TRUCKEE, Calif., April 29, 2026—The Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership (MTRWFP) is notifying Truckee-area residents and visitors of upcoming wildfire risk reduction work that may impact recreation access within Tahoe National Forest. Some hard closures of Forest Service roads, trails and lands may be enforced for public safety as contractors engage in active implementation this field season.

Public access may be restricted due to the use of mechanical vegetation management work including the use of heavy equipment, movement of haul trucks, tree-falling operations, mastication and piling. 

The MTRWFP was formed in 2022 between the National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Truckee River Watershed Council and Tahoe National Forest. The partnership has a 10-year plan with the goal of treating 60,000 acres within the Middle Truckee River Watershed to reduce the risk of wildfire and improve forest health.

TNF East Zone Closures

Current active and upcoming forest health and wildfire mitigation projects include:

  • Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley Fire Protection Project: 670 acres south of Truckee adjacent to Highway 89 South. Portions of Western States Trail (16E10) west of Hwy 89 and Olympic Valley/WST Connections Trail (16E07) will be closed.
  • Big Chief Project: Treatment on approximately 675 acres south of Truckee between Highway 89 and the Northstar Ski Area. Forest Road 06 will remain open during operations. Forest Roads 06-14, 06-16 and 06-18, Forest System Trail 16E85 (Big Chief Trail) and all Forest Service lands within the project area, such as Big Chief Climbing Area, will be closed during implementation. 
  • Cabin Creek Project: Treatment of approximately 1,900 acres south of Truckee along Highway 89 South. Forest Road 01 north of the junction with Forest Road 01-03 along with Jackass (16E86) and El Burro (16E24) trails will remain open during operations. Forest Road 01 south of the junction with Forest Road 01-03 along with all system roads and non-system roads and trails within the project area will be closed during implementation.
  • Alder 89 WUI Project: Treatment of approximately 2,500 acres north of Truckee along Highway 89 North. Forest Service lands, roads and trails located within ½ mile of the east and west of the centerline of Highway 89 within the project area will be closed. Portions of the Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail (16E30) and Prosser Hill Motorcycle Trail (16E50) will be closed. Hobart, Donner Camp, Prosser Hill and Alder Creek (West and East) Trailheads will also be closed.
  • Boca Stewardship Agreement Project: Treatment of approximately 1,350 acres northeast of Truckee, between Boca Reservoir and Prosser Reservoir. Forest Service roads, lands and trails will be closed during active implementation. Dispersed camping is popular in this area and will be restricted to allow for heavy machinery and fuels reduction work to operate. Access to Lloyd’s Trail (17E19) may be restricted. 
  • Woodchopper Project: Fuels reduction work planned on approximately 850 acres north of Truckee, between Highway 89 North and Boca Reservoir. Forest Service lands, roads and trails will be closed to the public during project implementation. Dispersed camping is popular in this area and will be restricted to allow for heavy machinery and fuels reduction work to operate. Portions of the Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail (16E30) will be closed during implementation. 

Active implementation for the 2026 season is expected to occur late spring through fall, as weather conditions allow. View a map of active project areas here.

Before heading out to recreate, please view potential closure information at https://www.truckeeforests.org/project-updates/.