Sierra Buttes’ Feel-Good Video Is Inspiring For Trailbuilders Worldwide

by 3

If you need a bit of feel-good viewing to keep you going until the weekend, then have a look at Sierra Buttes’ video that it has produced, documenting its campaign to connect 15 mountain communities via building and restoring trails through California’s ‘lost’ Sierra mountains. By hiring local residents to work on its trail crew and some extensive outreach to the local communities it is connecting, it is connecting remote communities that used to be connected back in the days of the gold rush of the 19th century.

Grinduro USA has used many of the Sierra Buttes trail network near Quincy, California

The trail building has been more than just for the pleasure of mountain bikers (though that has helped with the funding – the trail system is well supported by the California bike industry), it is connecting remote towns (Downieville, which you’ll have heard of, only had a population of around 300 residents) with trails that can be ridden, walked and many, dirt biked too. In some cases, the trailbuilders are finishing sections of trail that were started during the Gold Rush in the mid 1800s and never completed once the bust came. The Sierra Buttes is a great example of how a few inspired individuals can make a big difference in an area previously given up on by industry – once mining and later logging – moved out.

Have a watch, get inspired about trailbuilding and look at all that dust! At the very least it’ll make you want to visit Downieville and the rest of the 15 communities that the Sierra Buttes trust is bringing together via the medium of mountain bike trails.


Singletrack Merch

Bad Decisions Colour Mug

Bad Decisions mug in a number of colour options. DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are 'print on demand', please allow 7 days for dispatch.  

Singletrack Sponsored Features

Graubünden Home of Trails -Destination Guide

Graubünden landed into collective conscience courtesy of the ‘Home of Trails’ video starring Danny MacAskill and Claudio Caluori. Graubünden itself is not a resort but a canton in south eastern…

Fold+R°ll

No one needs to see your pants! Fed up of flinging socks and pants around while trying to get her laptop out of her bag in meetings, cycle commuter Beate…


Join our mailing list to receive Singletrack editorial wisdom directly in your inbox.

Each newsletter is headed up by an exclusive editorial from our team and includes stories and news you don’t want to miss.

Signing up to our mailing list is not only a great way to keep up-to-date on all things Singletrack but it is also a great, free way to support us.

Sign up to receive awesome editorial content from Hannah every week.

We appreciate how handing over your email address is a mark of your trust in us. Check your inbox for our confirmation email and click the link to activate your newsletter.
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check out a previous newsletter here


Meanwhile, in the forum..

Hanging ebike from saddle.

Are you going to damage the dropper when you suspend your very heavy ebike from the saddle?

Forum Photo Competition: The Winners!

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos, or voted. We hope you enjoyed the injection of scenes and views from out and about. The votes have been count … By stwhannah…

Whereabouts are we getting Ebike conversation kits from these days?

Looking to get a second hand Fat Bike and fit a conversation kit for use when I’m beach fishing and have a long trek, about 10 miles. Any recommendations for…

Chipps Chippendale

Singletrackworld's Editor At Large

With 23 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)

More posts from Chipps

Replies (3)

    That is a properly impressive film…really interesting idea and hopefully something that is going to be well used over the years…

    The Lost Sierra is one of my favourite places to ride. The trails range from the groomed (Mt Hough) to the rough (Mt Elwell) and if you spend some time with a map you can plot some proper wilderness rides where you might not see anybody all day (I did see a mountain lion from a distance and a bear much closer). It’s an amazing community and as a visitor you feel good that the dollars you spend are providing a livelihood for a deprived region and also going towards building more great trails for all. I only hope that they can finish some more before I’m too old to ride them!

    really great thanks for posting

Comments Closed