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OFF ROAD — mountain biking in Tahoe/Truckee |
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Written by Peter Berridge
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Friday, 29 June 2007 |
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Exploring Truckee and the North Shore by mountain bike delivers an athletic adventure and the chance to take in some of Tahoe’s most picturesque geography. A buddy, a map, basic tools, a pump and spare tube, and ample water are always good company. Being well prepared betters the odds for a fun-filled ride.
Easy Does It
Truckee River Bike Path — For a paved, more leisurely alternative to cruising Tahoe and Truckee on two wheels, consider the Truckee River bike path or traverse the bike path along the North and West shores of the lake. Be sure to bring a towel and bathing suit.
Beginner
North Tahoe Nordic Center — A Convenient Sampler with Potential for More: Pick some distinct landmarks and create your own loop on this easygoing network of trails or make your way to the Fiberboard Freeway for more. From the trailhead, follow the main trail to the water tank and pedal on, across two dirt roads and straight onto a narrower trail. Climb to the dirt road and turn left, descending for a quarter mile. Look for a singletrack diagonally up to the right, stay right again and then left back onto a well-traveled singletrack. Stay right as you traverse up to the Freeway. For more, climb the pavement a few miles and link with Painted Rock or the Rim Trail.
Trailhead: A few miles east of Tahoe City on 28, left at top of hill on Fabian Way, quick right on Village. Follow signs to Nordic Center on Country Club Drive.
Distance: Variable/4 miles to Fiberboard Freeway
Ride Time: Variable/1-3 hrs roundtrip.
Intermediate
Emigrant Trail — A Rolling Trail with Moderate, Intermittent Climbs: The rolling hills and flatlands that make up the Prosser Creek and Stampede Reservoirs are home to long, relatively easy going trail that can be as vigorous or as leisurely as you like. The trail is smooth for the most part but never lacking in features. A couple of short climbs separate several great sections of undulating terrain.
Trailhead: From Truckee, head 5 miles north on Hwy. 89 until you cross the Prosser Creek Bridge. Park in the dirt lot on the right. From here, the Emigrant Trail dead ends at Stampede Reservoir, 10 miles north. Distance: 19 miles round-trip to Stampede Reservoir. Ride Time: 2-3 hours.
Western States Trail — A North Tahoe Classic, Straight Up (pun intended): Warm up on the bike path before climbing up and away from the Truckee River on this relentless string of switchbacks. At the trail’s end, if you want more turn left and climb to the first fork in the road, turn right. Continue up and look for a single track to the right which brings you back down to the top of the Western States. For the climb of your life, go left at the top of Western States and right at the second fork. The Wall awaits, as does the Rim Trail to the east or west.
Trailhead: Right off Highway 89, approximately 5 miles north of Tahoe City and 11 miles south of Truckee. Halfway between the entrances to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows on 89, look for a bridge with pullouts on either side. Parking on the southern/Tahoe City side is best. Trail starts under the bridge and heads up east side of the river. Distance: 4 miles roundtrip on Western States. Ride Time: 1-2 hrs.
The Flume Trail — A Tahoe Classic by Any Standard, Especially Lake Views: Nowhere are lake views more prominent than along the East Shore on Tahoe’s legendary Flume Trail. Pedal with relative ease into the same backdrop you’ve seen in countless photographs depicting riders negotiating a sandy traverse high above Sand Harbor’s turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Make an out-and-back ride from Spooner Lake or have a car waiting at the Ponderosa Ranch parking lot where 28 heads south from Incline Village. The Flume Trail is well marked throughout the ride. After the climb to Marlette Lake most of the ride traverses a mild grade. At the Flume’s end, descend left on Tunnel Creek to Ponderosa/Incline.
Trailhead: From Incline Village, head south 10 miles on 28 to the Spooner Lake State Park on the left. Paid parking only, and shuttle services are available to get you from Ponderosa back to your car. Distance: 23 miles. Ride Time: 3-5 hrs.
Expert
Tahoe Meadows to Marelette Lake or Spooner Lake — A Hearty Ride with Exquisite Scenery: Sample one of the better sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail from this northeast corner of the lake and take in the dramatic views down to the Carson Valley and back to the Tahoe basin. To make a loop of this is a strenuous, all-day ride with some tricky sections of singletrack heading up toward Marlette Peak. From the peak, turn-around to complete a solid out-and-back ride or, drop into Marlette Lake and traverse the shoreline to make your return trip along the infamous Flume Trail. Climb back up to the Rim Trail at Tunnel Creek Rd. Cars can be left at Ponderosa (bottom of Tunnel Creek Rd. at north end of Flume trail) or at Spooner Lake campground (5 miles south of Marlette Lake). Note: Rim Trail from Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek road is only open to bikers on even days.
Trailhead: From Incline Village, up Highway 431 approximately 7 miles to Tahoe Meadows. Park at the far/northeast end of the meadow. Maps available at trailhead. Distance: 20+ miles. Ride Time: 4-6 hrs.
Hole in the Ground — A Challenging Loop Atop Donner Pass: A tough climb to start, then the trail descends into the lower Castle Creek Valley where it twists and turns as often as it rolls up or down. Swim at Lake Lola before finishing the last third of the ride. Note: The trail leaves you at Soda Springs. You need to cross the highway and head east up Old 40. About a mile and a half up look for a dirt road to the left (Snow Lab) that will take you through Auburn Ski Club/Boreal. Go under I-80 and back to trailhead.
Trailhead: From Truckee, head up I-80 west to the Boreal Ridge exit. Make a right at the bottom of the off-ramp and park up near the pavement’s end. Pedal up the two-track and stay left of the Pacific Crest Trail, follow the primary singletrack the rest of the way. Distance: 17 miles. Ride Time: 3-5 hrs.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 29 June 2007 )
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