Upcoming Rubicon projects on and around the Rubicon Trail. These could be either FOTR maintenance efforts or county driven with outside contractors.
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2026, May, weeks two and three
Clearing trails of winter debris
This will be a FS lead project but with OHV volunteer manpower.
During the second half of May 2026, there will be a trail clearing effort on the trails around the Rubicon Trail on the Tahoe side. These trails need to be cleared to the Forest Service gates, so FS personnel can reach them and then beyond the gates, so the FS feels those trails are safe for the users.
These trails are: Noochester Mine Road 14N34A, Buck Lake Trail 14N40, Forest Road 03 and the Middle Fork Trail 15N38. Other trails such as the Red Cabin Trail, also known as Upper Barker Meadow OHV Trail 16E79 and the Hobbit Trail, also known as the Barker meadow OHV Trail 16E76.
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2026, summer
Reroute of the Rubicon Trail
This will be an RTF lead project with professional contractors doing the majority of the work.
This approved plan will create a new section of trail that will bypass the steep and eroding shelf road above Miller Creek. It will start a short distance north of the current Rubicon Trail and Forest Road 03-04 intersection and return to the Rubicon Trail just east of the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail.
A secondary bypass under the same plan will bypass the old water hole west of the Potato patch. This is literally only a 150-yard bypass 40 feet to the north.
It is my understanding that the Rubicon Trail Foundation will be acting as the general contractor bringing in the needed experienced contractors to do the work.
There will be a ‘bottomless arch’ bridge at the beginning of the bypass off Forest Road 03-04 to get over a seasonal creek.
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2026, 2027, unsure
Staging area expansion
This will be a FS project with professional contractors doing the work.
The Tahoma staging area will be expanding to accommodate more parking and creating a better drive through experience for those with trailers.
