Plan Summary: The Planning Department has undertaken development of the Western Nevada County Non-motorized Recreational Trails Master Plan. This planning document is intended to guide the development review process and assist Staff and the Planning Commission in requiring recreational trail dedications consistent with a regional trail system. The plan entails (1) mapping existing and proposed trail alignments, (2) developing goals and policies through interagency collaboration and public involvement, (3) establishing design and classification standards to guide trail development, and (4) identifying programs for implementation of the trails plan. The tentative completion date for this plan is summer 2009.

Public Involvement: Please provide feedback regarding your trail preferences and user details to help guide development of this plan. Click Here to take survey We are also interested in gaining information from the community for existing or proposed recreational trail opportunities in Nevada County and pictures of trail construction, maintenance, or enjoyment in Nevada County to include in the plan. Please contact the project planner listed below to get involved and/or to gain further information regarding this project.

Larkyn Feiler
(530) 265-1254
950 Maidu Ave.
Nevada City, CA 95959
larkyn.feiler@co.nevada.ca.us

Plan History: The Nevada County Non-motorized Transportation Master Plan (NMTMP) was adopted in August 2000 and includes proposed Trail Corridors for the purpose of further study and development of an implementation plan called the Non-motorized Rural Recreational Trails Master Plan (Element D). The recreational trails plan is an attempt to formalize a regional recreational trail system. The original corridor and preliminary route research work was prepared by the General Plan Subcommittee, however their work was not finalized or adopted as an exhibit in the General Plan.

Historically, the approach for designating non-motorized recreational trails within the unincorporated area of Nevada County has been to propose these facilities within the road right-of-way. This method is simple, easy and expedient, however it is not reflective of how the roads are actually used, nor is it conducive to a safe or enjoyable recreational experience. Additionally, the majority of prime recreational activities and amenities within Nevada County occur away from major roadways.

The NMTMP proposes a two-step process to planning and implementing a rural recreational trail system. The first step was the designation of “Rural Recreational Corridors”, which were included in the Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan adopted in 2000. The Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and related maps may be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat® PDF format by clicking either of those links in this paragraph (548Kb and 1.9Mb files, respectively). A working draft map for use in development of the Trails Master Plan may be found HERE (1.8Mb PDF file).

The second step is to develop an implementation plan to define specific trail locations and/or alignments. Development of the implementation plan formally began in early 2002 and was placed on hold due to budgetary and staffing limitations. The Nevada County Board of Supervisors reestablished the recreational trails plan as a Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Objective. Planning anticipates taking the final Western Nevada County Recreational Trails Master Plan before the Board of Supervisors for adoption in summer 2009.