Help keep the Lakes Basin Trails Open: Your $5 Donation Could Win You an Epic Adventure!

Our work in the Lakes Basin is generally paid for through grants and private donations, or the U.S. Forest Service contracts SBTS’ trail crew to augment their own crews’ work. We’ve also had significant help from volunteers over the years, particularly from Patagonia, which has often sent large groups from its Reno warehouse to work in the Basin alongside our crew. Still, with the current Forest Service staff reductions and federal spending freeze, SBTS stands to be the only trail crew working in the Lakes Basin this season, as the Forest Service adjusts to staffing shortages, so we need your support more than ever to make sure these stunning trails stay open and well-maintained for the summertime rush.

Donate $5 and get a chance to win an awesome Lakes Basin prize package including two nights in the highly coveted boat-in Cabins at Gold Lake this September, two nights at a cabin at the premier Gray Eagle Lodge, including breakfast and dinner
for two (reservation to be made in advance), a $300 gift certificate to Packer Lake Lodge, a day motor boat rental from Sardine Lake Resort good through October 2026, a round of golf at Nakoma Resort during the 2025 season (valued at $300), breakfast for two (without alcohol) at Bassett's Station, a guided hiking or mountain biking Yuba Expeditions Adventure Tour in the Lakes Basin—a new offering from Yuba Expeditions that includes full-service guiding for your group, transportation, lunch and beverages—the Outdoor Products’ 47.5-liter Arrowhead internal frame hiking backpack, Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie (men's or women’s) and a $200 Lost Sierra Wine Co. gift card.

Lakes Basin view from the top of Mt Elwell.

And you can win it by donating to Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship!

Here’s how it works: The fundraising campaign runs between Tuesday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 25, and for every foot of trail purchased at $5 per foot (the average cost of building a trail), participants get entered for a chance to win the full prize package. The more feet of trail you buy, the better your chances of winning. It is open to U.S. and international entries.

About the Cabin Stay: Take a short boat ride across Gold Lake and you will find The Cabins at Gold Lake, a small family owned and operated lodge that sits on the north western shore of Gold Lake. Little Gold cabin is a small cabin that sleeps up to 4 complete with a bathroom and small kitchen. Hike out from the lodge, spend your days exploring, come back for a dip in the lake and enjoy our private beach. Take a kayak or SUP out and enjoy the sunset. This offering is for 2 nights in September and dates are subject to available dates. Valued at $400 per night. Pick up is at the Gold Lake Boat Launch and we boat you across the lake. Use of kayaks, canoes, and SUPs included.

Yuba Expeditions van with guide being loaded up
A day of Yuba Expeditions Guide Service is included in the package! Hiking or biking, Yuba has the local intel to craft an unforgetable adventure for you! And it inlcudes lunch and beverages! Heck yes!

20 Years of Trail Stewardship in the Lakes Basin

2025 marks 20 years since the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship started maintaining and building trails in the Lakes Basin. Our first work day was in 2005 in partnership with the Plumas National Forest, Beckworth Ranger District, when the recreation manager handed over paper drawings and directions for a rock turnpike on the Gray Eagle Creek Trail (and had the materials delivered to the parking lot three-quarters of a mile from the work site!). A turnpike is a technique used to elevate a trail above wet ground, using fill material to build the trail base higher than the water table, and one we had zero experience executing at the time. But we’re quick learners and had a blast figuring it out alongside a handful of volunteers and the work turned out really nice. In fact, that section is still in great shape today, and we’ve since built subsequent turnpikes on the same trail.

That project kicked off a lasting partnership between SBTS and the Beckwourth Ranger District, and SBTS’ trail-crew presence remains a constant in the Lakes Basin, an area tucked between Greagle and the Sierra Crest in the Plumas National Forest. Its 72 miles of non-motorized trails connect the region’s 20 alpine lakes, offering stunning views of the Sierra Buttes and Mt. Elwell, and is largely characterized by geologically stunning rock formations that draw scores of hikers, trail runners, equestrians and mountain bikers every season to experience its beauty.

Before and after Round Lake Trail rebuilding an Mt. Elwell trail from loose rocks to granite stairs
20 years of trailwork in the Lakes Basin, or perhaps granite sculpting. Round Lake Trail rebuilding and Mt. Elwell trail rebuilding.

Over the past two decades, SBTS has dedicated many hundreds of hours to developing new trails and rehabbing and realigned existing trails in order to keep this crown-jewel a top recreation destination in the state. Every late spring into early summer, our crews log out dozens of trees downed across the trails to get them ready for the start of the hiking high season, so that folks staying at the high country lodges have well-maintained trails on which to recreate in one of the Sierra’s most stunning and unique outdoor playgrounds. Crews often work through the summer season in the Basin to continue log-out as the snow line rises, as well as keep the trails brushed and clear for trail users.

Last year, our Graeagle-based Pro Trail Crew put in dozens of hours in the Basin, logging out the Mt. Elwell and Smith Lake trails from the Elwell Lake Lodge trailhead, the Jamison Trail and the Grassy Lake and Lily Lake trails from the Gray Eagle Lodge. SBTS’ Youth Crew dedicated almost two weeks to the Basin, clearing downed trees and maintaining drainage on the Round Lake and Long Lake Trails and doing extensive brushing on Graeagle Creek trail.

Innovating for the Rugged Beauty of Lakes Basin's Granite Terrain

Throughout the years, we’ve continued to adapt and learn new trailbuilding techniques in order to work within the Basin’s signature steep, rocky, ledgy terrain. Some of our most complicated rock work has taken place in the Basin due to its unique topography, and we’ve also built multiple fallen-log and wooden bridges to ease travel over the many creeks. Highlights include:

Construction of the Smith Creek Bridge in 2014, a project that required dropping supplies in via helicopter to complete the build.
Rebuilding the Mt. Elwell Trail along Long Lake. The trail crew had to take a boat across the lake to access the precarious work site, and did significant rock work to split and shape rock in order to rebuild the trail.
Rebuilding the 1.7-mile Round Lake Trail, realigning a fall-line section of Mt. Elwell, rebuilding 1.4-mile Mud Lake Trail on the east side of Long Lake.
Developing new trailbuilding techniques such as using a step-and-ramp technique for staircases instead of big square-edged rocks so that mountain bikes and horses could potentially climb the section, instead of hiking up or around it.
Innovative use of tools such as the powered wheelbarrow to move heavy rocks, and when it wasn’t possible to maneuver that equipment, employing the grip hoist and Come Along system to move rocks via cable, a tactic that can be seen in this video from Santa Cruz Bicycles when they filmed Trail Boss Henry O’Donnell at work in the Basin.

The Smith Lake Trail bridge construction process required a big lift!

Donate today to protect Lake Basin trails!

Mt. Elwell, Long Lake and Mud Lake with full fall color in the glaciated Lakes Basin. Help preserve access to this special place. Photo: Ken Etzel

"5 Bucks a Foot Lakes Basin" Terms & Conditions

The "5 Bucks a Foot Lakes Basin" fundraiser is open to contestants in the Continental United States. By participating in the "5 Bucks a Foot Lakes Basin" fundraiser, you consent to SBTS sending you additional information and updates related to this donation drawing and other SBTS news. The winner must be 18 years or older and reside in a locality where participation is legal. No purchase is necessary to enter. To enter without purchase, you may mail a handwritten postcard (form) to SBTS at: SBTS, 550 Crescent Street, Quincy, CA 95971. Containing your (i) full name; (2) mailing address, including street address, city, state/district, and zip code (P.O. boxes not accepted); (3) telephone number; (4) email address; and (5) date of birth. All write-in entries must be postmarked by March 20, 2025, and received by March 25, 2025, and only one mail in entry per person will be accepted. All submission forms must be received no later than 11:45 p.m. PST on March 25, 2025. Existing monthly donors can make sure their recurring monthly donations are counted in the giveaway by emailing info@sierratrails.org. Contributions to "5 Bucks a Foot Lakes Basin" are tax-deductible. The winner understands, acknowledges, and agrees that the winner is receiving a prize and will hereby release and discharge SBTS, and any additional sponsors, their employees, agents, officers, directors, and legal representatives and assigns from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses or expenses arising from or caused by the award of such prize, including, but not limited to the payment of any and all taxes that are due.

5 Bucks a Foot Lakes Basin

Support SBTS Trail Crews and Win Two Nights at The Cabins at Gold Lake!