Two ski tourers skinning through rime-covered trees in falling snow

On hiatus project

TBA Backcountry Shuttle

Status: On hiatus
Location: West shore and South Shore of Lake Tahoe
Cost estimate: $1,200 per day of service
Partners: Tahoe Sierra Transportation

On hiatus for the 2024/25 Season – more info coming soon.

Project history

In the winter of 2019, TBA partnered with Tahoe Sierra Transportation to initiate a pilot program for micro transit along the west shore of Lake Tahoe to mitigate parking congestion on busy weekends. TBA paid for operation costs ($1,200/day) for a driver and a Suburban for three Saturdays throughout the winter. The shuttle ran pickups at the Tahoe City Transit Center and drop-offs at trailheads along the west shore of Lake Tahoe.

Due to the success of the pilot and the financial support of the backcountry community, TBA expanded the program for the winter of 23/24 to include more days and residential pickup, along with a South Shore microtransit pilot program for all 4 Saturdays in February.

Help make it happen

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

Become a member

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!

All projects