The Town of Truckee, California, is quickly becoming a world-class recreation destination and the National Forest Foundation is helping to meet a growing need for sustainably-designed trails in the area.

In 2019, with funding from REI Co-op MasterCard Cardholders, the NFF worked with the Truckee Trails Foundation to improve and expand a popular user-created trail to Jackass Ridge.

School children help build the A1 trail as part of a local Stewardship Day event.

The project improved 1.85-miles of user-created trail and built 1.6 miles of new trail, creating a new 3.5-mile loop trail.

Accessible from downtown Truckee, the new A1 trail meets U.S. Forest Service standards for trail sustainability and provides an exciting new recreational opportunity for visitors and locals alike. The Tahoe National Forest now manages the trail.

The A1 trail is the first phase of the Five Creeks Trail System envisioned to connect Truckee to Squaw Valley. The project includes numerous mountain biking features such as rock features and sweeping berms. Three armored rock sections and 49 drains protect the trail and limit erosion.

The trail has support from local community members, 22 of whom came out to help build the trail at two volunteer days organized by Truckee Trails Foundation.

“It was so much fun to spend a day helping build this amazing new section of trail. A popular mountain biking trail just got a whole lot better!” said volunteer Jenna Elliott.

In 2020 the Truckee Trails Foundation crew will put the finishing touches on the project with trailhead signage and completion of the approach to Highway 89 at the intersection of West River Street.

National Forest Foundation