Beckwourth Peak Trail Update: Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Pro Trail Crew checked off another half-mile of the Beckwourth Peak project last season, leaving 1.2 miles to complete the 13.5-mile lollipop loop from Portola City Park, as well as add a .2-mile optional bypass route around the natural volcanic arch. Before and After images show some of last season’s progress!
This project has been challenged by difficult trail work—the majority of the half-mile constructed last year was done by benching through solid volcanic bedrock using our Magnum buster and a hydraulic hammer on the mini excavator, as opposed to the faster blasting process using explosives. In addition, the 3,000-acre Gold Complex fire last July put the project on hold for two months due to a forest closure.
We’re on the homestretch, but the final road will be rocky (literally)…It appears the remaining section to construct has minimal bedrock to bench through, however it could be hiding just inches under the dirt and we won’t know until we pick the project back up this season. There are also several scree fields to build through with large rock that will need to be split and stacked to construct the tread, as well as two ravine crossings that will require the construction of 4’ x 20’ dry stack retaining walls with natural stone on-site.
Once finished, the non-motorized trail will wrap around the base of Beckwourth Peak at 6,000 feet, completing a project we started back in 2009 in partnership with the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. Its cost around $600,000 has so far been covered through a combination of government grants and SBTS fundraisers—but we currently have a funding gap of $50k to $100k, depending on how complicated the final mile ends up being. Your donations will directly help us finish this spectacular project in 2025!
