Trail users of all ages and abilities are invited to join BYLT in an exploration of local trails throughout the month of June! This year’s Celebration of Trails includes the return of the super popular Summer Star Hike Challenge where folks will use their eagle-eye to spot stars along the trails and a chance to win raffle prizes (pre-registration required); Art in Nature Installations with site-specific artworks created by local artists; Poetry on Preserves poetry readings and writing workshops; a screening of A Wild Independence and group walk at Wolf Creek Trail; a kick-off Happy Hour with Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co. featuring the limited release of Go Hike Gose!. And because it isn’t a celebration without a party, Celebration of Trails Month culminates on June 29 with a FREE Street Party along Commercial Street in downtown Nevada City, with live music from Suika T, awards, raffles, and more! Read on for event details.
Art in Nature Installations: June 1 – 30, 2024
BYLT proudly presents the following site-specific works by local artists, on view throughout the month of June.
● “Without Walls,” a collaborative project between artists Elizabeth Winters & Amanda Post along Cascade Canal Trail and Orene Wetherall Trail. A collaboration between the artists and Mother Nature, “Without Walls” consists of a series of handmade frames constructed from natural materials found on the forest floor. Swinging from branches and nestled within boughs, “Without Walls” invites trail users to pause and appreciate the natural beauty before them.
● “Nest,” an interactive sculpture by Peggy Wright located at the junction of Wildflower Ridge Trail & Rough and Ready Ditch Trail at Wildflower Ridge Preserve. Constructed of intertwined material gathered at the site of installation, and emulating a bird’s foraged materials, Peggy Wright’s “Nest” symbolizes the protection and nurturing of nature that is Wildflower Ridge Preserve: “Like a natural nest, Wildflower Ridge serves to preserve our environment for future generations.” Peggy will begin the sculpture on June 1, after which the community is invited to further build on her vision by adding twigs and other organic materials from the Preserve.
WHEN: June 1 – 30, 2024
WHERE: “Without Walls” along the Cascade Canal Trail in Nevada City; “Nest” at Wildflower Ridge Preserve in Grass Valley
HOW: This is a FREE event. Visit bylt.org /events for more information.
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Summer Star Hike Challenge: June 1 – 23
A fundraiser for BYLT
Hike for the stars and support local trails with BYLT’s second annual Summer Star Hike Challenge! This year’s hike challenge offers increased opportunity for participation, with hike challenges for a wider range of mobility; three separate raffles to increase odds of winning amazing prizes; and more stars by which to challenge yourself and discover something new! We’re talking 19 stars along 18 local trails.
WHEN: June 1 – 23, 2024
WHERE: 18 trails across Nevada and Yuba Counties
HOW: Pre-register at bylt.org/events; $25 adults; $15 youth
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Poetry on Preserves & Art In Nature Walk: June 1
Join Art In Nature commissioned artists Elizabeth Winters & Amanda Post along Cascade Canal Trail for a guided walk through their site-specific installation “Without Walls”. A collaboration between the artists and Mother Nature, “Without Walls” consists of a series of handmade frames constructed from natural materials found on the forest floor. Swinging from branches and nestled within boughs, the frames invite trail users to pause and appreciate the natural beauty before them.
During the walk, we will be joined by Poetry on Preserves commissioned poet, Ingrid Keriotis, for a reading of select poems including her poem for Celebration of Trails, “My California Is.”
WHEN: Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 10am – 11am
WHERE: We will meet at the Cascade Canal Trail parking lot located on Gracie Road; The walk will be about 1.5 miles in total (.75 miles in, and .75 miles back out).
HOW: This is a FREE event open to all. Visit bylt.org /events for more information.
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Art In Nature Artist Talk & Interactive Workshop: June 2
With artist Peggy Wright
Art In Nature commissioned artist Peggy Wright will be on hand to talk about her artwork “Nest” and facilitate the artistic participation of those gathered in a collective building of the sculpture.
Constructed of intertwined material gathered at the site of installation, and emulating a bird’s foraged materials, Peggy Wright’s “Nest” symbolizes the protection and nurturing of nature that is Wildflower Ridge Preserve: “Like a natural nest, Wildflower Ridge serves to preserve our environment for future generations.” Peggy will begin the sculpture on June 1, after which the community is invited to further build on her vision by adding twigs and other organic materials from the Preserve.
WHEN: Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 12pm – 1pm
WHERE: Wildflower Ridge Preserve. The talk and workshop will take place on the Wildflower Ridge Trail, about an 1/8th mile from either the A-Z or Twin Cities Church parking lots. The site is located within the Preserve roughly where Ridge Road and Rough & Ready Hwy bisect.
HOW: This is a FREE event open to all. Visit bylt.org /events for more information.
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Cheers to Local Trails Kick Off Happy Hour: June 6
Join BYLT Staff and Board for a toast to local trails at our Cheers to Local Trails kick-off happy hour! We’ll be out at Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co., celebrating trails and sipping on the limited-release, “Ales for Trails” Go Hike Gose! The beer will be available for purchase during the event and throughout the entire month of June. For every pint purchased, Three Forks will donate $1 back to local trails.
WHEN: Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 5pm – 7pm
WHERE: Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co. in Nevada City
HOW: There is no sign up required, just come on out! Visit bylt.org /events for more information.
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A Wild Independence Screening & Group Walk: June 8
BYLT and Nevada County Association for the Developmentally Disabled will host the community for a viewing of the 2021 documentary, A Wild Independence: The Story of Nevada City’s Independence Trail, and how naturalist John Olmsted inspired a community and turned an abandoned mining ditch in California’s Gold Country into the first wheelchair nature trail in the United States. We will be joined by the filmmaker, Alden Olmsted, along with California State Park representatives with an update on the rebuilding of the Independence Trail West flumes, which were destroyed in the Jones Fire in 2020. The event will open with light refreshments, and be followed by a group walk along Wolf Creek Trail.
WHEN: Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 10am – 12pm
WHERE: Gold Miners Inn in Grass Valley; the group walk will take place along the wheelchair accessible portion of Wolf Creek Trail
HOW: This is a free event open to all, though we do ask that people RSVP at bylt.org/events so we have an idea of how many people to expect. If you require ASL interpretation, please let us know 48 hours in advance by emailing info@bylt.org.
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Poetry on Preserves: June 15
BYLT will host a poetry reading and writing workshop with Poetry on Preserves poet Meredith Heller.
WHEN: Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 10am – 12pm
WHERE: Rices Crossing Preserve, South
HOW: This is a free event open to all. More information is available at bylt.org/events.
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Street Party: June 29
Come out and celebrate with your fellow hikers when we take over Commercial Street for our blowout street party! This FREE event features local band Suika T performing live in front of Crazy Horse, booths staffed by local recreation partners, family activities, and more! Winners of the Summer Star Hike Challenge will be announced, and prizes won. This is also a great opportunity for Summer Star Hike Challenge participants to pick up their Summer Star Hike Challenge t-shirts.
WHEN: Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 4pm – 8pm
WHERE: Commercial Street in downtown Nevada City
HOW: This is a free event open to all. More information is available at bylt.org/events.
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Celebration of Trails June Promotions
“Happy Trails” with The National and The Holbrooke Hotels includes discounts on rooms, complimentary cocktails, and local trail map! For every room booked, $10 donated back to BYLT.
“Ales for Trails” features Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co’s limited-release, Go Hike Gose! For every pint purchased, $1 donated back to local trails!
“Treats for Trails” from Treats in Nevada City. Enjoy a scoop of their locally-sourced Bay Ice Cream or Yerba Santa Sorbet and a portion of sales will be donated to BYLT.
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2024 Celebration of Trails Sponsors
Bicyclists of Nevada County (BONC)
California Humanities
Caseywood
City of Nevada City
Cohousing Solutions
Gold Miners Inn
Nevada County California
NV5
Sierra Gold Parks Foundation
Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co.
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About BYLT:
Since 1990, BYLT has been a conservation leader in the Sierra Nevada region, preserving and restoring more than 25,000 acres of foothill forests, agricultural lands, meadows and headwaters, and building and maintaining over 45+ miles of trails in the Bear and Yuba watersheds of California’s Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains. Learn more about Bear Yuba Land Trust at bylt.org.