The Sierra Buttes from Upper Sardine Lake. Photo © Rich Reid.
Sierra Buttes
Protecting a Fractured Landscape
The Sierra Buttes are a compact massif rising
Buttes and several of the Lakes Basin’s most
more than 4,500 feet above the North Fork
picturesque and pristine lakes. Development
of the Yuba River. The northernmost granitic
of these private in-holdings could dramatically
outcropping in the Sierra Nevada, the Buttes
affect water quality, disrupt wildlife corridors,
provide a dramatic backdrop to the Lakes
and diminish the recreational and scenic
Basin with its 100 glaciated lakes and ponds.
values of the Lakes Basin.
Few people realize that this ostensibly pristine
Conservation of the Sierra Buttes
landscape was actively mined during the
In 2011, the Trust for Public Land, in
Gold Rush. Old mines and mining structures
still dot the landscape, along with pre-World
War II lodges and campgrounds that have
accommodated generations of loyal visitors.
Until recently, approximately 3,000 of the
area’s 19,000 acres were in private ownership
including a substantial portion of the
partnership with the Sierra County Land
Trust, purchased several important properties
at the heart of the Buttes: Volcano Lake on
the apron of the Buttes, a second parcel
covering much of the rock face of the Buttes,
and a beautiful shoreline property on Upper
and Lower Sardine Lakes previously at risk
Sierra Buttes
Fast Facts
Location:
NSP’s region extends from south
of Lake Tahoe to Lassen Volcanic
Park; the Sierra Buttes are located
about 60 miles northwest of Lake
Tahoe off Highway 49
Lake Almanor
Reno
Truckee
Lake Tahoe
Sacramento
San Francisco
Size:
1,000 acres
What you will see:
Mixed evergreen and coniferous
forests, pristine alpine lakes, and
grantic crags with commanding
views of the area
for development. These properties provide
public access to a popular hiking trail linking
the Pacific Crest Trail with the summit of the
Buttes, and protect four pristine high alpine
lakes and habitat for a number of rare and
endangered species. Additionally, these lands
are part of the Yuba River watershed, a critical
source of clean water for Northern California.
Stewardship and Recreation
The Sierra County Land Trust is now the
owner and steward of these lands. The Trust’s
goals include maintaining the ecological
integrity of the properties, water quality
for downstream users, and the myriad of
recreational opportunities for visitors.
Conserve the sweeping natural
landscapes that define our region.
Restore the ecological vitality of
our forests, meadows and rivers,
and the landscape’s resilience to
natural disturbances like fire and
flood.
Expand opportunities to enjoy our
region’s extraordinary natural assets
through recreation, sustainable
tourism,
and
environmental
education.
Support the growth of vibrant
rural communities that sustain—
and are sustained by—the healthy
natural landscapes that surround
them.
The Sierra Buttes from the southwest. Photo © Rich Reid.
The Northern Sierra Partnership (NSP) is a collaborative
initiative to conserve, restore, and enhance the magnificent
natural landscape of the northern Sierra Nevada, and build
the foundation for sustainable rural prosperity.
Northern Sierra
Partnership
Strategic Objectives
www.northernsierrapartnership.org
650.323.2050
130A Seale Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
info@northernsierrapartnership.org
Sierra Buttes - Map & Directions
Legend:
Lake Almanor
Approximate Sierra
Buttes property boundary
89
Sierraville
Detail
Reno
Area
395
Truckee
Parking Lot
Pacific Crest Trail
Lake Tahoe
Sacramento
Ro
Packer Lake
ld L
Go
ad
Packer Lake
To Yuba Pass
& Sierraville
ak e
Upper
Sardine Lake
Young America Lake
wa
y
gh
Lower
Sardine Lake
Tamarack Lakes
Hi
Saxonia Lake
Sardine
Lake Road
Bassetts
49
Volcano Lake
Sierra Buttes
Directions from Truckee
Take Highway 89 north 25 miles to Sierraville.
Turn west on Highway 49 and follow over the Yuba Pass to Bassetts.
Turn right (north) onto the Gold Lake Highway/County Route S620 and follow 1-2 miles to the Packer Lake Road/County Route 621.
Turn left and follow to campground near Sardine Lake where you will find a trailhead near the Sardine Lake Resort, a great place for
dinner. There are many trails in the Lakes Basin including several up to the top of the Sierra Buttes. For more information and a map of
some of the trails in the Lakes Basin, please go to:
http://www.sierracountychamber.com/Resources/Documents/Sierra-County-Visitors-Guide.pdf
www.northernsierrapartnership.org
650.323.2050
130A Seale Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
info@northernsierrapartnership.org