08/30/2026
$60K grant awarded for a new trail for equestrians and hikers in the Tahoe National Forest! Posted in the Gold Country Trails Council page this morning:
IMPORTANT AND EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!
- from Gold Country Trails Council Board (GCTC) President, Julie McMannus: GCTC has a very important and exciting announcement! We are being awarded a $60,000 grant for construction of the new Hoof Trail!!! WE NEED YOUR APPEARANCE AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING THIS TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026 at 9:45 a.m. when the Grant will officially be awarded to us!!
Most of you know of the new Hoof Trail the Tahoe National Forest is allowing GCTC to build in the Lone Grave/Rock Creek area near our GCTC Equestrian Staging Area. The Hoof Trail will be for equestrian and hiker use only with no bikes allowed. Alternatively, the Hoot Trail will become a bike and foot traffic only trail with no equestrian use allowed. It is hoped that the new Hoof Trail will resolve the conflict and safety issues that have arisen as a result of the design of the Hoot Tail as a one-way, downhill, bike flow trail unsafe for equestrian and hiker use.
Tahoe National Forest has marked the intended Hoof Trail and it is now considered Four Sections. Beginning at the southeast, what was know to GCTC members as the Ginny Dix Trail, will now be officially known as the Harmonious Trail by the TNF. This section will be multi-use for equestrians, foot traffic and bikes. Clearing and construction has basically been completed on this section. Next is Section #3 of the new Hoof Trail. After a work day of TNF staff and GCTC Members, much of the work needed on this section has been completed. That leaves Sections One and Two which, combined, go down to Rock Creek and Rock Creek Road. These two sections will require professional trail builders as it is steep, requires clearing, grading and packing, in addition to a creek crossing and protection of the spring feeding Rock Creek. GCTC obtained a bid from Saxon Thomas of the HUSWEJ Stewardship Crew of $49,000. So, how to come up with $49,000 without depleting our recent Griffen bequest? Enter GCTC Financial Committee Members Al and Donna Gebhart!! They went to work and found a grant matching our needs offered by the Nevada County Recreation Department. The Gebharts, Helen Crawford and I went to work and were able to submit an application by the deadline. We waited on pins and needles, afraid to hope but, out of all the applications received by the County, only five grants were awarded and we got one of them!!
The Grant is specifically for construction of the Hoof Trail and necessary signage and cameras once completed. We were awarded the Grant to reduce user conflict and promote safety in the Lone Grave/Rock Creek Trail System. Once the Grant is awarded this Tuesday, construction on the last two segments of the Hoof Trail will commence shortly. Once the construction is completed, we will need to wait for rain to settle everything, and for final touches of compaction to occur. We are approaching this construction with a "one-time do it right attitude" that will require the least future annual maintenance by our Club. We ask for your patience.
As your President, I am asking for all who possibly can, to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting at the Rood Center this coming Tuesday, August 25, 2026. We are scheduled for 10:20 a.m. but the Agenda may move more quickly, so, we ask you arrive no later than 9:45 a.m. at the BOS Chambers.
Please come and represent GCTC as we receive over $60,000 to complete the Hoof Trail.
Please also take the time to acknowledge the hard work and hours of dedication of Al and Donna Gebhart and Helen Crawford in applying for this Grant. Also to Cathy Scott, Judy Hayamizu, Mary Johnson, Jamie Canon, Donna McMillan, Jeff Harder and the countless other GCTC members who helped convince the Tahoe National Forest Staff that we need and deserve our own trail.
Sincerely,
Julie A. McManus
President
Gold Country Trails Council
