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Auburn State Recreation Area trail closures March 18-19, 2025

3/14/2025

Upcoming Temporary Trail Closure Alert
Due to overhead powerline work by PG&E in the area of No Hands Bridge, the following areas of Auburn SRA will be closed to all public access on March 18 & 19, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.:

- Stagecoach Trail from Russel Road to Old Foresthill Road
-Upper Stagecoach Trail
-Flood Trail
-Manzanita Trail
-Tinkers Cut Off Trail
-Mossy Rocks Trail
-Western States Trail from Robie Point to Cool Staging Area
-Shortcut Trail
-Cool Staging Area Parking Facilities (LONGER CLOSURE: 3/17-19 ALL HOURS)
-Northern portion of Olmstead Trail from Salt Creek to Cool Staging Area
-Pointed Rocks Trail (Training Hill)
-No Hands Bridge Trail
-Mt. Quarries Bypass Trail

This closure is for the protection of the public at Auburn State Recreation Area. These closures will expire at 4:00 PM on March 19, 2025, at which time all areas listed will return to normal access.

We suggest checking out the China Bar area or the Foresthill Divide Loop as alternatives during these closures. Please reach out to our sector office or go to our website for additional information.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=954209763463938&set=a.268959168655671

Navigating Uncertainty and Ensuring the PCT’s Future

3/13/2025

From the Pacific Crest Trail Foundation:
As we face financial and operational challenges because of uncertainty around federal funding for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), I want to be transparent with our community about the impact this may have on our mission. The U.S. Forest Service has let us know that our future federal grant funding may be delayed while it is under review as part of the new administration’s efforts to reduce federal spending and staffing. We are unsure when or if this funding will be cut, reduced or fully restored.
...
This possible funding disruption is deeply concerning, as without it, we risk losing the capacity to fund essential projects and crews needed to care for the 2,650-mile PCT. As a result, we’ve already significantly reduced our 2025 program of work.
We’ve canceled 56 weeks of planned projects--more than one full year’s worth of trail crew maintenance—and likely cancelled hiring six seasonal trail crew leaders who are experts in trail building and repair and provide crucial support and supervision for trail crews. Cutting back needed trail maintenance will directly affect the PCT experience this year and in the future, and surely will increase the amount and cost of work we will need to address later. Hikers, equestrians and local trail communities will feel this as they traverse the magnificent lands through which the trail passes.
...
Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress and voice your support for the trail. Tell them how much you love the PCT and how trails impact your life, health and well-being. Voice support for our federal land management agencies and the public lands we all care about. Remind them that making America great also means taking care of our beloved outdoor spaces, which improve American lives by creating jobs, supporting rural economies, generating clean air and water, and providing places for rest and reflection.
...
Uncertainty can be challenging, but like PCT adventurers, we at the PCTA always adapt to change. We are deeply grateful to be able to do this work alongside such a passionate community of members, volunteers, hikers, equestrians, agency partners, advocates, supporters, and so many more. Together, we will continue to protect and maintain the Pacific Crest Trail for generations to come."
To read the complete blog post from the PCTA, CLICK HERE.

March 29 through April 6, 2025 - Spenceville closed for annual turkey hunt

3/8/2025

A reminder to all Spenceville visitors...unless you have a hunting permit, you can't access Spenceville Wildlife Area from March 29 through April 6 CLICK HERE for more information on this area from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife..
(Nestled in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California, Spenceville Wildlife Area consists of roughly 11,900 acres of blue oak and gray pine woodland and riparian forest. Among the many popular activities here are fishing, hiking and equestrian trail riding.)

'There is literally no one': The fallout coming to Lake Tahoe after forest service gutted

3/8/2025

From wildfires and water clarity to Fourth of July tourism, Tahoe is in trouble
March 8, 2025 --
“As of right now, all of the wilderness staff for the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side of Desolation Wilderness is completely gone,” she said. “There is literally no one on the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side at all.”

The U.S. Forest Service manages 78% of the land in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Yet, a hiring freeze on seasonal workers and recent firings of key staff have gutted an already-stretched-thin agency, putting on hold critical work in water quality, environmental restoration and forest fuels reduction projects while also diminishing the forest service’s capacity to manage the millions of visitors who come to Lake Tahoe every year — especially on the Fourth of July.

Eleven people who work at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit lost their jobs last month in the so-called “Valentine’s Day Massacre” led by Elon Musk’s U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, according to former employees.

The job losses compound chronically low staffing, plus a hiring freeze on seasonal workers that went into effect last fall. In all, the management unit has lost a third of its recreational staff...

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit sees more visitors than any of the state’s national parks. The management unit’s 156,335 acres are a fifth the size of Yosemite National Park, yet data shows the management unit welcomes almost twice as many visitors as Yosemite. But the forest service has gone dark in communications about how Lake Tahoe will be impacted by the Trump administration’s mass firing of forest service employees last month.

The only news coming out of the management unit since the firings have been public notices about prescribed burns. An inquiry sent by SFGATE in February to the management unit about how many people were fired went unanswered. On Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent SFGATE an emailed statement that said 2,000 forest service employees had been fired but did not give any further information about how the firings were spread forest by forest or how many people had been let go at the management unit.

In that information vacuum, two former forest service employees and South Lake Tahoe residents — Nadia Tase and Kelly Bessem — have organized a small resistance to make known the full weight of the impacts coming to Lake Tahoe, aligning with similar rogue initiatives led by people who work on public lands. Tase worked for the forest service in Lake Tahoe for 13 years before she took another job on Election Day in 2016. Bessem was a hydrology technician and seasonal employee until she was let go last fall, due to budget cuts.

“I have to speak up for my colleagues [who] can’t speak for themselves because they’re afraid of losing their job,” Tase said in a phone interview with SFGATE this week. “It’s a very strange world right now, and things are not happening the way they typically do. They are just very scared.”

Both Tase and Bessem say they have been in touch with current and former forest service employees, some of whom hold high-ranking positions. Tase published a letter to the editor in South Tahoe Now on Feb. 23 that detailed the jobs lost — and what Tahoe should expect in the coming months as a result.

“If this purge were truly about government efficiency, these would not be the individuals to target,” Tase wrote in the letter on South Tahoe Now. “These are some of the hardest working people, the most dedicated, the most productive worker bees that simply put, get stuff done.”

From picking up trash to forest thinning — critical work that just won’t get done The Trump administration fired people who built trails. They managed aquatic invasive species efforts and led creek and meadow restoration projects that play into Lake Tahoe’s vitally important water quality goals — the projects that, to borrow from the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s tagline, quite literally “keep Tahoe blue.”

The cuts mean fewer people to pick up trash left by tourists on beaches, put out illegal campfires in the backcountry and enforce rules about bear canisters. Tahoe’s popular Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Tallac Historic Site will have reduced hours. While many forest service beaches and campgrounds are operated by concessionaires, places that are run by the forest service, including Luther Pass Campground and Watson Lake Campground, will also see shorter opening seasons.
The loss also represents decades of experience, Tase said. Some of those people had more than 20 years of experience working for the management unit.

“We lose these positions. We lose that ability to serve the public,” Tase said.

Two people who worked on aquatic invasive species projects were also fired. Tahoe has seen recent success with projects eradicating aquatic invasive species. Last fall, the forest service joined the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to remove heavy, sunlight-blocking mats that eradicated a 17-acre infestation of aquatic weeds in Tallac and Taylor creeks.

Monitoring needs to continue so the weeds don’t return, said Bessem, the former hydrology technician. Yet the two employees fired in February were both leaders on the aquatic team.

Wildfire defenses are hit on multiple fronts
Three people who were fired worked on fuels reduction projects that protect Lake Tahoe communities from wildfire danger — all the more prescient in Lake Tahoe, since forest-thinning projects saved hundreds of homes in Christmas Valley from burning in the Caldor Fire.

The Trump administration has frozen funding for partner nonprofits the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has traditionally relied on to lend extra hands and support critical work, such as fuels reduction projects that buffer Tahoe’s forest-dense neighborhoods from wildfire risk.

In Tahoe, the Great Basin Institute has partnered with the management unit on a large-scale forestry project to reduce the risk of wildfire across the Tahoe Basin. But the institute nearly had to furlough staff because, at the start of the Trump administration, it stopped receiving payments from the federal government for work completed months ago, said Great Basin Institute CEO Peter Woodruff.

Payments have resumed for work completed months ago, and the institute avoided furloughs, Woodruff said. However, all new work that doesn’t have funding already committed has been suspended.

“The forests are being asked to do heroics or shutter critical facilities and recreation,” Woodruff said. “Typically, we’d be a solution in these circumstances when they reach their own limitations, they reach into whatever backup funding they may have and shift to our labor force, but that’s not possible this time around.”

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit also lost employees who held fireline qualifications, Tase said. They might not be firefighting personnel, but they still do firefighting work in the Tahoe Basin, during a fire and after. These were the people who rehabilitated the fire breaks that crews cut through the forest during the Caldor Fire, she noted, reducing erosion and sediment flows into Lake Tahoe.
A U.S. Forest Service control burn kicks up smoke on Jan. 25, 2018, in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

And then there’s the Fourth of July -
Last summer, Bessem worked at Kiva Beach on the Fourth of July, handing out trash bags and patrolling for safety. The forest service was part of a basinwide effort to staff up for Tahoe’s busiest holiday weekend of the year, after thousands of pounds of trash was strewn across the lake the year before. And it worked. Last summer, thanks to the enforcement and education efforts on the holiday, on the morning of July 5, 2024, volunteers found beaches in much better condition than the year prior. The total amount of trash picked up was a quarter of what it was in 2023.

Uniformed staff made a big difference in that enforcement, Bessem said. That’s not something that can be easily replicated by volunteers.
“As someone in uniform, you have a radio. You can go up to people, tell them you know the rules and regulations. You can call for backup law enforcement,” she said.

She doesn’t know if the forest service can muster the same kind of response this coming Fourth of July.

Desolation Wilderness — one of the most heavily visited wilderness areas in the country — has also been hit especially hard, Bessem said. With a medical issue, an earlier layoff and seasonal job losses, she said the management unit currently has no staff for Desolation.

“As of right now, all of the wilderness staff for the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side of Desolation is completely gone,” she said. “There is literally no one on the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side at all.”

The damage is not done
However, more job losses are likely imminent. Politico reported on Thursday plans to lay off 7,000 more workers in the forest service.

“Certainly a grim picture,” Tase wrote in an email to SFGATE on Thursday night. “And despite the apparent good news with the reversal of the illegal firings, I fear those positions are ultimately still on the chopping block.”

To see the complete article and more photos in the San Francisco Chronicle SFGATE, CLICK HERE.

Cuts Could Close Campsites and Trails in California, Forest Service Memo

3/5/2025

March 5, 2025 - New York Times
A government spreadsheet lists almost 4,000 campsites and thousands of trails that could shutter for the summer because of federal government staff reductions and budget freezes.

In California, summer could be on the chopping block.
Almost 4,000 campsites across many of California’s 18 national forests could close for part or all of the summer season, according to an internal United States Forest Service spreadsheet viewed by The New York Times on Friday. These potential shutdowns follow a wave of federal government firings and budget freezes last month that have led to staffing shortages and stalled contracts for basic services like pumping toilets.

While national forests are sometimes less well-known than national parks, they’re often more accessible, with a wider variety of uses and lower fees to enter and camp. They attract motorcyclists, day hikers, ATV users, horseback riders, boaters and backpackers, as well as ranchers who graze cattle, foresters who log trees and even miners who prospect for gold.

In an internal email from the Forest Service on Feb. 18, forest supervisors for Region 5, which oversees California, were instructed to list public facilities that could close this year as a result of budget cuts and staff shortages. The United States Forest Service did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

The email noted that “unforeseen impacts and changed conditions, as well as financial limitations may render some sites unsafe, or too challenging to open to full capacity in 2025.” It was sent less than a week after at least 2,000 employees were terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk.

With a diminished work force, not only will scientific research at these sites suffer, but visitors will struggle to find clean and accessible facilities. And, a heightened risk of wildfires could put nearby communities at risk.

Almost a dozen current and recently fired staff members in Region 5 who spoke to The Times confirmed that firings and an inability to pay contractors had affected the majority of their forests.
At Inyo National Forest, where 26,000 people visit the tallest peak in the contiguous United States each year via the Mount Whitney trail, a 75 percent reduction in staff would result in less removal of human waste, a reduced capacity to respond to search-and-rescue calls, and difficulty maintaining trail signs, according to the spreadsheet. Kennedy Meadows, a campground with 37 sites near the Mount Whitney trail — one of the culminating experiences for thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail — could close for the season.

The team that manages the Lake Tahoe Basin area noted a 33 percent reduction in recreational staff and the “termination of the only permanent wilderness ranger position” for Desolation Wilderness, one of the most popular wilderness areas in the United States, according to the Forest Service.

Andrew Peterson, a 31-year-old biologist, was fired with just 10 days left in the probationary period for his position leading a fisheries crew.

“People will definitely see impacts to services, particularly around overall cleanliness,” Mr. Peterson said. Plus, research would be diminished, increasing the risk to species that help these forests thrive. “Every year that we don’t actively work to help our threatened and endangered species,” he said, “the more threatened and endangered they become.”

Last year, Mr. Peterson earned roughly $46,000. As a seasonal worker in years before, he made about half that. He and his wife live with two roommates to afford the high cost of living around Lake Tahoe.

Budget issues at the Forest Service predated the terminations last month. Employees said their forests in California’s Region 5 had been underfunded for at least a year. The Tahoe management unit typically employ up to 50 temporary workers every summer, but, with a series of budget cuts and a hiring freeze, it is unclear if any will be hired this summer.

These closures could also limit visitor access to information and permits for backpacking and firewood collection. At least three visitor centers in Eldorado National Forest, which borders the Lake Tahoe region, could close because of low staffing, including the “loss of all administrative staff” at the district office, according to the spreadsheet. Almost a dozen visitor centers in Lassen, Shasta Trinity, San Bernardino and Sequoia were also at risk of closing.

At Six Rivers National Forest in Northern California, four of the five front desk staff members were fired, according to former employees. The front desks at the region’s four district offices will have reduced days or hours, according to the spreadsheet. Former employees said only one office remained fully open in February because a public affairs specialist agreed to work the front desk in addition to performing the duties of another full-time job.

Poorly maintained trails could contribute to increased risk from wildfires. Adam Forsell, a 27-year-old Marine Corps veteran who helped maintain trails at Six Rivers before he was terminated, said firefighters depend on trails to contain fires, helping workers to suppress fires more quickly.

“A well-maintained trail can be the difference between a fire staying relatively small or becoming the next campaign fire,” Mr. Forsell said, using the term for large and long-term wildfires.

Many Forest Service workers who are not full-time firefighters are still trained to fight fires and coordinate firefighting efforts through a certification program known as Red Card. At least five terminated staff members from Six Rivers interviewed for this article are certified.

Joey Gallagher, 32, and her husband, Tyler Padian, 33, worked as archaeologists at Six Rivers before they were fired on Feb. 14, about a month before their probationary periods were to end.

“With all these staff terminated out of nowhere, we can’t do the thinning and prescribed burns that keep forests healthy and keep fires from becoming catastrophic,” Ms. Gallagher said. Last summer, she and Mr. Padian helped on the Boise and Hill fires that burned more than 20,000 acres near the small, rural communities of Orleans and Willow Creek.

“Both fires were heading toward very populated areas and without the Forest Service’s wildland firefighters, they could’ve destroyed towns,” said Scott Williams, a 32-year-old botanist for Six Rivers who also has Red Card certification. He was halfway through a two-year probation period, and had just received a performance award, when his boss called him, in tears, to tell him he had been fired.

To see the complete article and more photos in the New York Times newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Forest Service chief, Randy Moore, retires after thousands of layoffs, replaced by lumber industry executive

2/28/2025

Chief Randy Moore expressed 'frustration' over the Trump administration's cuts

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore of California announced he will retire March 3, according to a letter addressed to employees that was sent Feb. 26. In the letter, which was posted on the Forest Service’s website, Moore expressed frustration with the Trump administration’s recent actions to fire thousands of Forest Service employees and transform an agency that manages 193 million acres of land nationwide, including 20 million acres in California.

The past several weeks have been “incredibly difficult,” Moore wrote, noting that federal decisions to transform the agency were “being made at a level above our organization” and that he has been learning about these changes at “the same time” as many employees.

“If you are feeling uncertainty, frustration, or loss, you are not alone,” Moore wrote in the letter. “These are real and valid emotions that I am feeling, too.”

Moore’s retirement comes at the end of a 45-year career in the agency.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that Moore’s replacement will be Tom Schultz, a former U.S. Air Force officer who was the vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group.

Moore became chief of the Forest Service in 2021, where he led 40,000 employees across the agency. He was the first African American to hold the role. Prior to becoming chief, Moore was the Vallejo-based regional forester at the helm of the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses 18 national forests in California that add up to a fifth of the state’s land mass. Moore’s retirement comes at the end of a 45-year career in the agency.

In the past several weeks, the Forest Service has fired thousands of employees. Many news outlets — from Politico to Reuters — report that 3,400 jobs were cut.

On a local level, the firings are hollowing out ranger districts that were already short-staffed.

The extent of the fallout from those layoffs — and what the impact of those lost jobs means for mountain communities, outdoor recreation and fire-fighting — is yet to be fully known.

“You and the work you do are meaningful, “ Moore wrote in the letter addressed to employees. “and do not let anyone make you believe otherwise.

To read this complete article in the San Francisco Chronicle, CLICK HERE.
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Former lumber industry executive named as new Forest Service chief
The Forest Service said in a press release Thursday that Tom Schultz of Idaho will lead the agency, which manages the nation’s national forests. The Trump administration’s pick to lead the Forest Service was previously an executive at a lumber industry company.
According to the press release, Schultz was previously the vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, which sells wood.
The Forest Service makes a range of forest management decisions, including those related to industry logging, energy production in national forests and wildfire mitigation.
“Working with our partners, we will actively manage national forests and grasslands, increase opportunities for outdoor recreation, and suppress wildfires with all available resources emphasizing safety and the importance of protecting resource values,” Schultz said in a written statement.
Schultz has also served as director of the Idaho Department of Lands and worked in Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

“Naming a corporate lobbyist to run the agency tasked with overseeing the last old growth left in the U.S. makes it clear that the Trump administration’s goal isn’t to preserve our national forests, but to sell them off to billionaires and corporate polluters,” Anna Medema, the group’s associate director of legislative and administrative advocacy for forests and public lands, said in a written statement.

The announcement comes one day after the Forest Service announced the departure of President Biden-era chief Randy Moore. Moore expressed “frustration” with recent staffing departures at the agency.

To read this article in The Hill, CLICK HERE

Cows back at Hidden Falls

2/27/2025

Feb. 27, 2025 - Placer County Communication and Public Information
Approximately 100 cattle are now grazing in the park as part of a land management initiative that reduces wildfire risk, promotes biodiversity, supports ranchers, and enhances ecosystem health and supports the local agricultural and ranching community.

While sharing the trails with cattle may be a new experience for many visitors, these gentle grazers are an important part of maintaining the park’s natural beauty and safety.
To help hikers, bikers and horseback riders feel more comfortable, the Placer County Parks, Trails and Open Space Division offers the following tips for safely coexisting with cattle.

Cattle are not aggressive by nature. They will typically keep to themselves and move out of the way when approached calmly.
Always latch gates properly after passing through to ensure cattle remain in designated areas.
Keep dogs on a leash at all times. Do not allow pets to chase or harass livestock.
If cattle block the trail, approach slowly, speak in a normal tone and allow them to move away. If they do not move, provide a wide berth by walking around them off the trail if necessary.

Cattle grazing is a natural and sustainable way to manage vegetation, reducing dry grasses and brush that can fuel wildfires. This practice also supports native plant species and creates a more balanced habitat for wildlife.

“The grazing program at Hidden Falls Regional Park is a win-win for both the environment and the community,” said Placer County Parks Administrator Erika Seward. “Not only does it help reduce the risk of wildfires, but it also promotes a diverse ecosystem and keeps the park’s grasslands healthy. We encourage visitors to enjoy the park responsibly and respect the cattle as they do their important work.”  
Other things to know before going to Hidden Falls Regional Park:

Online parking reservations are required on weekends and other peak-use days.
Bring plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated and energized.
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
Know your physical limitations and plan your visit accordingly.

Learn more about Hidden Falls Regional Park and make a parking reservation, if necessary, by visiting www.placer.ca.gov/hiddenfalls.

Recreation.gov has suspended reservations for Dru Barner, only first come first served basis

2/27/2025

Dru Barner Campground, a camp mainly used for horse camping, has suspended its reservation system through Recreation.gov, see HERE. "New reservations for Dru Barner are temporarily suspended. The campground is open on a first-come, first-served basis and generally has availability, even on weekends. Existing reservations will be honored."

Even though Dru Barner is mainly a campground used by equestrians, the lack of a reservation system will reduce its use by that group. From a horse camper,
"No reservation system? We can't travel a 100 miles with horses and a trailer just to find there is no place for us to park or camp. Because we have horses, we can't just go down the road a few miles to another campground. We have to use the few campgrounds that are set up for horse use. Because of the difficulty of finding other horse camps, we only use camps where we have confirmed reservations."

In case it's full, the closest camps from Dru Barner where horses are welcome are:
Loon Lake Campground - 1 hour drive
Wrights Lake Campground - 1 hour 30 minute drive
Caples Creek Campground - 1 hour 35 minute drive
Robie Equestrian Camp - 2 hours 15 minute drive

From the Eldorado National Forest website about Dru Barner Campground website:
The campground is ideal for equestrian use, with four water troughs, several pull through spaces, and access to trails. The park provides day-use facilities for staging non-motorized trails recreation.
Location: 7.5 miles east of Georgetown on Wentworth Springs Road (Forest Road 1), then 1 mile north east on Forest Road 13N16 and 0.5 miles northwest on Forest Road 13N58.

New segment of Donner Lake Rim Trail to begin construction in 2025, linking PCT and Pines to Mines

2/25/2025

February 25, 2025 - Sierra Sun News
TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Truckee Donner Land Trust is moving forward with a major expansion of the Donner Lake Rim Trail, a long-planned 23-mile route encircling Donner Lake. Construction on the southern segment will begin in 2025, adding 12 to 15 miles to the trail and connecting Coldstream Canyon to Donner Summit.

The expansion will improve trail connectivity throughout the region, linking to the Pacific Crest Trail, the planned Pines to Mines Trail extending to Nevada City, and Placer County’s Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, which aims to reach Auburn.

This new stretch will start at the JP Trail and traverse the crest of Schallenberger Ridge, offering sweeping views of Donner Lake and Coldstream Canyon. The route will pass through Lakeview Canyon, climb Mount Judah via Sugar Bowl, and connect to the Land Trust’s Royal Gorge open space.

Once completed, the trail will fully encircle Donner Lake, further enhancing recreational access and regional connectivity.
“We’re really excited to get started on the new southern stretch. The Donner Lake Rim Trail has been a cornerstone project for the Truckee Donner Land Trust for decades,” Greyson Howard, the organization’s communications director, said. “It’s also something we couldn’t do without our partners at the Tahoe National Forest, Donner Memorial State Park, Placer County, and Sugar Bowl Resort.”

A longstanding priority for the Land Trust, the project enhances public access to the region’s landscapes while promoting conservation and recreation. It is a collaborative effort with California State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, Placer County, Sugar Bowl Resort, and local trail nonprofits.
The expansion will improve trail connectivity throughout the region, linking to the Pacific Crest Trail, the planned Pines to Mines Trail extending to Nevada City, and Placer County’s Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, which aims to reach Auburn.
Beyond recreation, the project also serves a critical conservation role. Well-designed trails help disperse users, reducing environmental impact while promoting stewardship and awareness of protected lands.
Placer County has contributed $565,000 toward the $1 million project, but an additional $435,000 is needed to complete construction.
Donors who contribute $1,000 or more will be recognized on trailhead kiosks along the Donner Lake Rim Trail. Donations will directly fund trail construction, covering contractor costs and staff time dedicated to building the route.To support the project, visit Truckee Donner Land Trust’s donation page.

To see the complete article in the Sierra Sun News, CLICK HERE.

Trail users protest adding vehicles to Sailor Bar trail

2/24/2025

February 24, 2025
FAIR OAKS – A community came together in Fair Oaks to protest against the county building a road along a popular walking trail. More than 100 people gathered to show they don't want a road built through a trail in the Sailor Bar area.
This area has been closed to cars and trucks since 2009 and people who use this trail want to keep it closed.
"This would be a devastating loss," Claudia Thorn said.
Thorn, the president of the Fair Oaks Historical Society, has lived near Sailor Bar for over 20 years. She wants the trail to stay the way it is. "For me, this place is like a sanctuary, it's almost spiritual. You come down here and it's a sense of serenity and nature," she said.
The county had plans to make the trail a road, but after the financial crisis of 2008, they had to put those plans on pause and the trail stayed. Now, with more staffing, the Recreation and Parks Commission plans to resume the road's construction.
The county says all this to make it easier for fishing. "Then how come fishermen aren't lining up in support of that," Thorn said. "This is not what the community wants, it's not about what Sacramento County wants." No major project changes or environmental testing has to be done.
"Protecting nature is really important to me, I really want to make sure that all of that is protected," Davin Ward said.
"I don't really feel like there needs to be cars out here," Ashlyn Ward said.
In total, the project will cost just over $200,000, but protestors feel they've been ignored.
"When they go to testify, it's been sit down and shut up," Thorn said.
There is a petition with over 5,500 signatures opposing the building of the road.
CBS13 reached out to the county but did not hear back.
The Recreation and Park's commission is set to have its next meeting on Feb. 27.

For more information from CBS News, CLICK HERE.

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