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jpramick

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am spending 4th of July weekend in Kirkwood and am bringing my bike. I realize the ski area doesnt do lift serve any more, but are the trails on the mtn worth pedaling? Anywhere else in the area I should go? I'll probably just have one morning for a few hours, so prefer to not drive too far, but would love something that feels a bit backcountry. riding a yeti sb140, fine with whatever kind of riding, and staying in Kirkwood village

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Nice. Kirkwood in the summer is amazingly beautiful. Can also be boring since it's pretty isolated from the Tahoe scene, and most cabins aren't really being used in the summer there. The trails in the cabin area are just ok. Your bike will be fine. Horse Canyon via Thunder Mountain off of Carson Spur is pretty fun but kind of a one and done. There is some other trails off 89 that are close to there. I would not ride anything further west of Thunder Mountain, as those trails are also meh. Some good fishing in Caples lake, which is also really awesome at sunset. There are some killer hiking trails from Kirkwood to Caples Lake. Way more hiking opportunities there than bike riding. Kirkwood store is kind of cool to check out. Not open all the time.
 
#3 ·
If you are ok w/jeep roads you should be able to do an out n back to strawberry and hwy 50 from kirkwood.
 
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#6 ·
I would categorize the stuff within the resort as fun, but not epic. It is a beautiful area. Super sleepy in summer, which I appreciate. You could hit everything within the resort boundaries in a day under your own power. Horse Canyon is solid. The Thunder Mtn loop as mentioned as well. Check out dinner or drinks at the Caples Resort. Recommend a reservation if you want to dine in.
 
#8 ·
powwow said:
I've ridden this loop backwards (counter-clockwise) a couple times and always found it to be rewarding. Beware there is some hike-a-bike coming up from the Plasse campground but the backcountry feel is there and there is plentiful granite to play on:
Click to expand...
I rode the Plasse trail and Silver Lake trail last fall. What is the Hidden Lakes trail like?
 
#9 ·
I did the thunder mountain loop last year starting from Kirkwood. It was a solo day trip from sea level and the elevation definitely eroded my climbing legs real quick. It was a tough day, but it was absolutely gorgeous and I totally recommend it for the scenery alone.
 
#10 ·
evdog said:
I rode the Plasse trail and Silver Lake trail last fall. What is the Hidden Lakes trail like?
Click to expand...
Hidden Lakes is the highlight of that route. It's very rideable and very fun and like I said, there is a lot of granite slickrock to play on immediately next to the trail.
It is backcountry in nature so there may be trees down and not cleared yet - I have no beta from this year.
 
#11 ·
Thunder MTN loop is great. (There is some hike a bike getting to the top). Make sure to go clockwise. You can add in a sentinel trail to get out and back to the resort area trails. Very pretty, great views, good trails. Loose and chunky.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Thanks all! I plan on doing the Thunder Mtn loop myself. Apprciate the input!
secondary question, is it worth my very beginner wife bringing her bike? I know there is the meadow trail, but that might be too tame even for her. Any of the blues I am seeing on the mountain pretty easy?
 
#13 ·
prozach0215 said:
Thunder MTN loop is great. (There is some hike a bike getting to the top). Make sure to go clockwise. You can add in a sentinel trail to get out and back to the resort area trails. Very pretty, great views, good trails. Loose and chunky.
Click to expand...
When you hit the Horse Canyon Tr at the bottom of the Thunder Mtn Tr, you can also turn left for an out-and-back on Upper Horse Canyon. It gets really technical towards the top and is ridden by motos, but it's gorgeous and worth the extension.
 
#14 ·
jpramick said:
Thanks all! I plan on doing the Thunder Mtn loop myself. Apprciate the input!
secondary question, is it worth my very beginner wife bringing her bike? I know there is the meadow trail, but that might be too tame even for her. Any of the blues I am seeing on the mountain pretty easy?
Click to expand...
I think so. The area underneath the Cirque (Upper and Lower Corral) is particularly beautiful. Rolling singletrack, wild flowers, the mountain right next to you. And if my memory serves me well, the "black" level of upper corral and Vista isn't super high/challenging. Whiskey has some short loose steeper sections with a ledge or two.

The climb up on the fireroad can be a bit of a grind given the pitch and altitude, but it is relatively short to get to those loops.
 
#15 ·
My buddy and I spent a couple days at the lodge last summer. Did a self-shuttled ride on Charity Valley and did the Thunder Mountain to Horse Canyon loop the next day. Had dinner at Caples Lake Resort one of the nights Solid weekend. Like mentioned earlier, the village is suuuper sleepy in the summer and that's how I like it. .
 
#16 ·
powwow said:
Hidden Lakes is the highlight of that route. It's very rideable and very fun and like I said, there is a lot of granite slickrock to play on immediately next to the trail.
It is backcountry in nature so there may be trees down and not cleared yet - I have no beta from this year.
Click to expand...
I find it a very fun trail, old school techy uphill, as of last summer completely logged out.

I particularly like the kirkwood trails mid July, wildflowers are awesome. They have a summer trail crew that keeps the trails buff and they continue to build new trails.

the thunder mountain horse canyon loop which can be lollipoped from Kirkwood is awesome
 
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