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Mary West: Exploring the American Canyon Trail

11/26/2020

American Canyon Trail is where the mushrooms grow in thick moss carpets along the creek in winter. The variety of butterflies and wildflowers are worth the four-mile hike in spring. The color display in fall makes a return trip a must.
The trail leads to a jungle like setting at the bottom with a flowing creek, boulders and hanging vines.
Wide enough for two to walk side by side, the trail is lush with ferns in winter and wild grape vines in summer. A thick area of mint, in its season, begs you to pick a leaf or two. Be aware that poison oak and blackberry vines crowd the trail in many areas. Snails and lizards also call this area home so make sure you look beneath your feet as well as up to the canopy of trees to get the full effect of this trail.
At the bottom of the 1.7-mile trail, you find Hobokin Creek. Water cascades over boulders and fallen trees. The trail continues across the creek, so depending on your schedule, you can continue your trek to Dead Truck, Ruck-A-Chucky, Dru Barner and Western States Trails, among other destinations.
The trail leads to a jungle like setting at the bottom with a flowing creek, boulders and hanging vines.
The two-mile hike to Dead Truck from the trail head is a gentle downhill stroll on a well-maintained trail. As you walk deeper in, the trees seem taller and vines hang more densely.
In winter the ferns grow all along the canyon wall. The moss on the trees is heavy with rainwater. You can hear the rush of the creek below.
At the first switchback, you find a sign reading several trail options. Turn away from the sign and continue down the switchback. After a couple of short switchbacks, you will come to a similar sign. Instead of turning on the switchback look at the sign straight ahead of you on the trail. This sign will show Dead Truck 1-mile. Your journey will continue deeper into the woods with the sound of Canyon Creek keeping you company along the way.
Soon you come to Canyon Creek with Hobokin Creek right behind it. I can in no way encourage you to cross these creeks if you do not feel confident doing so. This is a lovely spot to pull up a rock and listen to the gentle babbling of the creek over stones as it continues downstream.
The trail narrows in places. Downed trees and hanging branches may be hurdles along the way. Wet leaves and slick mud are also common hazards.
At 1.9-miles, you reach another sign, showing you at the foot of Dead Truck Trail marked STEEP.
Facing the sign, turn 180 degrees and you will see a footpath over to the creek and a cliff face blanketed in green in the wet season. Take the path and you can hear the falls get louder the closer you get. Shuffle down to the pool below. Again, I cannot suggest you cross the creek this last time, but the view of the falls is from the other side. When the water is low, there are exposed rocks, but with heavier flows, a crossing can be treacherous.
If you choose to cross you earn the prize of a view of the waterfall. Once you have enjoyed the falls, the pool and the peace and quiet of this trail, prepare for your return.
The two-mile hike out is moderate due to the uphill climb back to gate 3. Take your time, drink plenty of water, watch for slugs and newts in the wet season.
Take care crossing the creeks and before you know it, you will hear the cars coming into the gate and your adventure will be at its end.
To get to American Canyon Trail take Interstate 80 to the Elm Street exit in Auburn toward Placerville. Follow Highway 49 into the Canyon from Placer County into El Dorado County and out to the town of Cool.
At the stop sign in Cool turn left on Highway 193. Drive five miles to Pilgrim Way. Turn left to gate three of Auburn Lake Trails. Just before the gate you see room for three or four cars on your right. Park and you see the trail sign marking the trailhead.
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Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide. The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for Day Hiker-Gold Country Trail Guide II by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

CLICK HERE to see the complete article and all the photos in The Union newspaper.

Mary West: Exploring the Yuba Rim Trail

11/12/2020

The Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) has succeeded again in providing a great opportunity to get us outside on a trail with outstanding views of the Yuba River environs. The Yuba Rim Trail in Yuba County takes us out 2.3 miles and up 750 feet to a nice view of the confluence of the north and middle forks of the Yuba River. I have to strain to see the river below, but the canyon views are fantastic. This moderate hike begins near Dobbins in Yuba County, not far from the Bullards Bar reservoir and Dam. The area across the street from the quarry provides ample parking. The large sign marking the trail head identifies this as the Rice’s Crossing Preserve.

New signage at the trailhead makes locating this trail much easier. Head out behind the signs and look to the left for a great view of the canyon to begin your trek. A new gazebo makes a nice break at the end of the trail to enjoy the view before you depart.

Follow the trail into the woods. The shade on this trail makes for nice autumn color hiking. Some vegetation clearing around power lines opens the area before you return to denser woods. The well-marked path leads to a sturdy bridge. Above the bridge we counted 10 switchbacks that get you out to a logging road. Continue uphill. Just when you think you have crested the last hill, keep going. Look for another area sending you back downhill along the rim of the canyon. The moderate effort this trail demands pays off in a nice rock outcropping and a beautiful sunset view of the canyon in winter.
The elevation provides a mixed conifer forest. This area has a wide variety of trees and attracts many birds for bird watchers. The trail is dog and bike friendly. The moderate effort this trail demands pays off in a nice rock outcropping and a beautiful sunset view of the canyon in winter.

On our last visit, we got a late start. As the sun went down, we felt the need to make more noise and hasten our pace. This is mountain lion habitat as well as bear.

To get there take Marysville Road off Highway 20. Look for the old quarry on your right and the trailhead on your left.
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Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide. The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for Day Hiker-Gold Country Trail Guide II by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in The Union newspaper.

State Parks recommends Nevada City’s Sugarloaf Mountain Trail to receive $216,411 for new trail

11/3/2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. November 2, 2020 – California State Parks today announced recommendations for $5.6 million in funding for eight local non-motorized trail projects under the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Funding from this program helps improve the quality of life for the nation’s communities by providing access for all to the outdoors. The list of recommended non-motorized RTP projects for California includes:

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail: $216,411 City of Nevada City Construct approximately one mile of new trail and a parking lot within Nevada City.

The RTP provides funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Authorization provides funding for the program. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, districts, state agencies, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations with management responsibilities of public lands.

Here are the other projects in California:
Bridge to Beach: $900,000 East Bay Regional Park District Develop and extend the San Francisco Bay Trail in the City of Richmond. Construct approximately 1.25 miles of trail along the shoreline between the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the Point Molate Beach Park.
Strawberry Rock Redwood Forest Trail Acquisition: $400,000 Trinidad Coastal Land Trust Acquire an approximately 45-acre conservation easement of mature forest of second-growth Redwood near the town of Trinidad in Humboldt County.
La Sierra Public Access Project: $1,328,800
Mountains Restoration Trust
Acquire an approximately 74.82 acre parcel to create the new La Sierra Watershed Public Access in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of Los Angeles.
Azalea Hill Trail Restoration: $700,000 Marin Municipal Water District Develop Phase III of the Azalea Hill Trail in the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Construct approximately 6,400 linear feet of new multi-use trail, a new bridge, retaining wall, causeway, armored rock crossings, and a kiosk, as well as directional and educational signage.
Natural Parkland Trails Project: $1,560,000 City of Highland Construct two miles of new trail, interpretive signage, outdoor education presentation area, culvert canyon crossings, trail head with parking lot and renovate 10,450 linear feet of trail.
Gateway Phase 2 Trail Project – Learning Zone: $104,000 USDA United States Forest Service Shasta-Trinity Construct approximately 9.5 miles of multi-use, non-motorized beginner and intermediate trails.
Harmon Canyon Trail Development: $458,348 Ventura Land Trust Construct approximately five miles of new multi-use recreational trails within the Harmon Canyon Preserve in the County of Ventura.

The Office of Grants and Local Services for State Parks conducted a competitive review process and recommended these projects to receive the grants. Eligible non-motorized projects include land acquisition for recreational trails and recreational trail corridors; and, development, or rehabilitation of trails, trailside, and trailhead facilities. The program requires a minimum 12 percent match derived from local sponsors and state funds. FHWA must approve project recommendations before State Parks can execute grant agreements with these local agencies.

Prior to forwarding these projects to FHWA, each recommended project must comply with the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966 (Section 106), National Environmental Policy Act and be listed on the State Transportation Improvement Plan. Compliance with these requirements can take up to nine months to complete.

After the local sponsors complete the three federal requirements listed above, applications are sent to FHWA for its final review. There is a 30-day final approval window once FHWA receives the applications from California State Parks.

CLICK HERE to see the original article in YubaNet.com.

New Forest Supervisor selected for Lake Tahoe Basin

10/24/2020

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif., Oct. 23, 2020 –
The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is pleased to announce that William “Bill” Jackson has been selected as the new Forest Supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Jackson is scheduled to arrive at the LTBMU on Dec. 6, 2020, and comes to us from the White River National Forest in Colorado, where he served as the District Ranger for the Dillon Ranger District.
“I’m excited to share the news that we have selected a new Forest Supervisor for the Tahoe Basin,” said Acting Forest Supervisor, Danelle D. Harrison. “Bill has an extensive background in land management, and I can’t think of anyone better qualified to lead our Forest Family.”
Prior to his position on the Dillon Ranger District, Jackson served as the District Ranger for the Manchester Ranger District on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont. He also served on the Pike, San Isabel, Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
Jackson earned a Natural Resource Management degree from North Carolina State and joined the Peace Corps in Honduras for two years, where he helped promote ecotourism and environmental education. After the Peace Corps, he attended graduate school at Colorado State University, where he studied natural resource management, recreation and tourism.
Jackson replaces Jeff Marsolais who accepted a position with the Eldorado National Forest in mid-June 2020.

Contact(s): Public Affairs, Lisa Herron 530-721-3898

To see original press release from the USFS, click here.

Exploring the Old Flume Trail

10/24/2020

The Old Flume Trail (Red Shack Trail) just outside of Placerville in El Dorado County is a history lesson as well as an excellent trek to the South Fork of the American River. The trail has been there since its inception in 1900, of course, but the new parking area built by the Bureau of Land Management makes parking safer, and access easier.

The trail was a road to the river. This road crosses the historic ditch that moved water from Placerville to the ranches in the Gold Hill area. You can read about George and John Luce who managed the flume from 1920 to 1924. The wooden flume is believed to be the tallest in the county at 153 feet and running 750 feet between the ridges. The flume is gone, but the land was gifted to the American River Conservancy in 1999 for our enjoyment.

The trail is wide, but I would call this moderate to difficult depending on your fitness level due to the steep drop into the canyon — about 800 feet in less than a mile. Worth every step when you find yourself rock hopping out to a quiet location just below Racehouse Bend rapid on the South Fork.
It took me a half hour to get from the parking lot to the river. I stopped to check out some spur trails along the way. But it took me nearly an hour to return to the parking lot due to the steep grade. Take your time, take breaks if needed and drink plenty of water.

The trail is wide, but I would call this moderate to difficult depending on your fitness level due to the steep drop into the canyon — about 800 feet in less than a mile. Worth every step when you find yourself rock hopping out to a quiet location just below Racehouse Bend rapid on the South Fork.
This is a beautiful in an out trail, less than a mile one way, with a stunning payoff at the halfway point. My most recent hike on a cool and sunny day showed off the lush moss on the trees as green ferns unfurled along the canyon walls and a couple of kayakers floating by.

To get there from Auburn head out on Highway 49 South toward Cool. Continue toward Placerville. As you make your way through the canyon, about four miles north of Placerville, look for Red Shack Road on the right. The trail head is directly across the street. Red Shack is a nice stop after your adventure for pulled pork sandwiches or apple pie when open.
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Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – The Gold Country Trail Guides. A collection of Day Hiker columns from 2016-2020 (Available on Amazon) where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

CLICK HERE to see the complete article in The Union newspaper.

Southern Cross Preserve finds its forever home with Tahoe National Forest

10/15/2020

From Bear Yuba Land Trust today, "We’re happy to announce that Southern Cross Preserve has been transferred to US Forest Service ownership, where it will join the rest of the Tahoe National Forest! This beautiful preserve is located on the North Fork American River. The public Euchre Bar Trail runs through the property and provides excellent views of the river.

If you look at a map of the Tahoe National Forest, you’ll notice that it looks like a “checkerboard” of public and private property. This unusual pattern has its roots in 19th-century federal land policy and the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad north of Lake Tahoe. The resulting “patchwork quilt” of public and private lands can create challenges for land management and public recreation. By permanently protecting private lands within the “checkerboard” and transferring them to the USFS, we can help expand the Tahoe National Forest and fill in the gaps.

“This project was especially cool because it's a great model — we work with the landowner to secure a complex land deal, then transfer it to public ownership,” says Placer Land Trust Conservation Director Lynnette Batt. “It adds more land to the Tahoe National Forest, which is a popular and important landscape in the Sierra. And importantly, selling land to the USFS allows us to cover our costs, and to ‘pay it forward’ to our future land protection projects. We are grateful to the USFS for being great partners.”

To learn more about Southern Cross Preserve and this transfer project with USFS, CLICK HERE.

Mary West: Hiking Loch Leven Trail

10/11/2020

Loch Leven Trail is a moderate to difficult hike with more than a one thousand-foot elevation change over a 3.5-mile trail to the first lake in the Loch Leven chain of lakes in the Tahoe National Forest.
To get there take Interstate 80 east to the Rainbow Bend exit. Take a left onto Hampshire Rocks Road. Drive up just past the Tahoe National Forest fire station to the trailhead parking lot. An information board and restrooms are located here. The sign marking the trailhead is directly across the street.

The trail begins with granite boulders. Under foot are rocks, roots, ruts, sand, decomposed granite and decomposed trees. Wear sturdy shoes and take those trekking poles they may come in handy.
Around you are boulders, colossal pine trees, views of surrounding mountain peaks, and the lakes. One very prominent peak is Red Mountain, also known as Signal Peak. The first landmark are the railroad tracks. Other highlights of the trail include the yellow aspen in fall. You skirt a pond that is more of a bog by September until the rains return. A wooden bridge leads into a cool shaded area briefly before the climb continues. Level areas give you a chance to catch your breath before forging on. A few of the volunteer trails can lead you astray. Stay on track. Other highlights of the trail include the yellow aspen in fall. You skirt a pond that is more of a bog by September until the rains return.

Once you reach the lake, find your spot to settle in and get your shoes off, a snack will be in order. If you have time and the inclination, more lakes await you as well as Cherry Peak trail three miles out from the trailhead. The great thing about Loch Leven Trail is that the return trip to the trail head is mostly downhill.

Loch Leven Trail is a moderately trafficked trail and dogs are welcome. Take plenty of water. Plenty of sun exposure on this trail so you may want a hat, glasses and sunblock.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guides (Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2018 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

To read the original article and see photos in The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Mary West: Exploring Emigrant Lake Trail

9/11/2020

NOTE: Because of wildfires, Eldorado National Forest and Tahoe National Forest are temporarily CLOSED, including the Emigrant Lake Trail.

EXPLORING EMIGRANT LAKE TRAIL
The Emigrant Lake trail; one trail, two lakes. The journey to Emigrant Lake begins with a beautiful drive to the Kirkwood area of Alpine County. Aptly named for the majestic pine-covered mountains, Alpine County is home to world-class skiing, and for day hikers, panoramic views, lush greenery, running streams and mild temperatures.

A dear friend told me about Emigrant Lake Trail for backpacking and camping. I admit I don’t do a lot of backpacking, I am a day hiker, I like to sleep in my own bed and need coffee in the morning, but eight-miles is a doable day hike and with the drive it’s a full day.
This was a first for me in a couple of ways; I brought my friend Lizzy to hike with and this was my first hike in Alpine County.

To get there, take Highway 49 to Placerville where you pick up US 50 East to Sly Park Road to Mormon Emigrant Trail/Silver Lake Road. Take left on CA-88E to Caples Lake.

The trail head has limited parking but I went on a three-day weekend that may have added some congestion. A convenient restroom and a large sign marking the trail head set you on your way four-miles back to Emigrant Lake. The trail begins by skirting Caples Lake for the first two-miles. At the end of the lake you will notice the gentle climb that takes you away from the noise of the highway, through tall pines, with the call of the birds above and wildflowers at your feet.

A couple of creek crossings may get your shoes wet if you misstep, but even in September the runoff leads to lush greenery decorated with impressive rock formations and mountain meadows, a joy to behold. I am happy to report that this is a well maintained and well signed trail. Near the end a handful of switchbacks. The trail then opens up to a meadow that leads to Emigrant Lake surrounded by peaks including Melissa Coray Peak, named for a Pioneer woman who walked 2000-miles to reach the west, Peak 9597 and Covered Wagon Peak, that still held patches of snow.

It’s downhill from here. After a good rest, maybe a snack, the trek back is a gentle downhill, weaving among the trees and boulders strewn about the wilderness. Before you know it, Caples Lake comes into view, the roar of the highway finds your ears and this hiking day-dream will be over.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guides (Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2018 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

Another protected addition and trail easement in the Bear River watershed by PLT

9/10/2020

Placer Land Trust has some good news for you to help brighten your 2020! We just permanently protected a 185-acre addition to the Laursen Bear River Preserve located north of Auburn, making the total preserve 546 acres. That means that with the help our members, we have protected more than 11,900 acres of natural and agricultural lands in Placer County!

The expanded Laursen Bear River Preserve, along with other adjacent preserves, creates a block of over 8,000 contiguous acres of protected lands in the Bear River and Raccoon Creek watersheds. These expansive oak woodlands support healthy and diverse populations of plants and wildlife. The preserve provides critical habitat for animals such as mule deer, mountain lion, grey fox, hawks, and many others.

“This property was on the market and certainly would have been developed had the original landowners, Andy and Shana Laursen, not agreed to sell it to Placer Land Trust instead,” says Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. “We are so grateful to Andy and Shana for working with Placer Land Trust to protect their lands along the Bear River.”

Andy and Shana were key funders of Placer Land Trust in the early 2000’s to help the nonprofit remain sustainable. In 2005 the couple provided funds for Placer Land Trust to purchase the Shutamul Bear River Preserve, adjacent to their land. Placer Land Trust recognized Andy and Shana for their conservation work with the 2010 Placer Conservator Award.

The funding needed to acquire the extension of the Laursen Bear River Preserve came earlier this year through two Prop 68 grants: one from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), and one from the Wildlife Conservation Board. Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust provided the funds needed for stewardship of the property for generations to come.

In addition to the diverse wildlife, the property also has a rich human history. Andy feels the land is special because, “people have lived on this land for probably thousands of years. There’s been Native Americans, there’s been Basque sheepherders, there’s been gold miners. And we bought all this land to keep it the way it is, to keep it natural.”

Placer Land Trust plans to share this land with the public through docent-led activities starting in 2021. The property is served only by private roads, so it is not suitable for open public access and recreation at this time. However a trail easement donated by Andy and Shana will allow future visitors to travel from the Laursen Bear River Preserve to adjacent Shutamul and Harvego Bear River Preserves.

In the meantime, the Laursen Bear River Preserve expansion can be “visited” during Placer Land Trust’s annual Placer Conservator, which will be taking place virtually this year and is free to attend. Click here more information on the event, including links to RSVP.

CLICK HERE to see the original press release from Placer Land Trust.

New bike video in the time of COVID-19

9/9/2020

Bikers get a bad rap, especially recently in the time of the pandemic. There are more bikers, as well as other users, on the trails. Some of them new or old, who don't understand how one bad interaction can ruin a year of good public relations work.

In speaking with Land Managers, there have been more conflicts, more injuries, and more complaints in the past three months than they have had in years. In response to these unsettling issues, these bike groups have made a new video to help everyone understand how to share the trails without these incidents. How to stop those complaints you have to be aware that your interactions with others affects all bicyclists... and even more important, your access to public shared trails.

TO SEE THIS SHORT VIDEO, CLICK HERE.

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