The Madeline Plains in northeastern Lassen County was one of the earliest places named in the county. In 1853 Congress passed the first Act concerning exploration and surveys for a transcontinental railroad route. Lt. E.G. Beckwith of the Third Artillery was in charge of one of these explorations. Beckwith surveyed Northern California and Western Nevada region in search of a pass over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In late June 1854, Beckwith entered the Madeline Plains via Smoke Creek Canyon and the east side of Observation Mountain. He named this the Madeline Pass for his daughter Madeline Julia, born January 25, 1853 at New London, Connecticut. It should also be noted a week later Beckwith named Eagle Lake.
According to folklore attributed the name to an emigrant girl, named Madeline, who was murdered by the Indians in the 1850s. H.T. Risdon who established a sawmill on Bayley Creek in 1912 is credited for that tale.
Finally, it should be noted the Paiute name was Musitzi, though the meaning has been lost through the years. In addition, the Paiute’s territory was for the eastern portion of the Madeline Plains and the western half was the domain of the Pit River.