Opening Trails in State Parks: IMBA is helping clubs proactively petition CA State Parks to open specific trails to mountain bicycles. Thanks to the agency's new policy, IMBA CA is able to request the opening of trails, and park managers are obligated to initiate a public process to consider them. IMBA CA thinks this new policy is our best chance at opening strategic new singletrack and putting real trail miles on the ground. If you or your club knows a trail in a state park you want opened, contact
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New Mt. Tam and Marin County Area Trails: Tom has been working with Access 4 Bikes to petition CA State Parks to open four new trails, totaling approximately 16 miles in Marin County, including Mt. Tam. After years of being treated like second-class citizens, we think the timing is right to get our foot in the door for major new trail miles. Stay tuned, as the behind the scenes work is going well. IMBA will make sure you know when to write a letter to support trail openings. The entire process could be finished by October.
New Singletrack Near Sacramento: IMBA CA testified regarding the American River Bike Path/Parkway and how this paved network can integrate with area singletrack trails. The Sacramento Area Mountain Bike Association has worked diligently for years to gain access to dirt trails in the Parkway. Their efforts were rewarded with access to dirt trails included in the Parkway Plan. The Plan requires several more layers of approval, however local mountain bikers are optimistic that they will finally gain access. The goal is to interlace paved bike paths with singletrack to create a complete bicycle trail system - great singletrack opportunity in the middle of a large urban area!
New Singletrack Potential at PG & E Lands: Pacific Gas and Electric Company manages approximately 140,000 acres of watershed lands and reservoirs in California. As part of the company's bankruptcy settlement, a Stewardship Council was established in 2004 to ensure that these watershed lands are conserved for a broad range of beneficial public values, including mountain biking. IMBA CA is actively advocating for singletrack on many of these properties.
New Singletrack at Shasta Trinity National Forest: IMBA Trail Solutions and the Redding Mountain Biking Club has been helping the National Forest design seven miles of new technical trails near lake Shasta. The review process is almost complete and new trail construction should start shortly.
Tahoe Basin New Technical Trails: IMBA Trail Solutions contracted with the Lake Tahoe, Forest Service Management Unit to design the Basin's first official technical trail. The trail is approximately six miles long and has designed, altered natural features. It's a high quality addition to the many great trails in the Tahoe area.
Trail Package in North Coast Thompson Wilderness Bill: This legislation has dragged on for more than four years. Finally, all parties have reached a workable solution. The bill originally proposed to close many trails currently open to bikes by designating them Wilderness. IMBA helped carve out several areas for existing trails and future trail development and supported a National Recreation Area, rather than Wilderness. The bill has progressed to a place we can support.
Whiskeytown National Park Including 66 Miles of Singletrack: IMBA's partnership with the National Park Service hasn't been easy, but California is now home to one of the best parks in the country for mountain biking. With more than 66 miles of singletrack open to mountain bikes, IMBA hopes to bring the trail successes from this National Park to many more. The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew conducted a trailbuilding session that was attended by local and federal land managers to help build new trails and repair old ones.
BLM'S Management Plan Opens Door for New Trails: IMBA CA representatives have worked for many months giving input to the BLM for the proposed Resource Management Plan for approximately 270,000 acres of public land administered by the Ukiah Field Office. The result is that the Plan is mountain bike friendly, thus paving the way for future development of many miles of singletrack and technical trail areas. BLM will soon be starting a trails plan and IMBA CA will be fully involved.
New Trails at Auburn State Recreation Area: The Auburn State Recreation Area is a 38,000-acre natural area in the Sierra foothills. It is a popular mountain bike area with many miles of singletrack. The public agencies managing the site have begun a general plan/resource management planning process. IMBA CA. is well represented in focused group discussions as well as public meetings, advocating for expansion of the trail system. There will be continued involvement until the plan is completed in 2007. More trails are on the way!
San Mateo County Parks: What started as a great opportunity for mountain bicyclists turned into a big fight with equestrians, upset over the thought of mountain bicycles on the Huddart Park Trail System. IMBA CA, NORCAMBA and other mountain bike advocates provided public testimony in support of a new mountain bike trail proposal. Rather than move forward with a recommendation for a park bypass trail for mountain bikes, in the face of extreme hostility from the equestrians, the park decided to convene a trail user coalition to review the entire trail system in an effort to find an acceptable solution for mountain bike access. IMBA CA will continue their involvement in the process until an equitable solution is found.
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