Douglas County completed construction of the Martin Slough Trailhead on Buckeye Road east of Heybourne Road this fall.

The trailhead includes eight parking spots and is the first phase of an overall project to complete the Martin Slough Trail. When complete, the Martin Slough Trail will provide a 2.6 mile paved multi-use path connecting Jake’s Wetland in Minden to the Gilman Ponds in Gardnerville. 

The path will offer the public alternate access to Minden Elementary School, Gardnerville Elementary School, and Carson Valley Middle School, allowing pedestrians to avoid the congestion along Highway 395.

A grant from the Nevada Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program provided $615,238 for construction, which was matched $25,000 by Douglas County, Gardnerville, and Minden. Another $25,000 was provided by the Dean Seeman Foundation and $100,000 by the Ranch at Gardnerville. 

A portion of the trail is also going to be constructed by the Carson Valley Inn across their property.

In November 2015 Douglas County received a $106,836 grant from the Nevada Division of State Parks to construct a trailhead on Buckeye Road to access the trail. The original schedule called for both the trail and trailhead to be constructed this year, however the trail has been delayed due to the lengthy federal process to acquire all necessary project clearances. 

The grant for the trailhead was set to expire Dec. 31, which necessitated that the county complete the trailhead prior to beginning the trail.

Construction on the trail is expected to begin late next summer.