Public Lands Victory! (for now)

Across the country, outdoor enthusiasts, trail stewards, and conservationists are raising the alarm over a dangerous proposal in the U.S. Senate that could open the door to the sale of over 250 million acres of federal public land—including land managed by the U.S. Forest Service right here in the Tahoe Basin.

 

Public Lands Still at Risk—What’s Next for the Tahoe Rim Trail?

 

Across the country, outdoor enthusiasts, trail stewards, and conservationists recently raised the alarm over a dangerous proposal in the U.S. Senate that could have opened the door to the sale of over 250 million acres of federal public land—including land managed by the U.S. Forest Service right here in the Tahoe Basin.

Thanks to overwhelming public pressure, Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off public lands was removed from the Senate’s budget package over the weekend. This is a major victory for public land advocates—and a reminder that our voices matter.

But the fight is far from over. Senator Lee has already vowed to bring a new version of the proposal back. If passed in any form, it could change federal accounting rules to allow the sale of Forest Service lands to offset government spending—an unprecedented rollback of long-standing bipartisan protections. It would make large-scale land privatization easier, faster, and less accountable to the public.

 

What’s at Risk for the Tahoe Rim Trail?

 

The Tahoe Rim Trail weaves through some of the most treasured landscapes in the country—and several of those landscapes could be directly affected by future policy shifts. Areas like Echo Lakes, Mt. Rose, Meiss Meadow, Armstrong Pass, and Fallen Leaf Lake, including nearly 80 miles of the TRT, sit on or are adjacent to Forest Service lands that have been identified for potential sale in past proposals. These lands aren’t empty or forgotten—they are loved, visited, and stewarded by thousands every year.

Selling off these public lands would mean:

  • Lost public access to parts of the trail

  • Increased threat of development in wild and scenic areas

  • Fragmentation of ecosystems and wildlife habitat

  • Limitations on future reroutes, restoration work, or trailhead improvements

 

What We’re Doing—and How You Can Help

 

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association stands in strong opposition to any legislation that threatens public land protections or enables the sale of U.S. Forest Service lands that our trail depends on. We’ve joined partners across the outdoor and conservation community to urge Congress to reject any such proposals now or in the future.

But we can’t do it alone.

📲 Contact your Senators and Representative today and ask them to support legislation like the America the Beautiful Act, which would strengthen protections for public lands and safeguard access for future generations.

This weekend’s victory shows what we can accomplish when we speak up. Let’s keep going!