Craycroft Ridge Trail Update

The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) has wrapped up restoration work on Craycroft Ridge Trail, a "gold-rush" era route connecting the recreation dependent town of Downieville to the popular Chimney Rock Trail and the historic townsite of Poker Flat. Trail work focused on realigning approximately 2,000' of excessively steep and heavily eroded trail along the ridge near the northern most end of Craycroft Ridge. The project was originally funded for drainage and rolling dip construction to prevent user and natural caused erosion, however after a site visit between SBTS and the Forest Service the focus shifted to tread realignment, with the goal of reducing grade and making the trail more sustainable to motorized use. The realignment was first surveyed, then flagged and mapped. Specialists were then sent into the field to survey and approve the new alignment under the NEPA process. Construction of the new alignment began summer of 2009.

Additional funds are needed to complete the realignment with the following work still remaining to be complete:
3 switchback turns widened
3 switchback turns constructed
1500' of new tread needs construction
Tons of root removal still needed
SBTS Trail Crew approximates there is 250-300 labor hours remaining to complete the realignment of Craycroft Ridge Trail.