Description
Located 2.7 km (1.7 mi) east of Chilcoot and 25.6 km (16 mi) east of the community of Beckwourth. (US-T121) Located in secs 5 and 6,T22N,R17E, Mount Diablo Meridian.
History
Named for James P Beckwourth (d.1867), adventurer and trapper, who discovered the gap in 1851; he also built the first house in the Sierra Valley, and operated an inn and trading post there. During the 1850's, the gap served as an important immigrant route, and later, as the route of the Sierra Valley & Mohawk Railroad. (US-T121)