The article highlights a string of conservation wins by the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) as it closed out 2025 with a Mojave Desert property purchase. Entering 2026, the group safeguarded a 40-acre parcel near Castle Crags and secured new Whitewater acquisitions.
For Marin County readers—from Mill Valley and Sausalito to San Rafael and Novato—these moves show a long-term commitment to preserving iconic trail experiences and wildlife corridors. The PCTA’s work runs across California’s wild landscapes, from desert valleys to high mountain ridges.
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Milestones Spanning Deserts to Peaks
As hikers in Marin—whether you’re heading out for a weekend from Tiburon or starting a longer trek in San Anselmo—these acquisitions reveal a broad conservation strategy. The PCTA protects wildlife linkages and keeps the Pacific Crest Trail’s scenic beauty intact.
The association’s 2025 closure brought a significant Mojave Desert property under its care. That move signaled a bold expansion of the PCTA’s conservation reach.
Meanwhile, a 40-acre Castle Creek donation near Castle Crags Wilderness in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest means hikers heading toward the high country—maybe weekend explorers from Novato or San Rafael—will see protected views and fewer threats from development or logging. Down south, five residential lots totaling about 1.3 acres near Whitewater now join a growing patchwork of conserved lands.
This strengthens habitat connections between the San Bernardino National Forest and the Sand to Snow National Monument, a key wildlife corridor that crosses Interstate 10.
- Castle Creek donation (40 acres): A longtime PCTA member donated this land, which the PCTA will steward until it’s transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Hikers near the Sawyer Cole property get to enjoy the preserved views.
- Whitewater parcels (1.3 acres): Five residential lots that stretch conserved lands and help wildlife move across a major corridor near the desert-to-mountain transition.
- Sand to Snow National Monument: 30 miles of the PCT wind through a 154,000-acre landscape, from desert floors to the San Gorgonio High Country, reinforcing a backbone of habitat connectivity in Southern California.
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest gains: Over the past 14 years, more than 13,000 acres have been added, with ongoing work to protect another 7,000-plus acres in the Alps to Crags project.
Castle Creek Donation: Preservation Near Sawyer and Cole Families
The Castle Creek property, purchased by Jane Cole and her late husband John Sawyer, stands as a cornerstone of the PCTA’s conservation approach in northern California. Protecting these 40 acres means hikers climbing the PCT get to see uninterrupted, natural views, and future development or logging won’t threaten this stretch.
The PCTA will hold onto the land until it’s formally transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. This helps keep public access and trail quality in focus—something Marin County hikers appreciate, especially those who start adventures in the Tamalpais-lands or Marin Headlands before heading toward the Sierra foothills.
Why This Resounds for Marin County: Trails, Wildlife, and Community
From Fairfax to San Anselmo, Marin’s outdoor crowd knows that good land stewardship goes far beyond our coastline. It reaches into inland corridors that link deserts and forests.
The PCTA’s collaboration with groups like the Trust for Public Land, the Bureau of Land Management, and local conservation partners creates a ripple effect. Marin’s own trail networks benefit from these efforts.
The Sand to Snow National Monument’s 30 miles of PCT, for example, touch places Bay Area hikers visit on day trips from Mill Valley or Corte Madera. Wildlife movement doesn’t really care about county lines, does it?
Local readers can look forward to stronger trail experiences, protected scenic values, and more chances to spot wildlife across California’s ecoregions. These efforts get support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, and private donors.
It’s a mix of national, state, and local backing that protects the places Marin residents love—whether they’re hiking the PCT or just enjoying a quiet stretch along Cascade Canyon’s edge.
What Marin Hikers and Communities Can Do
- Support conservation-minded land trusts and public agencies that really champion trail access and wildlife corridors. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Sausalito or San Rafael—every bit helps.
- Jump in on local trail-maintenance days, or join Marin land stewardship groups. Together, folks can boost protection for routes that link the Bay Area with the Sierra Nevada.
- Keep an eye on federal and state funding streams like LWCF grants. These are crucial for long-term conservation in California’s deserts and mountain regions.
Here is the source article for this story: Worlds Apart, PCTA Land Protection Celebrates Successes Across California – Pacific Crest Trail Association
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