Big Progress on Trails in 2019

Volunteers on the new stretch of Donner Lake Rim Trail. Photo by Helen Pelster

2019 was a busy season on Land Trust trails, both building new stretches of trail and cleaning up after the big winter of 2018-19.

The big news in 2019 was of course the new stretch of Donner Lake Rim Trail, connecting from the Johnson Canyon overlook to Northwoods Boulevard, completed and opened to the public. If you didn’t get a chance to hike or ride this new 4-miles stretch of trail with its fantastic Donner Lake views and great early-season wildflowers, definitely put it on your list for 2020.

Speaking of 2020, significant progress was made on the new trail in Lower Carpenter Valley, which when complete next year, will fully open the valley to the public. It’s a beautiful walk through the woods and down into the meadow with great wildlife viewing opportunities that’s sure to quickly become a favorite.

Turning our attention to caring for existing trails - the theme of 2019 was drainage improvements after the big snows of last winter. A lot of work went into Donner Lake Rim Trail, Wendin Way, Elizabethtown Meadow Trail and the Royal Gorge Trails from bridge repairs to rock armoring.

Likewise the big winter made for big plant growth, and volunteers were critical in brushing out trails where shrubs encroached.

Trail completing the new pedestrian bridge in Donner Summit Canyon took significant rock work, and the Black Wall access trail was shored up to stand up to future big snow loads.

Thanks to our volunteers, contractors and partners for all the hard work in 2019 - and we’ll see you in 2020 on the trail!