The US Forest Service has rescinded recent dispersed camping prohibitions as well as fire restrictions across National Forest System lands within the Tahoe National Forest.

Dispersed camping is now generally permissible across National Forest System lands within the Tahoe National Forest subject to maximum stay limits and specific Forest Order Closures. For more information on dispersed camping, please follow this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tahoe/recreation/?cid=fseprd700972.

Campfires and stove fires are now allowed in recreation sites and dispersed recreation settings when one or more users are in possession of a California Campfire Permit. California Campfire Permits may be obtained online at: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/.
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All Tahoe National Forest developed campgrounds are now closed for the 2020 season. High elevation roads and trails may be impassable due to inclement weather.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In support of America’s military members and families, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt signed Secretary’s Order 3387 at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in October, announcing that Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans will be granted free access to national parks, national wildlife refuges and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior starting on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) this year and every day onward. 

“We are committed to honoring American patriots – the men and women who have served in our armed forces,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “With the utmost respect and gratitude, we are granting veterans and Gold Star Families free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect starting this Veterans Day and every single day thereafter.” 

Entrance fees for the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System, and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation sites will be waived for veterans and Gold Star Families. They will have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle, from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing and rock climbing. Additionally, lands and waters managed by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are participating in the program. 

Many Interior managed lands have direct connections to the American military, such as frontier forts, Cold War sites, battlefields, national cemeteries and memorials. These special places pay tribute to our veterans and serve as reminders of their courage and sacrifice throughout the history of our nation, from Minuteman National Historic Park where colonists stood in defense of their rights, to Yellowstone National Park, which was protected from vandalism and poaching by the 1st U.S. Cavalry before the National Park Service was established, to Mount Rushmore where modern warriors attend reenlistment ceremonies.  

For purposes of this program, a veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and can present one of the following forms of identification: 

• Department of Defense Identification Card
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Veteran ID Card
• Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card 

Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces. 
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The Interagency America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program already includes a free annual pass for active-duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Other free or discounted passes are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth-grade students, volunteers, and senior citizens age 62 years or older. 
Interior also offers fee-free entrance days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration including the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act. 

CLICK HERE to see press release.

Oct 28, 2020 
Trails are a favorite of Placer County residents, whether you hike, ride a bike or horse, or run.
A county opinion survey showed multi-use trails as the top priority for future park projects –
91 percent support more trails and recreation access to open space. Foothill trails are in high demand but short supply, and users of Placer County’s foothill trails routinely experience overcrowding of popular trailheads and trails, especially at Hidden Falls Regional Park.

Placer Trails, a coalition of seven trail groups active in Placer County with more than 4,000 members, enthusiastically supports the Hidden Falls Trail Expansion Project. The expansion project will double the size of the Hidden Falls trail network and provide public access to more than 2,500 acres of open-space preserves owned by Placer Land Trust.

For more than 15 years, the Land Trust has been working together with Placer County, the State of California, foundations and willing landowners to acquire this natural open space and working rangeland north of the existing Hidden Falls Regional Park, extending to the Bear River.

More than $7 million of county funds have been invested along with state and foundation funds to permanently protect these lands as natural open space, for continued livestock grazing and to provide for public trail access. Each acquisition the county helped fund required deeded trail easements owned by the county to provide public trail access. Without trail access, the county would not have participated and there would be no preserves.

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for full build-out of the Trail Expansion Project, which would include three new trailheads, more than 350 new parking spaces and 30 miles of trail, concluded that all but a few potential impacts would be less than significant.

Fire officials approved plans for wildfire mitigation and evacuation, and traffic engineers approved the adequacy of area roads. Cal Fire data do not show use of non-motorized trails as a significant fire risk. Even so, project opponents who live near the park continue to voice concerns. In addition to fire and traffic, opponents fear trail recreation and livestock grazing will not be compatible and that agriculture will suffer. However, there are examples throughout California, including East Bay Regional Parks, city of San Luis Obispo and several more, where there have been years of uneventful coexistence of multi-use trails through open rangeland with no ill-effects on livestock or trail users. Recreation and agriculture can successfully coexist, and both are critical to our region’s economy.

In response to public comment, economics and other factors not evaluated in the EIR, county parks has proposed a reduced project as a compromise between (1) the full project evaluated in the EIR, and (2) elimination of the project as sought by neighborhood opponents. The reduced project is similar to the lowest-impact project alternative evaluated in the EIR, but with even less public access. The reduced project would reduce public benefits but would have the least negative impact on the environment and the neighborhood because it substantially reduces parking, road modifications and traffic. By comparison, if the trail expansion properties were instead developed to the level allowed by current zoning, there would be more traffic added than by the trailhead parking proposed in the reduced project.

Placer Trails has carefully considered the reduced project in relation to our previous recommendation to proceed with the full project. Despite reduction of new parking by more than half from the full project, as well as elimination of public access at Curtola Ranch Road, the reduced project stills achieves a modest increase in parking and, most importantly, will grant public access to 30 miles of new trails through Land Trust preserves – trails which taxpayers have invested in.

Placer Trails supports the reduced project as an acceptable compromise that will substantially reduce neighborhood impacts, already deemed less than significant, while still opening up a new multi-use trails for public use. The Parks Commission agreed, with a unanimous vote to recommend the reduced project. We hope the opponents of the project will also see this as a reasonable compromise.
Seldom has it been so clear as during the global pandemic that the health of our community depends on ready access to nature and trails. The county should move ahead with the reduced project to create a truly unique and expansive trail system in the foothills of Placer County for present and future generations.

Learn more at PlacerTrails.org and join us in speaking up for trails!

​--Bob Gilliom

CLICK HERE to see original article in Gold Country Media.

Due to excessive heat and fire danger, the park will be closed from October 23 - October 25.
The determination to close Hidden Falls is made in conjunction with the issuance of fire related warnings issued by the National Weather Service and in consultation with CalFIRE personnel. 

​HIDDEN FALLS REGIONAL PARK TO CLOSE ON DAYS OF EXTREME FIRE WEATHER
As part of our land stewardship and commitment to reduce wildfire risk, beginning July 1, Hidden Falls Regional Park will begin closing the park to public access during days that are determined to be extreme fire weather.  Notice will be given as far in advance of closure days as possible but may be as short as 12 hours’ notice before closure the following day.  Please check status immediately before leaving on your visit to Hidden Falls this summer.  Visitors with reservations during closure days will be given credit for the purchase price of their reservation to be used for a future visit.  

Thank you for your understanding in helping to keep Hidden Falls and its neighbors safe from wildfire.

CLICK HERE to see latest information on the Hidden Falls website regarding wildfire and closures.

Nevada City, Calif. October 21, 2020 –  The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has extended fire restrictions in California through October 22, 2020.
This revised Fire Restriction prohibits the following activities across all National Forests in California:
No Smoking
No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.

• The use of a portable lantern or stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel within a Developed Recreation Site (such as an official campground) is allowed.
• Generators are allowed for use on paved, gravel or dirt National Forest System roads and trails, staging areas, and within campgrounds.

While popular activities such as hunting, hiking, boating, and other types of general recreation are now allowed across the Tahoe National Forest, dispersed camping and target shooting prohibitions have been extended through October 31, 2020. These prohibitions include:
No camping outside of developed campgrounds. A list of open, developed campgrounds is provided below. There are two exceptions to this prohibition-

• Dispersed camping within the Granite Chief Wilderness is allowed. Dispersed camping within 500 feet of the Pacific Crest Trail is allowed.

No target shooting. Discharging a firearm, except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, and federal law and regulations, is prohibited.

Open Campgrounds
The following campgrounds are open.
Foresthill Divide Road
Giant GapShirttail​Gold Lake Road
Packsaddle
Salmon Creek
Sardine
​Mosquito Ridge Road

• French Meadows (Water systems limited; campers are asked to conserve water)
• Ahart

Interstate 80
Indian Springs
North Fork (Reopens 9/25)
Highway 49
Fiddle CreekIndian ValleyWild plumUnion Flat
Rocky Rest
Cal Ida
Carlton Flat 
Highway 20
White Cloud (some sites closed due to hazard trees)
Skillman
Highway 89, North 
East Meadow (operated by NID)Upper Little Truckee  Lower Little Truckee 
Pass Creek (operated by NID)
Pass Creek Overflow
Bear Valley
Little Laiser

 This photo was taken on the Pioneer Express trail going north from Sterling Pointe Equestrian Staging towards Horseshoe Bar, about 50 yards from the picnic table. Although hikers can go under it, horses cannot. From the chain saw cut, this looks as if someone has deliberately felled this tree. This has been reported to the Folsom Lake SRA Rangers who will work with Folsom Lake SRA Maintenance to clear the tree soon. It is illegal for anyone to cut wood or fell trees in the State Park unless working on a specific authorized work party. If you see anyone illegally cutting trees in the Park, call Dispatch at 916 358-1300.