in its cafe.Highway 174 swings and sways past clusters of hidden homes, corralled horses and curious llamas before reaching Cedar Ridge, another hamlet holding businesses, new housing tracts and aging orchards.The path to the Empire Mine State Park takes off from Highway 174, leading to the remains of a gold mine that was in operation from 1850 to the late 1950s. Now a living history center, it provides tours of the original owners' resort cottage, period demonstrations and mining exhibits.Highway 174 wends through city streets in Grass Valley before intersecting Highway 49, with a short cut veering off to touch the outskirts of Nevada City.From the days of the earliest settlers to modern times, Highway 174 stretches across a trail with tales to tell.