About Us
The Great Shasta Rail Trail Association is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, formed to own and manage the Great Shasta Rail Trail.
The Great Shasta Rail Trail began as the vision of a small group of people associated with organizations located in the far north of California: Shasta Land Trust, Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Community Partnership, McCloud Local First Network, McCloud Trail Association and Save Burney Falls.
This group, known as the Core Team, came together in 2009 with a shared vision to develop the McCloud River Railroad rail bed into a rail trail that would invite a wide variety of outdoors enthusiasts to enjoy 80 or so miles of gently sloped trail.
Core Team
The Core Team of the Great Shasta Rail Trail established the Great Shasta Rail Trail Association (GSRTA) to own and manage the proposed McCloud to Burney rail trail, known as the Great Shasta Rail Trail (GSRT). Core Team members joined the GSRTA Board of Directors, assuring continuity. The Core Team selected participants and made decisions by consensus.
As of August 1, 2013 the Core Team consisted of individuals representing non-profit organizations:
April Gray, McCloud Local-First Network
Jerry Harmon, McCloud Trail Association, a working group of McCloud Local-First Network
Ben Miles, Shasta Land Trust
Elizabeth Norton, Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership
Tina Peluso, Fall River Chamber of Commerce
The Core Team disbanded upon formation of the GSRTA.
Core Team Organizations
Shasta Land Trust was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organization dedicated to permanently conserving open space, wildlife habitat, and agricultural land. In our thirteen year history, Shasta Land Trust has been successful with many conservation accomplishments, and continues to work towards meaningful and lasting land protection for our region.
McCloud Local First Network was a not-for-profit organization which worked to strengthen McCloud and the local economy by promoting local McCloud people, businesses, and nature. The organization coordinated and facilitated the efforts of grass-roots working groups focused on tourism, alternative energy, and the McCloud Trail Association.
Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the outstanding geologic, interpretive and recreational opportunities found along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway All-American Road and to enhance tourism.
McCloud Trail Association was a project of the McCloud Local First Network. Members worked together to promote the development of trails in the McCloud area.
Save Burney Falls was a California non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation organized in January 1997 to promote long-range community planning and environmentally sustainable growth in the Burney Falls area. SBF supported balanced development while preserving the natural state of the environment. This non-profit was converted to the Great Shasta Rail Trail Association in 2013.