2025 Accomplishments
DEAR TRAILS, WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK
VIEWS FROM JPs TRAIL RESTORATION PROJECT
THANK YOU TO ALL 800+ INDIVIDUALS FOR JOINING THE VOLUNTEER TRAIL FORCE
POPULAR DIG DAYS
BONUS… SINGLETRACK RADNESS
OG Trail Crew Leads A Community Dig Day
End of Year Report
TRUST THE PROCESS AND BUILD MOMENTUM.
Truckee Dirt Union turned 2025 into a year of strategic growth, deeper partnerships, and proof that our community’s commitment to trail stewardship is stronger than ever. With the Jackass Ridge trail network back in action and new opportunities on the horizon, we didn’t just maintain the trails–we laid the groundwork for a brighter, more accessible future for mountain biking in the region.
From securing major grant funding to hosting unforgettable community events, TDU showed up strong. And the best part? We’re just getting started. With new trail projects in sight and partnerships that are setting regional precedents, 2025 was the year TDU transformed from a grassroots hustle to a sustainable stewardship operation, generating 1,800+ stewardship labor hours for the fourth consecutive year.
Looking Ahead
With momentum building and new opportunities emerging, 2026 promises to be our most ambitious year yet. The trails we've maintained, the partnerships we've forged, and the community we’ve built have positioned TDU to expand our impact across the region. Whether it’s creating new trail networks, deepening our stewardship relationships, or rallying even more community support, we can't wait to ride into the future with you.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support—whether through volunteering, donations, or simply riding and respecting the trails—fuels everything we do. Here's to another year of trail stoke, stewardship, and of course, more Singletrack Radness!
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Dive into the details of how TDU made 2025 unforgettable below.
Highlight Details
Community Trail Days & Events
Hosted Nine Community Dig Days throughout the season, generating a total of 1,930 hours of volunteer trail stewardship—our community showed up ready to dig, build, and protect the trails we love, working alongside partners: Truckee Donner Land Trust, CA State Parks, National Forest Foundation, and United States Forest Service.
Returned to Jackass Ridge with force, bringing the trails back into shape after the USFS forest thinning project completed and right before hosting the second annual Loam Masters Rally in early May—a weekend of trail work, racing, and a community BBQ that demonstrated how sweat equity creates meaningful, lasting impact for Tahoe visitors and locals alike. Thanks USFS.
Continued the burgeoning tradition with our Fourth of July Parade Rally Ride, rallying downtown Truckee with a moving wave of mountain bike advocacy and community pride.
Participated in the Truckee Block Party in September, connecting with the broader non-profit community spreading the word about trail stewardship, outdoor advocacy, and inclusive access.
Wrapped up the season with the Ritual Film Tour at Alibi Ale Works in October, bringing the outdoor community together for an end-of-season celebration and raising crucial funds for 2026 initiatives.
Trail Building & Advocacy
TDU initiated and collaborated with Truckee Donner Land Trust (TDLT) to conserve, fundraise, and advocate for public access to Jackass Point, a crucial corridor for heavily used community trails like Captain Caveman, Jolly-pop, Hobo Hill, and the start of Jackass Trail. This effort required the successful acquisition of a privately held land parcel. TDU is now drafting a trails plan and working agreement relative to this parcel with new owners TDLT. (Crowd Cheers!)
Continued our groundbreaking partnership with California State Parks (CASP) on the JPs Trail restoration project, hosting multiple work days throughout the year reinforcing TDU’s role as a trusted stewardship partner in a first-of-its-kind community-led initiative with CASP.
Collaborated with the National Forest Foundation during National Forest Week in June by hosting a collaborative Dig Day with 45+ volunteers from all over, highlighting the importance of public land stewardship and building critical relationships for future projects and potential grant partnerships.
Awarded a two-year grant from the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series, positioning TDU for expanded operations and new adaptive-led trail development opportunities.
Laid the groundwork for exciting expansion into new trail networks in the region, working strategically with funding partners, land managers, and conservation organizations to create more world-class riding opportunities for our community.
Strengthened our three-year partnership agreement with USFS for trail maintenance on Jackass Ridge and beyond, ensuring long-term sustainability and safety for the trail network.
Established a new partnership with Truckee Fire Department to fill donated water tanks with water to improve trail building operations and to improve efficiency & sustainability.
Growth & Partnerships
Strengthened core operations with Executive Director Matt Chappell leading strategic initiatives and growing the Board of Directors providing vision, guidance, strategic planning, and operational governance. Bonus: Bob Avis, DeWitt Van Siclen, and Scott Kessler joined the board.
Maintained our 4-person paid trail crew program, building on the success of previous years and ensuring consistent trail maintenance throughout the season across all TDU sanctioned trails: JPs, Lower Yogi Bear, Jackass Trail, and Captain Caveman Trail.
Deepened partnerships with regional organizations including Truckee Donner Land Trust, TAMBA, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Outdoor Alliance, Truckee Trails Foundation, Truckee Dirt Riders, and CAMTB to align efforts and maximize collective impact.
Continued active participation in CAMTB and the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 Working Group, advocating for mountain bike access at state levels.
Continued active participation in Outdoor Alliance, advocating for public lands and for staffing allocation to land management agencies alongside regional congressional members.
Truckee Dirt Union Team
Matt Chappell
Executive Director
Skye Allsop
Board President
Greg Forsyth
Board Member
Dave Metres
Board Member
DeWitt Van Siclen
Board Member
Bob Avis
Board Member
Georgia Clark
Board Member
Scott Kessler
Board Member
Trail Crew:
Jonnie Benda
Joel Severy
Rob Holodinski
Chris Kelly
Your donations help make all this possible. 🙏