Great Redwood Trail Master Plan – Great Redwood Trail Master Plan

Public Draft Plan

For the past 18 months, the Great Redwood Trail Agency has been developing a Master Plan for the 231 miles of trail within Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt counties. We’ve gathered ideas and suggestions from California Native American tribes, adjacent landowners, trail enthusiasts, law enforcement professionals, local government partners, and hundreds of community members. We are now ready to share the Draft Master Plan for your review!

How can I view the Draft Master Plan?

You can review and comment on the Draft Master Plan using the Online Comment Tool below or download a PDF version by clicking here.

How can I provide comments?

Use the Online Comment Tool
Send a message using the Contact Form
Email [email protected]
Leave a voicemail message at (707) 440-9445

How long do I have to provide comments?

The public comment period closes on June 3, 2024.

What comes after the comment review period?

The GRTA will consider all comments on the Draft Master Plan and may make revisions based on feedback before adopting the Master Plan in Summer 2025 (tentative). The GRTA is also starting a program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) process as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Master Plan. To learn more, see PEIR on the project website.

Overview

Master Plan Overview

The Great Redwood Trail Master Plan will be a roadmap for planning, constructing, and managing the future Great Redwood Trail. The master plan will be informed by a robust Community Engagement Plan that will capture community desires, concerns and ideas to develop the Great Redwood Trail. Once complete, the master plan will serve as a guiding document to address issues including but not limited to trail user experience, trail design, operations and maintenance, habitat restoration, project priorities, funding, and management of the trail. The master plan covers Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt counties. The Great Redwood Trail in Sonoma and Marin counties will be planned and constructed by SMART.

Vision for the Trail

The Great Redwood Trail (GRT) will be a world-class regional rail-trail system that connects remote places in northern California with the bustling San Francisco Bay Area and Humboldt Bay communities. The GRT will offer unique, memorable trail experiences for people who live nearby or visit from far away. The GRT will generate new trail-oriented development and economic opportunities. The trail will be designed and managed to enhance the surrounding natural environment, respect neighboring properties, and offer safe and equitable access for a wide range of users, including hikers, equestrians,cyclists, runners, wheelchair users, and others. The Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) will work collaboratively with California Native American tribes, residents, landowners, businesses, community-based organizations, and government partners to solve problems and oversee this incredible trail network.

The Master Plan

Engage the Public

Define the vision for the trail

Develop solutions for community concerns

Identify and prioritize projects

Develop strategies for operations & maintenance

Study Area

Click to expand

Timeline (click image to expand)

Get Involved

Events

Give your feedback in person. Attend one of our master plan events.

Events

Interactive Map

View and comment on a map of the future trail.

Visit the map

Mailing List

Sign up for our mailing list to get the latest master plan updates

Subscribe

Interactive Map

PEIR

CEQA Process for Master Plan

Consistent with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, GRTA will prepare a program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the Great Redwood Trail Master Plan. Preparing a program EIR for the whole of the Great Redwood Trail in Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt counties allows for a more comprehensive consideration of effects than would be practical in separate mitigated negative declarations or EIRs on individual actions (i.e., individual trail segments). It allows for consideration of cumulative impacts that might be missed on a case-by-case basis.

When does the program PEIR process begin?

GRTA distributed a Notice of Preparation (NOP) on May 1, 2024 according to Section 15082 of the CEQA Guidelines, kicking off a 30-day public scoping period to provide interested parties the opportunity to offer early input on the scope of environmental issues and potential environmental effects to be considered in the GRT program EIR. GRTA held an online public scoping meeting on the evening of May 14, 2024.

What information was presented at the public scoping meeting?

The scoping meeting included an overview of the project, a description of the type and scope of the PEIR, a summary of probable environmental effects, and a description of the PEIR process, including other opportunities for public comment. Oral comments from the public were heard following the presentation.

How can I review a recording of the meeting?

A recording of the meeting is posted on the website under Events.

Can I provide written comments on the scope of the PEIR?

Yes. You can send written comments to [email protected]

What happens after the public scoping meeting?

This scoping meeting starts a year-long EIR process to evaluate potential environmental impacts and propose mitigation measures. Please see a schedule below. Under AB 52, the GRTA will offer government-to-government consultations to California Native American tribes on the Native American Heritage Commission notice list. Additional public comment will be solicited when a draft PEIR is ready for public review. Subscribe to the mailing list to receive updates.

Events

Find the list of Master Plan and EIR events below.

Coming Soon:

Stay tuned!

We attended these past events…

Godwit Days, Arcata
Dia del Niño, Ukiah
Willits Frontier Days, Willits
Fourth of July Festival, Eureka
Fortuna Rodeo, Fortuna
Humboldt Folklife Festival, Blue Lake
Round Valley Blackberry Festival, Covelo
Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale
Mendocino County Fair, Boonville
Ukiah Pumpkin Fest, Ukiah
Let’s Talk Tourism, Humboldt
Inter-Tribal Environmental Youth Campout, Fort Bragg
Rio Dell Wildwood Days, Rio Dell
California Indian Days, Covelo
Coyote Valley Big Time, Redwood Valley
Annie and Mary Day, Blue Lake
Pinoleville Big Time, Ukiah