Tahoe Backcountry Alliance
Alpenglow on a snowy Sierra peak above forested ridges

Active project

Pole Creek

Status
Active
Location
Highway 89 between Truckee and Tahoe City, Placer County, CA
Cost estimate
Not yet estimated
Partners
Placer County, U.S. Forest Service

Pole Creek is one of the most popular trailheads along Highway 89 between Truckee and Tahoe City. The public lands–including the Sierra Club backcountry hut accessible from this trailhead–are vast. The parking area at Pole Creek is large and plowed on a regular basis, but often fills early in the day with backcountry users exceeding parking capacity. TBA is working with Placer County and the U.S. Forest Service to enlarge and improve the parking area at Pole Creek. Costs for this project have yet to be estimated.

Help make it happen

Tahoe Backcountry Alliance projects are funded by members and donors. Every membership helps pay for trailheads, parking and snow removal.

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More projects

Graphic: Check out a California Sno-Park permit with your library card, with kids sledding and sample passes Active

El Dorado County and Nevada County, CA

Library Sno-Park Program

California Sno-Parks have traditionally allowed for diverse groups across California to have inexpensive Winter access to public lands. Last year, the cost for a day pass tripled and the annual pass increased by almost double. This increase can be prohibitive for many families in being able to access Sno-Parks. To help counteract this, TBA purchased sno-park passes and provided them to libraries in El Dorado County to be checked out (for free). This program was incredibly successful with most and sometimes all passes checked out and we will be continuing the program in El Dorado County this Winter and expanding it to Nevada County for the 2024/25 Winter.

Washoe Tribe kids on cross-country skis on a sunny snowy meadow Active

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Lake Tahoe region

Washoe Tribe Kids-on-Snow

TBA is broadening our definition of the word access and expanding it to include helping kids, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, get a chance to experience winter recreation. Additionally, we recognize that we both live and recreate on historically Native American land. This season we’ve purchased snowshoes and cross-country skiing gear for about 30 kids in the Washoe Tribe of Northern California and Nevada. The gear will be given to the Tribe to use anytime they have the opportunity. TBA will also be coordinating 4 days where TBA Board Members, along with other non-profit partners, will work with the kids to showcase how to use the gear, learn about hydrology and leave-no-trace principles and, most importantly, just have fun on the snow!

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