April 23, 2026 – Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) announces the transfer of 218 acres within the Yuba River corridor to South Yuba River State Park—a milestone that secures the long-term protection of one of the region’s most treasured landscapes. This landmark transfer includes the iconic Independence Trail, a beloved 4.7-mile route that transformed a historic Gold Rush-era mining ditch into the first wheelchair-accessible wilderness trail in the nation at the time of its opening, forever redefining who can experience the outdoors.
In 2012, the non-profit conservation organization, Sequoya Challenge founded by Sallie and John Olmsted, donated ownership of the parcels on which a portion of the Independence Trail sits, to BYLT. At the time of the donation, it was the intent that Sequoya Challenge would eventually become part of California State Parks as a “wilderness” trail accessible to all, a goal achieved this Earth Day!
“As an organization deeply rooted in this community, we are proud to see this land permanently protected as part of South Yuba River State Park,” said Erin Tarr, BYLT’s Executive Director. “This moment reflects years of dedicated partnership and a shared vision: to conserve critical habitat while ensuring that extraordinary places like the Independence Trail remain open, welcoming, and accessible to all, today and for generations to come.”
This significant achievement was supported by California’s State Parks Forward initiative, an ambitious effort that has already established three new state parks and is advancing a bold goal to expand existing parklands by 30,000 acres by the end of the decade.
For more information on the Bear Yuba Land Trust visit bylt.org.