Blog Posts

Forest Service debuts new recreation mobile app

6/3/2026

Washington, D.C. — To kick off Great Outdoors Month, the Forest Service is launching a new, single visitor-information mobile app, National Forests and Grasslands, now available for download as visitors plan their summer trips to recreation sites across the National Forest System.

USE THE QR CODE IN THE GRAPHIC ABOVE!

For the first time the app provides the most complete and accurate collection of Forest Service recreation sites that has ever been made available to the public, along with important planning tools like critical safety alerts, closures, amenity details and more.

“Due to the sheer size and remote nature of our 165,000 miles of trails and more than 30,000 recreation sites, we know that mobile service can be limited once you reach your destination,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “We encourage everyone to download the National Forests and Grasslands app – your own pocket-sized Forest Service guide – to check trail conditions, download offline maps, and view safety alerts before your trip.”

With the app, users can design their own adventure by identifying and favoriting recreation activities on national forest lands within a selected radius.

Visitors can search for opportunities such as hunting and fishing, water activities like canoeing or rafting, bike – or equestrian – friendly trails, and campsites based on available amenities.

Downloading maps ahead of time allows users to access their location even in remote areas. Optional map layers, including fire information and National Weather Service alerts, can be toggled on to provide a complete picture of the environment at your destination.

This debut will retire nearly 30 similar, outdated agency apps, improving overall visitor safety, access and consistent information to the nearly 164 million visitors who recreate on national forests and grasslands each year.

Download the app, explore your favorite trails and check out events happening during National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The National Forests and Grasslands app is available for download on Apple store for iOS and Google Play for Android.

To read the complete article in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, CLICK HERE.

2026 Celebration of Trails with Bear Yuba Land Trust

5/28/2026

CELEBRATION OF TRAILS JUNE 2026
Trail lovers of all ages and abilities are invited to hit the dirt with Bear Yuba Land Trust this June for our month-long Celebration of Trails packed with adventure, creativity, community, and fun!

This year’s lineup includes:

Kick-Off Happy Hour with Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co. — Raise a glass to local trails with the limited-release Support Your Local Trails Pale Ale.
Summer Star Hike Challenge — Explore 17 local trails, hunt for stars, and earn chances to win exciting raffle prizes (pre-registration required).
Art in Nature Installations — Discover site-specific artworks created by local artists using natural materials along area trails.
Artist Walk & Talks — Meet the artists and experience the stories, inspiration, and process behind the installations.
Butterfly Home — Enjoy a live outdoor theatrical performance celebrating movement, nature, and imagination.
Project on Preserve & Trail Mix — Roll up your sleeves for hands-on community stewardship projects supporting local trails and open spaces.
Street Party — Celebrate in downtown Grass Valley with live music from The Gold Souls, family-friendly nature activities, awards, raffles, and more.

Get ready to hike, explore, create, celebrate, and support your local trails all month long. Read on for full event details!

Go her for more info!
https://www.bylt.org/celebration-of-trails/

New interactive Placer Land Trust MAP!

5/27/2026

FROM THE PLACER COUNTY STEWARD NEWSLETTER:
Looking for someplace to get outdoors and enjoy this beautiful springtime weather? Whether you're looking to picnic, paddle, or enjoy a stroll with your pup on a dog-friendly trail, we've got just the thing — check out our new interactive map of our public Placer Land Trust preserves to find the perfect spot!

Folks have been asking for an easy way to browse our public lands, and we heard you. With this new mobile-friendly online map, you can filter by activity, see what's near you, and even fly over the canyons or zoom in to check out the terrain. Maybe we're map nerds, but we think it's super cool — and we hope you do, too! 😎

Federal rule prioritizing 'conservation' in BLM land use revoked

5/14/2026

The repeal reduces the role of “conservation” in BLM’s land use decisions and reverts the agency’s decision making to the “multiple use and sustained yield” land use strategy outlined in the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

A public comment period gathered 147,649 comments, according to its official page on the Federal Register. A statistical analysis by the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation advocacy organization, found that 92% of public comments were in support of keeping the rule.

The Sierra Club, a conservation advocacy organization, spoke out against the decision alongside several other organizations and policy directors. Several comments included in its petition said BLM’s decision would “weaken public land protection while prioritizing extractive industries.”

“This action follows a broader pattern of efforts aiming to accelerate drilling and mining, weaken federal land management capacity, and advance proposals to sell off or privatize public lands. Together, these moves represent a clear rejection of the public’s demand for responsible, balanced stewardship of our public lands,” the Sierra Club wrote.

To see the complete article, go to the Georgetown Gazette newspaper article HERE.

BYLT Summer Star Hike Challenge 2026

5/5/2026

Starts: Monday June 1, 2026 7:00 am
Ends: Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00 pm

4th Annual Celebration of Trails
Summer Star Hike Challenge
A Fundraiser for Bear Yuba Land TrustJune 1 – 25, 2026
Trails across Nevada & Yuba Counties
Hike for the stars and support local trails with BYLT’s fourth annual Summer Star Hike Challenge! Lace up your boots, get outside, and explore some of our region’s most beautiful trails as you search for stars all June long. Discover new favorite destinations, revisit beloved paths, and challenge yourself to see how many stars you can fine while enjoying fresh air, scenic views, and outdoor adventure. Every hike helps celebrate and support the local trails that connect our community to nature—so grab your friends, family, or hiking crew and make this summer your most star-filled yet!
This year’s adventure features:

17 local trails to explore, challenge yourself, and discover something new
17 stars to find, each crafted by an artist from Neighborhood Center of the Arts
Over a dozen exciting raffle prizes
Pre-registration required

Pre-registration for this event is required:

$25 adults
$15 participants under 18

All registrations include:

Entry into the Summer Star Hike Challenge and raffle
2026 Trail Vibes T-Shirt*
Star Map to help locate the stars (emailed to you on June 1, 12 o’clock midnight)
All proceeds from the Star Hike Challenge support the programs and mission of BYLT

*You must register by June 3, 2026 to receive a t-shirt. T-shirts will be available for pick up at the Street Party on June 27 and anytime after that at the BYLT Office in Grass Valley.
GO. HERE to register:
www.bylt.org/events/event/summer-star-hike-challenge-2026/

Opening dates for Lake Tahoe Recreation Sites

4/21/2026

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Winter is winding down, spring is in the air, and summer is just around the corner at Lake Tahoe. Over the next month, the U.S. Forest Service will open recreation sites on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit for the recreation season.
Before the recreation sites open, they must be cleaned up after the snow melts. Safety hazards, such as dead or damaged trees, must be removed. And the danger of a freeze must pass before turning on restroom water systems.
The following recreation site opening dates are subject to change, based on weather and area conditions. Some sites and parking areas may open sooner.

Interpretive Sites

Inspiration Point – May 22
Tallac Historic Site – May 23
Taylor Creek Visitor Center – June 5
Logan Shoals Vista Point – to be determined

Campgrounds/Corrals/Resorts

Zephyr Cove Stables – Open
Camp Richardson Corral – Open
Round Hill Pines Resort – May 1
Meeks Bay Resort and Campgrounds – May 9
Camp Richardson Resort’s Eagle’s Nest, Badger’s Den campgrounds – May 22
Blackwood Canyon, Fallen Leaf, Kaspian, Nevada Beach and William Kent campgrounds – May 22
Angora Lakes Resort – May 23
Echo Chalet – Memorial Day, May 25
Camp Richardson Resort and RV Park – year round
Zephyr Cove Campground & Resort – year round
Luther Pass Campground – to be determined
Watson Lake Campground – to be determined

Beaches/Picnic Areas/Trailheads

Sandpit Off-Highway Vehicle Area – May 10
Sawmill Pond Picnic Area – May 16
Mt. Tallac Trailhead – May 17
Baldwin, Nevada and Pope – May 22
Bayview and Big Meadow trailheads – May 22
Eagle Falls Picnic Area & Trailhead – May 23
Kiva Picnic Area – May 23
Chimney Beach and Secret Harbor – to be determined

Until these sites are fully open, parking, trash service and restrooms are not available. Plan ahead and be prepared to pack out all trash. Until these sites are fully open, parking, trash service and restrooms are not available. Plan ahead and be prepared to pack out all trash.
National forest gate and road opening dates are determined by Motor Vehicle Use Maps. These dates are subject to change. Where gates remain closed, always park legally, avoid parking on vegetation, and do not block gates.

A friendly reminder about pets… Pets are not permitted at these designated swim beaches under public health and safety regulations: Baldwin, Camp Richardson, Meeks Bay, Nevada, Pope, William Kent, and Zephyr Cove.
Pets must be on a 6-foot leash in developed recreation sites. Where pets are allowed, clean up after and properly dispose of pet waste bags. For more on recreating with pets, visit Where Can I Take My Dog at Lake Tahoe?

For the latest information and updates, visit our website and follow us on Facebook

Loon Lake New Equestrian ONLY Camp Sites in Eldorado National Forest

4/16/2026

Last year, Loon Lake Campground was upgraded and is now complete and will be opening this June 19th. This includes major upgrades to the equestrian sites. Equestrian Loop has 8 pull-through campsites and now the group area has 5 group sites. Each site in the Equestrian Loop is now designed better for pull-throughs and handles larger LQ trailers. Also, each site has 2 permanent stall steel corrals.

Group sites can handle two rigs per site and each have 4 stall steel corrals. All equestrian sites also have tables, fire pit and bear boxes. Water is available in both areas. Campsites have easy access to Desolation Wilderness and the Tells Creek area trails.

Thanks go to SMUD, US Forest Service, Doug Veerkamp General Contractor for these major improvement to the previous outdated equestrian sites, and special thanks to the Elegant Ears Mule Association that provided recommendations in the design/improvements of the equestrian sites.

These are now equestrian-only sites!

Reservations required. Campsite open June 19th. Come check it out! Go to Recreation.gov for photos of site, details and reservations, or just click here:
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232070

Trump's administration will move the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from D.C to Salt Lake City and will shutter research facilities in 31 states.

4/3/2026

During a congressional hearing and public comment period on the subject last summer, more than 80% of the 14,000 public comments submitted were negative, with many tribal representatives, conservation groups and former Forest Service staffers opposing the move. Regardless, Trump's administration will move the U.S. Forest Service headquarters out of the nation's capital to Salt Lake City and will shutter research facilities in 31 states.

“Nobody is asking for this,” said Robert Bonnie, who oversaw the Forest Service as a Department of Agriculture. “None of the farm groups want this. No one in conservation wants this. Nobody.”

To Bonnie and other former Forest Service staff, the plan, which will uproot thousands of employees, looks like it will only make the agency’s existing troubles worse, especially given the past year of deep cuts and chaos. Taylor McKinnon at the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity described the move as "a costly bureaucratic reshuffle" that will put more power in the hands of corporations and states to log, mine and drill public lands. National forests belong to all Americans," said McKinnon, the environmental group's Southwest director. "Our nation's capital is where federal policy is made and where the Forest Service headquarters belongs."

CLICK HERE to see complete article.

Trump admin proposing 'catastrophic' cuts to the National Park Service in today's 2027 budget

4/3/2026

The National Park Service will operate with more than 25% less money, if the Trump administration gets its wish. The Trump administration’s proposed budget, which would need to be approved by Congress, also calls for cutting the Park Service’s construction budget by 72% compared to 2025. The administration is looking to cull staff, too: A new “strategic initiative” announced by the Interior Department on Thursday seeks to further slash the size of the already-reduced Park Service.

According to the administration's 2027 budget proposal, released today, funding for park operations could be reduced by $736 million.

“A cut this massive would be catastrophic," said John Gardner, senior director of budget and appropriations for the National Parks Conservation Association, in a press release. "After a year of deep staffing cuts, dwindling resources, and attacks on history and science, park staff are already at the brink... This proposal would only accelerate the damage."

At the same time, the Trump administration is proposing the allocation of $10 billion within the Park Service for a new "Presidential Capital Stewardship Program" for beautification efforts around Washington, D.C. That's more than three times the annual budget of the Park Service, and nearly half of the Park Service's total deferred maintenance backlog across the entire system...

CLICK HERE for the complete article in SF Gate.

Mother Lode Trails:
Trump and his administration are actively ignoring what Americans are requesting: continue funding our National Parks and Park Service. CLICK HERE see what surveys state, "Nobody Wants This: Polls find Majority of Americans Oppose Attacks on National Parks and Park Staff." Last year, when the cuts were less onerous, more than 2/3 of Americans surveyed opposed the Trump’s proposed budget cuts, while only 16% support cutting park staff.

ICK! TICKS! It's Lyme tick time starting right now

3/30/2026

From a Mother Lode Trails reporter March 30, 2026:
"I was riding from Sterling Pointe Equestrian Staging area to Avery Pond and back. When we got back we found our horses were covered with ticks. We removed 40+ ticks off just one of our horses!"

From MOTHER LODE TRAILS:
Ticks are coming out EARLY this year! Every year Mother Lode Trails posts this warning about ticks, how to repel and avoid them.

TICKS! IT'S LYME TIME!
Several trail users have told of dozens of Black Legged Ticks crawling on hikers, horseback riders, and particularly dogs. After a hike on the Independence Trail, one hiker removed 20+ ticks from one dog. Grassy trails in our area right now are loaded with ticks waiting to jump on you and your pets. Be aware in ALL grassy and treed areas. Where ever there are deer, there will be ticks.

WHY SO MANY TICKS??
We have had much higher than normal warm weather and earlier rainfall resulting in a higher mouse and deer population, the main carriers of the Black Legged Tick. Add the lush grass and brush where they can hide and drop on any person or animal that brushes past, and we have a perfect storm.

BLACK LEGGED TICKS ARE A MAIN CARRIER OF LYME DISEASE
Approximately 10% to 30% of the ticks tested in our area are affected by Lyme Disease and can pass it to you, your horses and your pets. If not identified and treated quickly, Lyme can become a chronic and debilitating disease. Lyme disease in humans has more than doubled in the past decade. Ticks carry many more diseases than just Lyme. Ticks cause more disease than any other insect except mosquitos, and only because mosquitos have a much larger geographical range. Ticks can harm your horses, causing Tick Fever which exhibits extremely high fevers, lethargy, and death. Dogs may develop Lyme disease, becoming ill with fever and developing lameness and sluggishness. A more serious form of the disease can affect the kidneys and is often fatal.

WHAT TO DO?
For humans:
Wear light colored clothing, stay on the trails, and use sprays containing DEET, or better for the environment, Picardin. You can even apply Picardin products to your clothes that lasts through washing.

For horseback riders:
Before you ride, best tick repellent and killer for horses is Farnam BiteFree Spray or Farnam Endure. Perform a thorough tick check on yourself and your horses when you get home. If your pastures have deer visiting, be sure to regularly put those tick killer sprays on your horses on their legs, back, face and stomach where the ticks either land from above or crawl up from the grass.

See the poster below showing the only approved way to remove a tick from dogs, horses and humans.

MORE INFO
www.MotherLodeTrails.org
To see all the information posted about Lyme Disease, and ticks in our area, and how to deal with them, just type in "Lyme" in the Search function box at the top of this webpage.

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