On August 10, 2021, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $100,000 to fund the Pines to Mines trail project Environmental Assessment (EA), a major move forward for this spectacular non-motorized trail that has been in the works for over six years. The Pines to Mines trail is a non-motorized, single track, multi use trail for hikers, mountain bicyclists and equestrians.
The Tahoe National Forest will process the Environmental Assessment for the project with funding provided by Nevada County for the non-motorized trail project.
Gold Country Trails Council (GCTC), who represents over 450 members, has supported the Pines to Mines non-motorized trail plan and applauds the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote to fund $100,000 for the trail's Environmental Assessment.
In 1981, the Gold Country Trails Council was the lead group who created the multi use Pioneer Trail for hikers, equestrians, families, cross country skiers, and mountain bicyclists, and the Council has donated funds and maintained the trail since. In the new plan, the Pioneer Trail will be part of the 80+ mile Pines to Mines trail.
Gold Country Trails Council has been an integral part of the Pines to Mines diverse alliance of trail users who have met regularly to get the non-motorized Pines to Mines trail plan to this point. The committed constituency, made up of the Bear Yuba Land Trust, Bicyclists of Nevada County, Truckee Trails Foundation, and Gold Country Trails Council, formed around the project to seek support, fund raise, create a sustainable trail alignment on the ground, provide trail building expertise, and perform ongoing trail maintenance and support going forward.
If all goes to plan, the non-motorized multi use trail may start construction as early as 2023, across lands owned and managed by the Tahoe National Forest, PG&E, CalTrans, and private landowners. At its completion, it will connect the communities of Truckee and Nevada City while transversing some of the most breathtakingly beautiful back country in the world.