Truckee "Secret Garden" open for tours after public gains access

Truckee has it's own "Secret Garden," a lush valley full of rare carnivorous plants and threatened bird species that has been preserved and kept from the public for more than 100 years.

The Truckee Donner Land Trust and Nature Conservancy partnered together and bought over 1,200 acres in the Lower Carpenter Valley for $10.3 million, 600 acres that is so sensitive that initially the only access with be through guided tours. 637 acres were purchased last year and treat hikers and mountain bikers to Crabtree Canyon. The final 80-acre parcel is under contract for purchase by the partners.

Washoe Indians were most likely the first inhabitants of the valley, the Donner Party spent much of the winter of 1846–7 camped nearby, and later the valley was settled by dairyman William Carpenter and his wife, Julia, who migrated up from the Central Valley every summer to graze stock in its lush meadows. A fishing group that included publisher James McClatchy, owner of newspapers that included the Sacramento Bee and the Fresno Bee, used the valley as a private retreat.

Not many knew of the valley's existence, and now they can enjoy it during a series of guided tours.

A parking lot, restroom, trail and viewpoints are planned so daily access by foot can happen as early as 2019. In the meantime, the only access is through the docent-led guided tours on July 28 and 30, August 4, 7, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, September 1, 10, 16, 24 and October 2, 13. Registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tdlt-carpenter-valley-docent-led-hikes-tickets-33064131708

Dogs, horses and motorized vehicles are banned due to the sensitive fragile environment.

To get to the valley, drive northwest 2.25 miles on the main Carpenter Valley Rd in Truckee to the locked gate. Park off to the sides out of the roadway.

From the Northern Sierra Partnership: In addition to protecting the outstanding ecological values of the eastern side Carpenter Valley, the partners intend to create new ways for the public to explore and enjoy the property in all seasons. To that end, we plan to build a new trail, a bridge, and two picnic areas around the edge of the meadow so visitors can appreciate a significant portion of Carpenter Valley from different vantage points. In addition, we will install split-rail fencing, boardwalks and interpretive signs to protect the sensitive meadow from trampling and help visitors appreciate the unique ecology of Lower Carpenter Valley. As part of our vision for year-round use, we hope to build a backcountry hut that will allow visitors (by advanced reservation) to enjoy the valley in winter. The hut will be the first in a new network of backcountry huts we hope to create between Castle Peak and Webber Lake to facilitate winter access to this little known but spectacular part of the Sierra Nevada.