Belden to Lake Oroville:

From the confluence of the East Branch North Fork Feather River and the North Fork proper, the North Fork runs through a rocky, spectacular canyon highlighting both natural and man-made marvels.

Three highway tunnels blasted through solid granite during the 1930s, hand built rock retaining walls, and five picturesque steel bridges all add to the beauty of this scenic byway. The Union Pacific Railroad leap-frogs with the highway on its one-percent grade from Oakland to Salt Lake City, while P.G. & E. power plants and dams check the once turbulent flow of the river. New regulations now require the power company to release water at intervals to maintain aquatic health and allow sports such as rafting and kayaking.