Tahoe XC has long been a familiar starting point for people heading out on skis or bikes, and now that starting line is about to move after a surge of donor support pushed a major fundraising goal over the top.
The Tahoe Fund announced Monday, February 2, that donors exceeded a $100,000 matching goal to relocate the year-round Tahoe Cross Country trailhead, setting the stage for a new access point aimed at easing parking pressure on nearby homes and making the popular trail system easier to reach.
The trailhead relocation is part of the larger Tahoe Cross Country Lodge Project, which focuses on improving access while reducing neighborhood impacts tied to the existing site.
”Tahoe XC has been a welcome home to cross country skiing and mountain biking in our community for over 50 years,” said Bill Dietz, Tahoe Fund board member. “We are thrilled to report that passion for recreation runs deep in our region, as Tahoe Fund donors met and exceeded our goal to support the trailhead relocation effort.”
The matching campaign raised more than $105,000 in private funding to support phase one of three for the relocation effort.
The full trailhead relocation phase carries an estimated cost of $2.9 million and is expected to create ADA and beginner-friendly trail access that is not currently available due to the steep terrain at the existing trailhead.
Plans for the new location include shared parking with North Tahoe High School, which is expected to improve walkability and transit options for students and support expanded year round community programming.
"Relocating the trailhead is the first step in realizing our larger goal of finally giving the Tahoe Cross Country community a home that serves and connects for generations to come,” said Jim Robbins, TCCSEA board president and founding member of Tahoe XC. “We are incredibly grateful to those who contributed to the trailhead relocation effort and demonstrated the value this project has to our broader community.”
The broader Lodge Project is designed to create a functional and sustainable home for Tahoe XC’s growing youth programs while also serving as a gathering space for the wider community. The relocated trailhead will offer more accessible entry to both Tahoe XC’s groomed winter trails and Burton Creek State Park public lands.
Once construction is complete, a new lodge will replace the existing 50-year-old building. Plans call for geothermal heat pumps and solar panels, allowing the facility to operate as a net-zero energy commercial building.
