John Muir once wrote: "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home.”  How lucky are those who are able to call the community of Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada “home.”  Behind the breathtaking views and well-worn paths lies a quiet, ongoing effort to protect what makes Tahoe special. This season, several nonprofit organizations received grant funding to continue that work—restoring trails, educating visitors, and nurturing a culture of environmental stewardship. These grants will empower local nonprofit organizations to maintain, enhance, and repair the trail systems of our region.  Grantmaking that tells the story of collaboration and care that fosters a deeper connection between the community and the land. 

The Community Foundation understands that each person who experiences the trails of our home responsibly and safely becomes another advocate of protecting our community’s scenic landscape and contributes to the wellbeing of the landscape we live in. 

The future of our trails is an honor to the cultural legacy of our land and must be done with collaboration of those who have been here to protect it the longest. With this in mind, Tahoe Community Foundation and its Donor Advised Fund co-investors awarded $28,000 in grants to support the Lam Watah Trail Interpretive Redesign Project—an initiative led by the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in partnership with the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. This collaborative effort will transform the 2.8-mile Lam Watah Trail into a culturally rich, educational experience that authentically reflects the Washoe Tribe’s deep connection to their ancestral homelands. The funding will help redesign outdated signage, incorporate multilingual and augmented reality elements, and elevate public awareness of the land’s ecological and cultural significance. This project embodies that spirit—blending environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community engagement to ensure Tahoe’s trails remain meaningful and accessible for generations to come. 

When Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) applied for a Community Impact Grant, they recalled efforts made one week before July 4, 2024, when a TRTA volunteer discovered 45 downed trees on the trail and they knew it was time to mobilize.  In three days, TRTA crew cleared each downed tree from the 10-mile stretch of trail, ensuring hikers were able to enjoy the path during the busiest weekend of the year.  But that was only a glimpse of the work TRTA was doing in 2024.  During that year, their crews were able to clear a total of 392 trees in addition to erecting 145 feet of retaining wall, building 55 steps, installing 12 signs, and armoring 659 feet of tread. In 2025, the Community Foundation, in partnership with Donor Advised Fund co-investments, granted $7,000 to TRTA to ensure they are able to continue restoring and maintaining Tahoe’s trails for locals and visitors to enjoy. 

Together, these grants illuminate a shared vision—one where stewardship is not just a responsibility, but a reflection of love for the land and respect for its history.  When we come together to elevate generosity, we are building a community that thrives—one where organizations like TRTA, the National Forest Foundation, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and the Washoe Tribe can continue to protect the paths we walk and preserve the stories they carry so that we can pass them on to those who will walk them next.