The Trump administration wants to end protections for roadless areas, which include
231 miles of the PCT - The Pacific Crest Trail crosses 71 Inventoried Roadless Areas, places where the current administration wants to reverse protections that have been in place for more than two decades.
231 miles of the PCT - The Pacific Crest Trail crosses 71 Inventoried Roadless Areas, places where the current administration wants to reverse protections that have been in place for more than two decades.
- Granite Chief IRA—Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit: Heading north from Barker Pass, the PCT, and the contiguous Tahoe Rim Trail climb to dramatic ridgelines, yielding dreamlike views of Lake Tahoe amidst red fir and hemlock forests. Further north, the trail enters Granite Chief Wilderness and intersects the Western States Trail. Areas between Granite Chief Wilderness and Donner Pass are within this IRA, jeopardizing views enjoyed by thru-hikers, day hikers, and even skiers who use Olympic Valley, Lake Tahoe’s largest ski park.
- Dardanelles IRA—Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit: Nearly the entire PCT from Carson Pass to Echo Summit is in this roadless area. The Tahoe Rim Trail also joins the PCT as it traverses through this roadless area, which includes dramatic subalpine meadow vistas, lodgepole and whitebark pine forests, stratified volcanic peaks and ridges, and includes the headwaters of the Truckee River.
- Mount Eddy IRA—Shasta-Trinity National Forest: Just across the valley from Mount Shasta, Mount Eddy is the tallest peak along the Trinity Divide, and the tallest peak in CA west of I-5. This subrange of the Klamath Mountains features a unique landscape of towering granite spires, lush evergreen forests, and alpine lakes deep in glacier-carved cirques. The area is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and was established as a Research Natural Area (RNA) to study its ecological significance, serving as the headwaters for the North Fork Sacramento River.
- Grider IRA—Klamath National Forest: This is a popular area for campers and day hikers along the creek, which feeds the Klamath River. Severely burned in the 2014 Happy Camp Complex, the regrowing brush gives way to large stands of surviving trees, and the sound of rushing water is a constant along the trail. The area has already been the subject of a legal fight over logging.
- Deep Creek IRA—San Bernardino National Forest: On the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Starting at 6,200 feet above sea level, the stream through the IRA drops about 3,000 ft through dramatic canyons in its 22-mile course before flowing into the East Fork of the Mojave River. It includes deep pools and hot springs and is a popular spot for day hikers.
- South Sierra IRA—Inyo National Forest: On the PCT and near the South Fork of the Kern River. The iconic Kennedy Meadows (South) serves as a vital point for northbound PCT hikers, marking the beginning of their journey into the Sierra Nevada. It’s also a gateway for anglers, backpackers, and day hikers into the nearby Golden Trout and South Sierra wilderness areas.
- San Joaquin IRA—Inyo National Forest: Red’s Meadow is a beloved respite along the PCT and a starting point for horse packers at the Agnew Meadows Pack Station. It is situated near the beloved Devils Postpile National Monument and is a perfect gateway into the quintessential Sierra Nevada alpine landscape, with wildflowers and granite boulders strewn about Jeffery Pine forests.
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