Tahoe National Forest Winter Grooming Report

Winter Grooming Report

Snowmobile trail grooming is funded by the State of California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) division winter program.

*Updated April 27, 2023

Important information about China Wall OSV Staging Area above the town of Foresthill:

China Wall OSV Staging Area is currently closed to snowmobile/winter recreation

• Logging trucks currently need access to the area to remove trees and hazards post-Mosquito Fire
• The access road is plowed to allow the safe ingress and egress of logging trucks
• The area is currently gated and closed to the public to maintain clear roadways for loggers and to minimize hazards, prioritizing public safety

Our goal continues to be the safe access of public lands. Please recreate responsibly as we continue rehabilitation work after the Mosquito Fire.

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Warmer temperatures in the forecast, watch for running water and washouts throughout the groomed trail system.  While parking/staging at Yuba Pass, do not block groomer access to the Haskell Peak 09 road groomed route on the North side of Yuba Pass, or the Yuba-Webber 12 road groomed route on the South side of Yuba Pass (SnoPark parking area).     

                            

GROOMING: Snowmobile trail grooming is funded by the State of California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) division winter program.  Trail grooming on the East Side of the Tahoe National Forest is provided by Sierra Snowcats through a contract with Sierra County.  Volunteer trail grooming on the West Side (Bassett’s/Gold Lakes) is provided by the Sierra Buttes Snowbusters Snowmobile Club, using a State-funded snow tractor/grooming equipment.  THANKS TO ALL!

AVALANCHE ADVISORY: The Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC) issues a daily avalanche advisory that covers the northern Sierra Nevada mountain range from Ebbett’s Pass on State Highway 4 in Alpine County to Yuba Pass on State Highway 49 in Sierra County.  The avalanche advisory applies to back-country areas outside of developed ski areas only.  For more information, go to the SAC website at www.sierraavalanchecenter.org, or call (530) 587-3558.

PUBLIC & PRIVATE LANDS:  Private lands are interspersed within the public lands of the Tahoe National Forest.  Please respect private property while winter recreating and riding over-snow-vehicles on the Tahoe National Forest.

MOTOR VEHICLE CLOSURE AREAS:  Motor Vehicle Closure Areas are “a geographic area, including the trails and roads within it, which are CLOSED to motorized vehicles when snow is on the ground”.  These motor vehicle closure and restriction areas are open to all non-motorized winter recreation.  Please be aware of the winter Motor Vehicle Closure Areas on the East Side Tahoe National Forest: Granite Chief Wilderness, Pole Creek (includes the Deep Creek drainage), Truckee River, Alpine Meadows, Donner Summit (includes Castle Valley and Round Valley), Sagehen, Kyburz, Independence, Babbitt RNA, and North Yuba.  These winter motor vehicle closure areas are shown on the Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Map (OSVUM), which is free to the public and available at all Tahoe National Forest Ranger Stations.  OSVUM’s are also available at Yuba Pass SnoPark and Little Truckee Summit (map boxes located at toilet facilities), or electronically on the TNF web site.

  QUESTIONS/CONCERNS: Contact Jeff Wiley, Tahoe National Forest East Zone OHV Program Manager: (530) 430-8933, Jeffrey.Wiley@usda.gov

 

PLEASE

PACK OUT TRASH!

 

2023 TAHOE National Forest

East Side & Lakes Basin grooming update #24

 

Marked (orange diamonds) OSV Route	Date of last grooming	Notes
Main 07 road - LTS to Webber Lake 8 miles	Thu 4/20
Main 07 road - Webber Lk to Jackson Mdws 9 miles	Thu 4/13
Pass Creek Loop 70 road 7 miles	n/a
Bald Ridge Loop 88 road 14 miles	n/a
Henness Pass 301 road (parallels main route) 7 miles	Sat 1/21
Yuba-Webber 12 road - main route to 54 road 9 miles	Thu 4/20
Yuba-Webber 12 road – 54 road to Yuba Pass 8 miles	Thu 4/13
Ridge Loop 12-45 road 5 miles	n/a
Rim Loop 12-28 road 3 miles	Sat 2/18
Williams Creek 54 road - Bassetts to 12 road 11 miles	Thu 4/13
Treasure Mountain Loop – 05 road & 15 road 17 miles	Fri 2/17
Meadow Lake Loop 86 road (east) 12 miles	Fri 4/21	Planned grooming tonight April 21st
Meadow Lake Loop 843 road (west) 12 miles	n/a
Prosser Tie 07-10 road 12 miles	Fri 4/14
Independence Loop- 351 road & 260 road 7 miles	Fri 4/14
Haskell Peak 09 road to Yuba Pass SnoPark 14 miles	Thu 4/13
Gold Lake Highway 620 road 14 miles	Wed 4/12	Includes road to boat ramp and day use area
Packer Lake 621 road 2.5 miles	Wed 4/12
Church Meadows Loop	Wed 4/12
Howard Meadows trail 6 miles	Fri 2/17
Mills Peak trail (Plumas NF) 3 miles	Wed 4/12
Gold Lake trail (Plumas NF, SKIER ONLY)	n/a
Lunch Creek trail (SKIER ONLY)	n/a