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Sierra Spirit 2023 Newsletter
Check out the latest edition of the annual Sierra Spirit to learn what big things we have in store for next year!
Welcome Superintendent Rob Griffith!
An interview to get to know the new CA State Parks District Superintendent Rob Griffith!
Happy 120th Birthday Pine Lodge!
The Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, also known as Pine Lodge, turned 120 years old this summer!
D.L. Bliss State Park Closed for Summer 2023 For Replacement of Waterline
DL Bliss State Park is closed for the summer of 2023 due to water line replacement.
Grooming Trails Program Returns to Sugar Pine
Many of you may not know that Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park in the Sierra District is the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics biathlon event. After the hard work and determination of the Lake Sector staff and partnership with its nonprofit partners, the Sierra State Parks Foundation (SSPF), the trail snow grooming program is finally off the ground to provide recreational opportunities.
Dr. Helen Henry Smith Honored with Golden Bear Award for Pioneering Efforts in Preserving Vikingsholm Castle
If Lake Tahoe is the Jewel of the Sierra, then Emerald Bay is the crown jewel. Vikingsholm Castle, the stunning summer home on the shore of the bay, is surely the queen. And Dr. Helen Henry Smith was the one who brought Vikingsholm Castle to the world’s attention.
Underwater Interpretative Dive into Emerald Bay
Read the latest blog on the live dive State Parks did in the Underwater Heritage Trail!
Support the Donner Project
Restoring the historic Pioneer Monument and site through The Donner Project.
Herman Fillmore of the Washoe Tribe Presents on Donner Memorial State Park Legacy Day
Herman Fillmore of the Washoe Tribe was gracious in presenting on how the culture is still thriving and the legacy of the Indigenous from this land.
Sierra Wildflowers at Washoe Meadows State Park
Historically, Washoe Tribe traditionally spent their summers there and is for whom the park is named. Washoe Meadows has some incredible wildflowers, including the Star Lily, a native plant only found in Washoe Meadows. Learn about more wildflower found there.
KOLO - Historic Sugar Pine Point State Park worth enjoying and protecting
Local KOLO TV did a feature on one of the eight Tahoe CA State Parks we support, Sugar Pine Point State Park. Learn more about this West Shore gem.
Quick Facts Summer in the Lake Tahoe - Lake Donner State Parks
Click here for some knowledge about park opening hours, information for emergencies, camping information, and activities available in all of our Lake Tahoe - Donner State Parks!
From Glacier to Lake - The Geology of Lake Tahoe
Let's learn about the geology of Lake Tahoe from a Sierra State Parks Foundation funded Sugar Pine Point State Park Interpreter!
An Indigenous Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving approaches, let's take a moment to reflect on the true history of the holiday. The indigenous tribes in New England had been celebrating the fall harvest for generations before the Pilgrims arrived, and this year, let's remember and honor their traditions by trying an indigenous American recipe and learning about a new culture.
The Donner Party
It was this time years ago that The Donner Party arrived, and became subsequently stuck, right here in Truckee, CA in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Hibernation in Lake Tahoe
Learn about the unique behavior of bears in the Lake Tahoe area, where the abundance of human garbage has caused some bears to skip hibernation altogether. By being mindful of our trash and impact on nature, we can help these bears follow their natural instincts and conserve energy during the winter months.