The Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail association is a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to locate the remaining sections of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad rail bed and stitch them together to build a multi-use trail. It will connect Reno to Gardnerville and Virginia City and benefit the residents of and visitors to Northern Nevada.
Our goals for the Historic V&T Trail:
- Follows the historic route of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad wherever possible.
- Promote alternative transportation.
- Provide access to open space and public lands.
- Attract tourism dollars to the region.
- Teach about the extraordinary natural environment of Northern Nevada.
- Tell the rich history associated with the V&T Railroad.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad was organized in 1868 by the Bank of California to transport ore from the Comstock Lode silver mines Of Virginia City to the processing mills alone the Carson River. Over time, the railroad expanded its tracks, connecting various regions and creating a unique three-legged configuration for its 66-mile route.
The railroad’s end was confirmed in 1950 when the corridor was turned over to its previous owners, including private, city, and county entities, as well as the Bureau of Land Management. In 2015, we started lobbying to transform the old road-bed into a rail-trail.
In 2017, we submitted our first grant application to the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program to kickstart trail development.
In 2019 Governor Steve Sisolak signed Assembly bill 84, which allocated $217 million in bonds for conservation and wildlife management projects, including the Historic Virginia and Truckee Trail.