During the last year and a half Nevada County has participated in an interagency workgroup focused on the completion of a trail up Sugarloaf Mountain near the Eric Rood Administrative Building. The workgroup recently supported Nevada City in applying to the Recreational Trails Program for funding to build a trail connection the top of Sugarloaf Mountain to the intersection of North Bloomfield Field / State Highway 49 and on to the Rood Center and the Hershman’s Pond Trail. 

California State Parks announced recommendations for $5.6 million in funding for eight local non-motorized trail projects under the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Funding from this program helps improve the quality of life for the nation’s communities by providing access for all to the outdoors.
The list of recommended non-motorized RTP projects for California includes Sugarloaf Mountain Trail.

The RTP provides funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Authorization provides funding for the program. The Office of Grants and Local Services for State Parks conducted a competitive review process and recommended the Sugarloaf Trail project (along with 7 other projects) to receive the grants. FHWA must approve project recommendations before State Parks can execute grant agreements with Nevada City. Prior to forwarding the Sugarloaf Trail Project to FHWA, each recommended project must comply with the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966 (Section 106), National Environmental Policy Act and be listed on the State Transportation Improvement Plan. Compliance with these requirements can take up to nine months to complete.