The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship reports that its professional trail crew recently reached a big milestone: punching through the new 3.6-mile Acorn Grotto Trail on Mount Hough to connect with the 25N14 doubletrack Quarry Road, about halfway up Mount Hough. This accomplishment comes after several years of work.
Acorn Grotto drops 1,100 feet in elevation and serves as a critical singletrack connection from the Indian Falls Ridge route to the Mount Hough Trail, says SBTS. It also ties into the Tollgate Creek Crossing, where Berry Creek and the Mount Hough Trail intersect.
Those wanting to get up there to check it out can head to Yuba Expeditions, which is operated by SBTS, to view the shuttle schedule. Early season shuttles are running now, but organizers encourage riders to stay tuned for full shuttles to the summit as the high-elevation snow melts out.
SBTS says the completion of Acorn Grotto checks a big box off the punchlist of the 37 miles of new trails included in the Mount Hough Phase 2 project that the nonprofit is working on in partnership with the Plumas National Forest. Phase 2 is set to be finished late this year, culminating a 10-year building project on Mount Hough that brings nearly 80 miles of multiuse singletrack to Quincy’s quintessential landmark. SBTS says the project has thus far been funded through California off-highway vehicle grants, nongovernment grants and private donations and has included hundreds of hours of volunteer work over the past decade.
The crew is now working to finish Trail No. 8 — when that’s opened, it will establish a new top-to-bottom singletrack route from Indian Falls Ridge at the 7,200-foot summit of Mount Hough. With the new route, SBTS promises a new Yuba Expeditions shuttle option: 17 miles from the summit to the swim hole.
SBTS reports that this year’s professional trail crew includes a mix of SBTS veterans and newcomers. Together, crew members will work in the field maintaining some 300 miles this season throughout the Lost Sierra region. Their tasks include ensuring that world-class trails in Downieville, Lakes Basin and Mount Hough — and many miles in between — are cleared, brushed and running well for the thousands of hikers, riders and equestrians that will use the trails this season, said SBTS.
Along with Phase 2 of the Mount Hough project, another top priority this year is completion of the long-awaited Beckwourth Peak Trail in Portola.
SBTS encourages anyone wishing to support the trail crew’s work to consider donating via sierratrails.org to help make up SBTS’ funding gap of nearly $300,000 in federal funds. “And if you see ’em out on the trails this season, be sure to say hello!” said SBTS.