The Story of Rollins Lake, Colfax, CA: A River Reimagined
Before There Was Rollins Lake: The Bear River’s Untamed Past
Before Rollins Lake in Colfax, CA, became a renowned destination for camping, fishing, and water sports, there was only the Bear River, flowing freely through the Sierra Foothills. This river, once known as Río de Oso (River of the Bear) by Spanish explorers in 1822, carved through valleys that would later be settled by Gold Rush miners, ranchers, and pioneers seeking opportunity in the rugged Northern California landscape.
During the mid-1800s, the Bear River was a Gold Rush hotspot, where miners flocked in search of fortune and prosperity. They built sluice boxes, tunnels, and small settlements along its banks, leaving behind a lasting imprint of California’s gold-mining history. Some of these tunnels still lie beneath the lakebed today, remnants of an era when Colfax, CA, thrived as a hub for prospectors and pioneers.
🚧 The Construction of Rollins Dam (1963-1965)
By the early 1960s, the Bear River was no longer just a scenic waterway—it was a strategic resource. The NID, in partnership with EBASCO Services Inc., developed the blueprint for Rollins Dam, an earthen dam standing 228 feet high and stretching 1,840 feet across.
🔨 Construction Timeline:
✔ July 1963 – Groundbreaking began on the dam.
✔ December 1965 – Rollins Dam was completed, permanently altering the Bear River.
✔ 1966 – The reservoir was officially dedicated to Dr. Jarret Laben Rollins, a prohibition leader and physician who played a significant role in regional water and power development.
The construction of Rollins Lake in Colfax, CA, was a game-changer, providing not just water storage, but also benefits like flood control, irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power—all as part of the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project, which still supplies energy to homes and businesses today.
💦 Rollins Lake Becomes a Recreational Destination
Though Rollins Lake was initially created as a controlled water source, it soon evolved into a recreational paradise. With 26 miles of shoreline and over 900 acres of surface water, it became one of Northern California’s most popular destinations for:
🏕 Camping – Featuring four major campgrounds (Long Ravine, Orchard Springs, Peninsula, and Greenhorn), attracting visitors year-round.
🎣 Fishing – Home to spotted bass, bluegill, crappie, and trout, making it a hotspot for anglers. Find out more about the fishing.
🚤 Boating & Water Sports – With multiple marinas, boat launches, and rentals, it became a haven for kayakers, wakeboarders, and houseboaters.
Learn more about Rollins Lake Recreation!
💡 A Changing Ecosystem
As Rollins Lake filled, the Bear River’s natural habitat was transformed. The area, once dominated by riverbanks and rocky outcroppings, became a thriving lake ecosystem, attracting:
🦅 Bald eagles and ospreys soaring overhead
🦌 Deer grazing along the shoreline
🐟 Diverse fish species thriving beneath the surface
🌲 A Place That Holds More Than Water
Rollins Lake in Colfax, CA, is more than just a body of water—it’s a river transformed, a valley submerged, and a history waiting to be rediscovered.
It’s a place where progress met wilderness, where miners once panned for gold, and where modern-day adventurers find their own treasures—on the water, at the campgrounds, and along its scenic shores.
So next time you visit Rollins Lake, whether you’re boating, camping, or casting a fishing line, take a moment to reflect on what lies beneath the surface. The Bear River still flows here—hidden, but never forgotten.