Chester: Museums, Waterfront and Collins Pine Trail

Chester: Waterfront Setting and Route Orientation

Chester sits on the shores of Lake Almanor and the Feather River. The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is also a specific reference point for getting there: its 29-mile Mineral–Chester section begins at Lassen Volcanic National Park and ends in Chester. The town’s waterfront setting and the route of this section of the byway are therefore two distinct points of reference. Road conditions can change; check them before you travel.

Museums and Local History

For cultural orientation, Chester has two museums and a public library. The Collins Pine Museum is located on the grounds of the Collins sawmill and opened to the public in May 2007. Its exhibits focus on logging, forestry and sustainability principles. Outdoor exhibits include trucks, equipment and a cross-section of a 400-year-old sugar pine tree.

The Chester Museum focuses on a different aspect of local history. It presents a photographic history of the original pioneer communities and settlers from before Lake Almanor in the Big Meadows area. Topics covered include Indigenous peoples, dairy and cattle farming, early logging, gold mining and early tourism. The museum shares with the library the original 1929 log cabin built for the Chester branch of the Plumas County Library. In terms of subject matter, the Collins Pine Museum explores forest use and sustainability, while the Chester Museum covers the region’s photographic settlement and economic history.

Nature Around Olsen Barn

East of downtown, at the corner of Melissa Street and Highway 36, is Olsen Barn. The fields, riparian forests and wetlands around the barn are part of an area designated by Audubon as an “Important Bird Area.” Two points of reference come together here: the specific street location and the classification of the surrounding landscape. For nature enthusiasts, this connection draws attention both to the Barn’s location and to the surrounding habitats.

Chester Park and the Seasonal Farmers Market

Chester Park is the starting point for the Collins Pine Trail. It has picnic tables, a playground, ball fields, a bandstand and public restrooms. For planning purposes, the trail as a specific route and the park’s amenities as a separate focus for your visit can be considered independently.

Chester’s farmers market takes place at Chester Park on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. from June through October. Both the month and the day of the week matter when planning for this seasonal event. Check the specific market dates before you travel. The market and the Scenic Byway answer different planning questions: the market provides a time reference, while the byway describes the 29-mile section and its start and end points.

Discover more destinations: Spring Garden, Johnsville, Lake Almanor Peninsula, Plumas Eureka, Quincy, Cromberg, Portola, Graeagle

For the main travel overview: Plumas.