One of the most recognizable names along this portion of Interstate 80 is Blue Canyon.  In recent years, this spot has been a favorite location for television crews to transmit live broadcasts concerning Sierra Nevada storms and winter roads conditions.  It is an ideal spot as the canyon ridge provides an uninterrupted signal to the Central Valley below.  The ridgetop also serves as the roadbed for today’s railroad and was a much anticipated venue on the Central Pacific Railroad in the late 19th century.

How Blue Canyon received its name is somewhat in dispute.  Most sources indicate that the canyon was named for the blue smoke that wafted skyward from the lumber camps located in the nearby Bear Valley in the 1850s.  However, others claim that the canyon was named for Old Jim Blue, a Gold Rush-era prospector.