Placer County secures $500,000 grant to connect Hidden Falls Regional Park with Big Hill Preserve

Placer County has been awarded $500,000 from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to build a new trail that will connect the popular Hidden Falls Regional Park with the recently established Big Hill Preserve, the first phase of the Hidden Falls Regional Park Trails Expansion Project. The grant, approved by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board at its June meeting, comes from the agency's Sustainable Recreation, Tourism and Equitable Outdoor Access program. Placer County's Division of Parks, Trails, and Open Space will use the grant funds to complement existing funding in order to construct roughly three miles of multi-use trail and three small bridges, creating a crucial link between the 1,200-acre Hidden Falls Regional Park and the Big Hill Preserve. The combined acreage when the two areas are connected will be approximately 1,800 acres and will include 41+ miles of interconnected trail systems. "This grant is a game-changer for outdoor recreation in western Placer County," said Placer County Parks Administrator Erika Seward. "By physically connecting Hidden Falls Regional Park to the Big Hill Preserve, we're giving residents and visitors a seamless trail experience across thousands of acres of oak woodlands and open space. We're grateful to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for investing in a project that so many of our trail users have been waiting for." "The new connectivity trail has been carefully designed to protect the sensitive habitat and scenic character that make this area so special," said Placer County Senior Planner Lisa Carnahan. "Three small bridges and three miles of sustainable, multi-use trail will allow hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians to move safely between the two areas while we continue to steward the land for future generations." The connectivity trail was one of two Placer County recreation projects supported in the latest round of Sierra Nevada Conservancy grants — part of more than $3.1 million the agency awarded to seven recreation projects across the Sierra-Cascade region. The Conservancy reported it received roughly $20 million in requests for viable, quality projects, underscoring strong demand for recreation and outdoor access investment throughout the region. The Hidden Falls Regional Park Trails Expansion project will advance in phases, with the Big Hill Preserve portion scheduled to open to the public later this fall and the connectivity trail anticipated to open in late 2027. When the new connectivity trail is complete, visitors will be able to travel directly between the two areas on dedicated, non-motorized trails. For more information about Hidden Falls Regional Park, including parking reservations, visit placer.ca.gov/hiddenfalls.