Explore the Connected Communities Routes that you can ride and hike now.
The Connected Communities vision is to connect 15 mountain towns in northern California and western Nevada with a 527-mile multi-use singletrack trail dubbed the Lost Sierra Route. This long-term vision, led by Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship in partnership with local communities and federal land managers, is still largely in the environmental review and construction phase, but there are options to explore the Lost Sierra now that serve the similar purpose of linking up towns in multi-day adventure tours suitable for hikers, mountain bikers, dirt bikers and equestrians.
This page is meant to be a resource to help plan those trips and provide a taste of what’s to come!
The map of Connected Communities Routes that you can ride or hike now.
View medium sized map (2MB)
View large detailed PDF map (9.1MB)
Bikepacking Connected Communities
One way to use the Connected Communities routes is through bikepacking. Sierra Crest views and solitude, with a resupply and refueling of the belly at the connecting towns. Here are a couple of spectacular routes:
The Lost Sierra Loop
Sagebrush to Snowbanks
Rail Yards to Ghost Towns Loop
Big rides in the beautiful Lost Sierra.
Motopacking Connected Communities
There are some 800 miles of existing backcountry roads and stretches of singletrack that can be linked up to create the ultimate moto-packing adventure across the Lost Sierra. Check out maps for Mt. Hough Recreation Area and the Downieville Trail Networks over at yubaexpeditions.com, the Backcountry Discovery Routes NorCal Route, and the Connected Communities map at the top of this page.
Big beautiful days and big burgers in town!
Backpacking Connected Communities
The famed Pacific Crest Trail passes near Truckee, Sierra City, Downieville, Quincy and Chester, as it heads through Granite Chief Wilderness, up the Sierra Crest to Bucks Lake Wilderness toward Lassen National Park. There are many route options to string together multi-day backpacking trips on the trail, dipping in and out of towns as needed for resupply. Check out the Pacific Crest Trail Association for more information. The Lakes Basin Recreation Area is also a stellar zone for backpacking—pick up a map at yubaexpeditions.com, as well as Bucks Lake Wilderness.
Get out there and get to some creature comforts in town.
Horsepacking Connected Communities
Coming soon.
Explore big and pack light, as the town will support your adventure.
The beauty of Mills Peak, Lake Davis, Quincy, that all kind of feeds off Downieville. Go to Downieville. Go to Graeagle. Go to Quincy.
– Greg Williams, Bike Magazine, June 2015
The Connected Communities Vision aims to stimulate the economies of rural communities by improving trail access and connectivity and encouraging diverse user types to explore and recreate on public lands by linking 15 mountain towns by trails.
Check out the Lost Sierra Recreation Guide
We built this with you in mind! Mountain biking, Hiking, Jeeping, and exploring amazing places in the Lost Sierra, complete with maps.
Lost Sierra Recreation Guide – Vol 2
More regions, and more fun recreational opportunities!
Lost Sierra Recreation Guide — Vol. 1
Specific details for good times in the Lost Sierra
This is Our Moment
Let’s shape the future of our region by building trails that connect communities and keep our rural towns thriving.
Every dollar helps plan, build and maintain the trails that will define the next generation of adventure in Northern California and Western Nevada.
Donate. Volunteer. Join Us.