Historic 10,000-Acre Land Return to the Washoe Tribe Moves Forward in the Sierra

A significant piece of Northern California history is coming full circle. The Wildlife Conservation Board has approved a $5.5 million grant to help return more than 10,000 acres of ancestral land in the northern Sierra Nevada to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

The property, known as Loyalton Ranch, includes 10,274 acres of sagebrush lowlands, conifer forests, meadows, springs, and flowing creeks. Located northeast of Lake Tahoe and roughly 20 miles north of Reno, the land supports pronghorn, mule deer, mountain lions, and culturally important plant species such as pinyon pine.

The return of this landscape marks a historic milestone. Washoe people were forced from these homelands generations ago, and tribal leaders say the land’s reacquisition is both a cultural and ecological victory. The purchase is being led by the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust and represents part of a larger effort to reclaim and steward traditional Washoe territory.

The project comes after four years of collaboration between the Tribe, the Northern Sierra Partnership, and the Feather River Land Trust. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2026.

State officials say the project is a powerful example of Tribal, conservation, and government partners working together to protect land that holds deep significance. Once officially returned, the Tribe plans to bring traditional knowledge and land management practices back to the region, restoring a relationship with this landscape that dates back thousands of years.