Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) Celebrates the Re-Opening of the North Shore Trail. Front row from left, Dan Wilkins TCPUD Board Member, Tony Karwowski North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA) CEO, Cindy Gistafson Placer County District 5 Supervisor, Judy Friedman TCPUD Board President, John Pang TCPUD Board Member, Sean Barclay TCPUD General Manager, Indra Winquest TCPUD Director of Parks & Recreation. Photo courtesy of Tahoe City Public Utility District

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) - Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) hosted a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of the North Shore Trail Reconstruction Project. Community members, partners, and local officials gathered to recognize the shared investment in a safer, more accessible trail system that connects neighborhoods, businesses, and the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe’s north shore.

Originally constructed in 1973, the North Shore Trail is one of the oldest and most beloved segments of the region’s multi-use trail network and has served as a vital recreation and transportation corridor for more than five decades.

In recent years, the trail’s age and heavy use, with approximately 64,000 annual users, underscored the need for significant improvements. The North Shore Trail Reconstruction Project represented a $3.2 million investment to fully rebuild 2.2 miles of trail.

“This project represents more than just infrastructure,” said Judy Friedman, TCPUD Board President. "It’s a reflection of our commitment to create and maintain safe and accessible multi-use trails. On behalf of a grateful community, we are truly appreciative of the partnerships that made this project possible.”

Funding support for the reconstruction project included TCPUD property tax revenue and a $1.6 million grant through the North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA) and Placer County TOT-TBID Dollars-at-Work Program.

Enhancements included 42,000 square feet of new pavement, 125 new safety features such as signage, delineator poles, and painted crossings, and realignment of key segments to improve slope and accessibility.

“This project is just the beginning,” said Sean Barclay, TCPUD General Manager. “As we speak, reconstruction is underway on 2.4 miles of the West Shore Trail, supported again by the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work Program and the Tahoe Fund. We’re continuing to invest in a trail network built for safety, sustainability, and long-term community benefit.”

The ribbon cutting also celebrated the legacy of leadership dedicated to making these trails a reality. The ceremony welcomed remarks from Cindy Gustafson, former TCPUD General Manager and current Placer County District Five Supervisor, whose leadership has been instrumental in supporting these trails. 

TCPUD currently operates a 23-mile trail system spanning the West Shore, North Shore, and Truckee River sections. With its latest round of investments, TCPUD reaffirmed its long-standing role as a leader in regional recreation infrastructure.

For more information about TCPUD’s trail network and improvement projects, visit www.tcpud.org/trails.