Trailhead Parking

The roads in our subdivision are deeded to Calaveras County but roads above 5,000 ft in elevation are not plowed.  The County does work with CalTrans to plow the initial 120 ft of Salt Springs Trail off Highway 4 to allow for safer parking.  Although usually done within budget, the County has billed us for a share of excess plowing costs in high snow years.

Our roads are effectively closed to wheeled vehicles once sufficient snow has fallen.  When that tipping point is reached, parking management becomes a group responsibility.  

Scenes like this do not happen by accident!

Winter Parking Etiquette 

• Maintain an open lane for fire and emergency services at all times!

• Park on one side only, facing out.

• When actively snowing, coordinate with your neighbors to move vehicles to the opposite side of the road after it gets plowed. CalTrans plows our parking as a last priority so we need to be ready to act when they can clear our road. 

• The first one to notice plow activity should notify everyone else by phone, text, email or even by knocking on doors.  Introduce yourselves!  Don’t be shy!

• If the parking is crowded and a party has more than one vehicle, please leave additional vehicles at Bear Valley. Please keep in mind that Tamarack Village residents use the lower area primarily.

• Please do not park at Tamarack Lodge unless arrangements have been made with them in advance and payment offered/agreed.  

• Please treat CalTrans as our guardian angels as they plow our parking entirely at their will and convenience. If we are nice and they like us, sometimes they might forget to charge us for all the time it takes to plow our parking lot.