From the Pacific Crest Trail to the in-progress California Coastal Trail, California has a lot to offer when it comes to enormous rail projects.
A sprawling new proposal is coming together up in the Lost Sierra region of Northern California: The Lost Sierra Route. This proposed 500+ mile trail network would connect 16 mountain towns across the region.
The route is part of “Connected Communities,” the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) initiative to strengthen connections around the region.
A town-to-town Sierra adventure
The proposed network spans six counties in Northern California and western Nevada, from the Truckee–Tahoe area north through the Lassen region. It connects the mountain towns of Truckee, Downieville, Sierra City, Quincy, Graeagle, Portola, Taylorsville, Greenville, Chester, Susanville, Loyalton, Sierraville, Westwood, Jonesville, Johnsville, and Reno.
The idea is not one continuous trail loop, but rather a connected corridor made of new trails, existing trails, and roads, built around moving between towns. That could mean a multi-day backpacking trip, a point-to-point hike, or an equestrian outing on certain sections.
It took 5 years for SBTS to develop the Connected Communities plan through meetings, surveys, and mapping exercises.
The most recent trail addition is a singletrack connection between Quincy and Taylorsville, recently opened in November 2025. SBTS completed a 6.5-mile trail connection on the backside of Mt. Hough, closing the gap on a 13.5-mile singletrack between the two towns.
Most of the project is still in a planning, environmental review, and fundraising phase before more extensive construction can begin. You can donate and volunteer to support the SBTS on their website.
🌐 Learn more: Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship – Connected Communities