Historic 3,500-Acre Land Protection in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by Conservation Partners, Providing Critical Linkage for Landmark Pines to Mines Trail

Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Tahoe National Forest, in partnership with Truckee Donner Land Trust and Bear Yuba Land Trust, proudly announce the protection of over 3,500 acres high along the Sierra Nevada crest that will now be a part of the Tahoe National Forest, and will unlock a critical 22-mile trail connection in the landmark Pines to Mines Trail.

This land conservation acquisition will allow for the completion of a multi-use native surface trail system, including the future construction of 22 miles of new trail that closes a missing trail gap connecting Truckee to Nevada City, CA, bridging these eastern and western Sierra Nevada communities via the 72-mile Pines to Mines Trail.

"This land conservation success marks a significant milestone for the Pines to Mines Trail but also protects some of the most majestic landscapes and watersheds in the Sierra," said Guillermo Rodriguez, Trust for Public Land. "By closing the gap and better connecting this trail, we are enhancing public access and recreational enjoyment to some of the most beautiful areas in the Sierra Nevada, while also preserving critical wildlife corridors and water quality. This is a win-win-win and would not have been possible without the support and leadership of our partners at the Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Bear Yuba Land Trust and so many others."

"Staying abreast of evolving, accessible recreation opportunities is a top priority for Tahoe National Forest," said acting Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Beth Martinez. "We thank our land trust partners for helping the Pines to Mines project come to fruition and thus expanding and protecting our natural public spaces for all to enjoy."

The Pines to Mines Trail intersects the Pacific Crest Trail and provides access to popular destinations such as Trout Creek, Donner Lake Rim, Lake Spaulding, and the Pioneer Trail. The newly protected land, roughly the size of seven Disneyland parks, will be transferred to the Tahoe National Forest. This acquisition prevents the necessity of redirecting the trail over less scenic former logging roads and ensuring a more enjoyable trail experience for recreators.

"Tahoe National Forest is a year-round recreational haven, drawing more than 1.6 million visitors annually. From hikers to backcountry skiers, the forest offers something for everyone, making it a cornerstone of outdoor recreation in the region for the 11 million people who live within a four-hour drive. This project will offer new and expanded opportunities for hiking, mountain biking including Class 1 e-bikes, horseback riding, endurance running, fishing, camping, backcountry skiing, and hunting," continued Beth Martinez, Acting Tahoe National Forest Supervisor.

"We are thrilled that TPL saw the immense value that the trail will bring to the Northern Sierra Nevada communities and stepped in to help facilitate this transaction," said Executive Director, Erin Tarr at Bear Yuba Land Trust. "This acquisition and transfer of land from Sierra Pacific Industries to Tahoe National Forest is such a critical piece of the overall Pines to Mines Trail project. I think I speak for all the local recreation partners who have been working tirelessly for almost 10 years on the trail alignment and funding when I say thank you TPL for getting this land protected forever!"

"Truckee Donner Land Trust is grateful to be a part of such an important project, furthering the protection of the Sierra Nevada Checkerboard and creating connectivity not only for trails, but preserving it for wildlife as well," said John Svahn, Executive Director for the Truckee Donner Land Trust. "This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission, and will protect habitat, watershed, and vertical migration corridors while also opening the door for an incredible recreation opportunity for all to enjoy."

Along with recreational benefits, this acquisition safeguards essential habitat connectivity, including 56 identified wetlands, four Sierra meadows, and four miles of intermittent and perennial streams. Additionally, this acquisition protects the headwaters of the South Yuba River and two significant watersheds: Rattlesnake Creek/South Yuba River and Fordyce Creek. These watersheds flow into Lake Spaulding and the State Wild and Scenic section of the South Yuba River, playing a crucial role in maintaining water quality.

The project areas contain habitat that supports several endangered species, including the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, Pacific marten, and North American wolverine. The protection of these landscapes is essential in combating habitat loss while buffering the effects of climate change.

The Pines to Mines Trail project was approved by the Tahoe National Forest this year, after years of collaborative work by the Bear Yuba Land Trust, Trust for Public Land, Bicyclists of Nevada County, County of Nevada, Gold Country Trails Council, and Truckee Trails Foundation.

TPL facilitated this $7.6 million land deal, acquiring the property from Sierra Pacific Industries, for transfer to the U.S. Forest Service to become a part of the Tahoe National Forest. The lands were purchased entirely with funds competitively awarded to the Tahoe National Forest from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

"Sierra Pacific is proud of our collaborative work with Trust for Public Land and the other partners to help facilitate the build out of the Pines2Mines Trail," said Mark Emmerson, CEO of Sierra Pacific Industries. "This project opens up more areas for public recreation, supporting both conservation and local communities."

This acquisition is part of TPL's Sierra Nevada Checkerboard Initiative, an ongoing effort by partners, like the Truckee Donner Land Trust, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Northern Sierra Partnership and others, to address the fragmented ownership pattern in the northern Sierra Nevada which has led to the protection of over 120,000 acres to date. The Sierra Checkerboard Initiative is a multi-year plan to consolidate and protect the remnant checkerboard lands such as the 3,500 acres of Pines to Mines.

The historic checkerboard ownership pattern in the Sierra Nevada, a legacy of 19th-century railway construction incentives, continues to pose challenges for public access, wildlife habitat, and water quality. The ongoing Sierra Checkerboard Initiative aims to work with local partners and the U.S. Forest Service to better consolidate National Forest System ownership for a greener, more accessible future in the Sierra Nevada.

About Trust for Public Land 

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About Tahoe National Forest

Tahoe National Forest includes more than 850,000 acres of public land intermixed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard pattern. The Tahoe National Forest is responsible for managing the land for current and future generations and for a variety of uses. The forest is also one of the most popular forests for year-round recreation in the United States.

About Bear Yuba Land Trust

Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) is a local nonprofit that has been working to save land, build trails, and connect people with nature in the Bear and Yuba River watersheds of Nevada and Yuba counties for over 34 years. To date, BYLT has protected over 26,000 acres of land and built over 50 miles of trails. BYLT works closely with their communities to protect and steward open spaces and wild places for many generations to enjoy.

About Truckee Donner Land

Trust Truckee Donner Land Trust was founded in 1990, and since then has protected more than 40,000 acres of open space in the Truckee-Donner region. TDLT works to create public access to those lands with more than 55 miles of trail, the Webber Lake Campground, and the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts. TDLT also works to steward its protected lands with numerous forest health projects and watershed restoration projects. Learn more at truckeedonnerlandtrust.org

About Sierra Pacific Industries

Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) is a third-generation, family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California. SPI owns and manages more than 2.4 million acres of timberland in California, Oregon and Washington and is one of the largest U.S. lumber manufacturers. The company also produces millwork, windows and renewable energy. SPI also has a commitment to conservation partnerships, including a decades-long relationship with Trust for Public Land that has placed over 30,000 acres of the California Sierra and Cascade into public ownership. Learn more at spi-ind.com

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