Truckee Open Space

Billy Mack Canyon

With support of the Access Fund, acquisitions in Billy Mack Canyon total over 300 acres. Parcels are rich in recreational, mammal habitat, water quality, and open space, providing further protection for sensitive wildlife in the Canyon's Frog Creek. Billy Mack Flat, a wetland meadow, is home to beavers, which have dammed Frog Creek for their reservoir habitat. Other mammals include fox, pine martens, and black bear. Recreation opportunities include potential access to the Pacific Crest Trail, other Donner Summit hiking trails, backcountry skiing, rock climbing and bouldering.

Negro Canyon (Upper Gregory Creek)

The Land Trust protected 280 acres in Negro Canyon (near Donner Summit) that had once been designated as a residential development. This prompted us to contact the owners, who recognized the land's value as a gateway to the Castle Peak Wilderness Area and as a migratory corridor for the Loyalton-Truckee deer herd. Because of its easy access from Interstate 80 and the Tahoe Donner subdivision, and the stunning views of Donner Lake, Castle Peak and Mount Rose, the Canyon is a popular recreational site for hikers, bikers and equestrians who use the Donner Lake Rim Trail that traverses the Canyon. The area is rich in wildlife, including black bears, coyotes, mule deer, bobcats, and porcupines. Gregory Creek also runs through this High-Sierra chaparral canyon. The Canyon is also home to at least four species of birds listed as protected by state or federal programs.

Negro Canyon has historical significance to the Truckee community. Local historians believe the name may be related to an African American and resident of Donner Lake around 1878 named Albert Johnson. Johnson was well known and respected, was a cook at the Truckee Hotel and later worked as a cook on a Lake Tahoe steamer. In newspaper articles, he is referred to as a “colored veteran,“ probably of the Civil War. Eventually, he began renting cabins at Donner Lake near the output of Gregory Creek, which flows from Negro Canyon. Unfortunately, his name does not appear on land or property records, making it difficult to establish if he has any official connection to the Negro Canyon name.

Sierra College Campus

This 73-acre conservation easement is of particular significance in protecting Truckee's scenic and open space from development, and will host a variety of recreational access for hiking and biking trails. The easement restricted the building envelope of the college and ensures the scenic integrity of McIver Hill within sight of Truckee and surrounding highways. The campus is a “green,” environmentally sensitive campus, including over 50 acres of open space with hiking and biking trails.

Jackass Ridge

Jackass Ridge sits behind the Savemart/CVS shopping center running west to Coldstream Canyon. It is an historic Truckee landmark and scenic ridgeline, permanently protected by a conservation easement donated by the Cabona family. The 68-acre easement prevents development and ensures that the ridgeline will permanently retain its alpine integrity.

Donner Summit

The Land Trust acquired 320 acres on Donner Summit and is under contract to acquire another 1,200 acres above the North Fork of the American River. This property has important recreational assets with a network of trails, including the popular Paradise Creek Trail east of Devil’s Peak.

Airport Flats

The entire network of ownership at Airport Flats, including the Hualapai land has long been a sought after project by the Land Trust due to its scenic and recreational value to the Town and location off of I-80 as a scenic corridor. The values for meriting acceptance of the 71 acres land donation at Airport Flats includes potential recreational connectivity, scenic byway directly south of I-80, open space preservation right at the entrance and exit to the Town of Truckee, and water quality and habitat preservation at the adjoining reaches of the Truckee River Canyon.

Creekside Woods

Creekside Woods is a 19-unit development west of Donner Lake. The owner of the property approached the Land Trust with the idea of an outright donation of approximately 2.4 acres. The site is scenic and it is part of the Old Highway 40 visual corridor. The acreage contains a segment of the historic Lincoln Road (Old 37) that merits preservation. Staff is also working with the developer on the nearby Del Oro property that we hope to use for a recreational trail connecting Donner Lake to the Donner Rim Trail.

Bucknam Tract

A unique partnership between the Town of Truckee, Tahoe Donner Association and the Land Trust protected this 240-acre greenbelt. The property is a conglomeration of hundreds of 20’ by 80’ lots, created in 1911 after the San Francisco earthquake as temporary housing should another quake strike. The Land Trust was interested in acquiring the Tract due to its scenic qualities and potential connectivity to the Donner Lake Rim Trail. The town’s interest was similar; to preserve a prominent ridgeline per the Truckee General Plan and to address the potential environmental degradation associated with the development of hundreds of lots on steep slopes in a highly visible location above Donner Lake.

Winter Creek Wetland

This 17-acre parcel, located in the center of town south of Truckee Regional Park was donated by Truckee Partners, Inc. This important wetland serves as a drainage basin and flood control component during large storms. The parcel occasionally hosts large mammals and mule deer foraging for water in spring and early summer.

Pineforest

In 2004, the Land Trust received two important donations of land in the Truckee area, each enhancing the area’s wildlife and recreational opportunities. Ken Inc., the developer of the Pineforest Project, donated 132 acres to the Land Trust. The property is adjacent to the middle school off Alder Road and provides a valuable trail and wildlife corridor from Tahoe Donner to Highway 89. The land also provides riparian habitat along Alder Creek that is important for wildlife and water quality.

Old Greenwood

East West Partners donated 260 acres north of I-80 adjacent to the Old Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing developments. East West is also making a sizable donation to a stewardship endowment fund for management of the property, which will allow permanent public access through a maintained trail network. The project will seamlessly link to Truckee's planned trail network via a class one trail, which will be built by East West and maintained by the Truckee Trails Foundation.