Nevada County to Increase Off-Highway Patrols Labor Day Weekend

NEVADA COUNTY — The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office will ramp up off-highway vehicle patrols and enforcement from August 29 through September 1 in response to expected high recreational use during Labor Day weekend. The efforts will target heavily impacted areas that often see increased activity and generate service calls.

Off-highway vehicle zones in Nevada County include federal lands in the Tahoe National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management’s Mother Lode Ranger District, as well as private properties owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, Sierra Pacific Industries, the Nevada Irrigation District, and residents. Western Nevada County offers low-elevation recreational areas below 4,000 feet, including authorized single-track trails at Chalk Bluff and Lowell Hill in the Burlington Motorcycle Trail System. Other zones encompass both authorized and unauthorized sites, which frequently lead to complaints about trespassing, unsafe operations, environmental damage, vandalism, illegal campfires, and litter.

To conduct patrols, the sheriff’s office deploys specialized vehicles, including utility terrain vehicles, snowcats, dirt bikes, e-bikes, and a four-wheel-drive Jeep. These allow access to remote paths for enforcing rules beyond paved roads and ensuring safety for recreators.

The office handles enforcement across more than 900 square miles, much of which is recreational off-road terrain, while also utilizing its off-road vehicles for emergencies, such as backcountry searches and rescues. Regular patrols aim to address public safety concerns in these areas on a year-round basis.