Assisted by the Trust for Public Land and the Northern Sierra Partnership, the U.S. Forest Service recently purchased 1.370 acres on Donner Summit from Sierra Pacific Industries for $1.3 million.

The property purchased is north of Interstate 80, near Castle Peak, White Rock Lake and Lola Montez Lake, a much-used wildlife and recreation spot.  It’s also the location of one of the best mountain biking trails around – the Hole In Ground mountain bike trail – enjoyed by numerous riders in the summertime.

With the acquisition of this property, recreation opportunities in the Lake Tahoe area are increased with additional sustainable trails and consolidation of national forest land. Additionally, there is a possibility that the challenging 16-mile mountain bike trail will be re-routed to create a more manageable loop – something biking enthusiasts will appreciate!