In the 2016-2017 snow season, an avalanche damaged the Mount Rose welcome plaza, leaving visitors without access to restroom facilities and a welcome plaza for over seven years…until now! The Forest Service has announced construction plans to redesign and reconstruct facilities of the Tahoe Meadows and Mt. Rose Trailheads. Below is an excerpt from the Forest Service’s August 2 press release:
“We are extremely excited to begin implementation of this long-awaited project,” said Carson District Ranger Matt Zumstein. “This would not have been possible without the funding from the Great America Outdoors Act that the Forest received to reduce deferred maintenance backlogs and enhance aging recreational infrastructure. At both trailheads, this funding will be used to repair and improve infrastructure for trail users.”
These improvements will include a new restroom facility at Tahoe Meadows, repaved parking lots, and removal of the current damaged structures. Early-stage designs and project management are underway, and the Tahoe Meadows facilities are projected to be installed at the beginning of Summer 2024.
At the TRTA, we are happy to hear about this $1.3 million project to encourage a safer, more accessible trail system. This project will help reduce the impacts of people parking in sensitive areas and causing negative environmental impacts without access to functional restrooms. The trailheads may have to be closed for certain construction stages.
“The Forest Service may need to close parts or the entire trailhead to help ensure public safety while construction work is occurring. Project updates can be found by visiting the Forest’s website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/htnf or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HumboldtToiyabe) pages.”
Construction impacts are tentatively scheduled as follows:
Mt. Rose Trailhead
- 8/14/23 – 9/13/23- Trail users should mostly have full access to parking and the trail. There may be minor delays, but no extreme impacts are scheduled.
- 9/18 – 9/25- Parking lot paving.
Tahoe Meadows Trailhead
- 9/20/23 – 10/16/23- Trail users should expect limited to zero access to parking or the interpretive and TRT trails from this trailhead.
- 7/10/24 – 8/1/24- Trail users will again have zero access to parking and trails during this phase.
Like all things construction, timeframes and impacts can change. The TRTA will continue to be in contact and receive updates concerning access impacts.
You can check live project updates here: fs.usda.gov/htnf, facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/), and twitter.com/HumboldtToiyabe.
We hope to see you out on the trails!
TRTA
