The land around one of the northern Sierra Nevada’s most popular trailheads is now in public hands.

The Trust for Public Land and Truckee Donner Land Trust, working as part of the Northern Sierra Partnership this week agreed to by the Castle Valley trailhead for $2.1 million. They in turn sold it to the U.S. Forest Service for the same price. The 412 acres will be part of the Tahoe National Forest.

The well-used, year-round trail network leads people to some of the most popular and easily accessed backcountry in the northern Sierra, including Castle Valley and Castle Peak, Pacific Crest Trail, the Sierra Club’s Peter Grubb Hut, the Hole in the Ground trail and the Donner Lake Rim Trail.

The Pacific Crest Trail Association said the acquisition will protect views and improve access to one of the most popular sections of the Pacific Crest Trail.