The Vision

The Excelsior Vision

In July of 2011, following two years of negotiations, the California Department of Fish and Game acquired the 528- acre Yuba Narrows Ranch, ensuring that this significant property, with almost two miles of critical salmon spawning habitat along the Yuba River and Deer Creek, will be permanently protected as open space. It is anticipated that portions of the property, including the Miner’s Ditch Trail, will become open to public access as early as spring of 2012.

In addition, we are working with the Nevada County Land Trust to place a conservation easement over the 158- acre Black Swan Ranch, which includes the historic Black Swan Lake and hydraulic diggings, and is home to the imperiled Western Pond turtle and a rich variety of bird species. The conservation easement will ultimately permit access from Highway 20 into the Yuba Narrows Ranch, providing miles of hiking and acres of recreational opportunities. We are looking for a conservation buyer interested in owning a portion of this unique and historic property, and taking advantage of the significant potential tax benefits a conservation easement can provide. Interested in finding out more? Email for a tour of this extraordinary site.

Conservation easements will also be placed on each of the parcels of the Excelsior Ranch, which are between twenty and thirty acres in size and will become available for purchase in the fall of 2011. Development on each of these extraordinary properties will be limited to a single two-acre building envelope carefully placed to minimize impacts and take full advantage of each property's breathtaking views, with additional acreage provided for horses and other livestock. Each parcel will have full access to Excelsior’s extraordinary equestrian and hiking trails. The resource-rich blue oak woodlands which occupy the large majority of the Excelsior Ranch will be permanently protected as open space, and managed jointly by the Ranch’s steward-owners, who will also play a significant role in oversight of the Black Swan and Yuba Narrows conservation areas. In this way, more than 870 acres - over 95% - of the unique and important Excelsior site will be permanently protected as open space. Interested in becoming a partner in this groundbreaking conservation effort? Tours can be arranged by emailing