480 Acres at Big Hill Preserve Are Headed for Public Access
A long-running conservation effort in North Auburn is moving toward a public opening, with new trails and a trailhead planned for Big Hill Preserve by the end of 2026.
American River Canyon Alliance
Good news for anyone who loves walking the oak country above the American River. A large stretch of protected land in North Auburn is finally opening its gates.
The Placer Land Trust reports that 480 acres at Big Hill Preserve will be opened to public access. The preserve sits in North Auburn and includes oak woodlands and rangelands, the kind of terrain that defines the country around our canyons.
This has been a patient effort. Placer Land Trust has worked on the initiative for nearly two decades. That is a long time to hold a vision steady, and it shows what durable land protection actually requires.
The work is now visible on the ground. Construction of parking and a trailhead began in 2025. Placer County is leading the construction and permitting. A public opening is planned by the end of 2026.
We follow projects like this because access and protection go hand in hand. When people can walk a place, they come to care for it. New trails at Big Hill will give more residents a direct connection to the woodlands and rangelands that ring the American River canyons.
We will share more as the opening date nears. For now, credit is due to the Placer Land Trust and Placer County for the steady work of turning protected acres into a place the public can enjoy.
Cover photo: Robert Cutts, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.