[Wzl]

I will be in the Tahoe area mid June for some riding. I will be driving up from Monterey and will meet up with some friends from further north. We need advice on what rides are worth doing in the area. We are all seasoned veterans and can handle pretty much any terrain and length of trail. Altitude is not an issue. We would prefer agressive XC trails as opposed to the DH runs at Northstar. I hope to ride Mr. Toads Wild Ride but thats all I have on my list. I hear the Flume trail is really just a tourist trail and not all that great.

Is there a good spot/town to stop at on the way up 80 or 50 before we get to Tahoe proper? Auburn? Is there camping there?

I will also be in Monterey for the precending 5 days so if anyone has any good advice on trails to ride there I would appreciate the info.

Cheers

 

[Connundrum1]

auburn has some great trails, downhill, XC whatever your looking for. a good cross country is the Forresthill divide trail. You exit 80 onto forresthill road and go straight on that down a ways, u cross a large bridge, after a few miles theres a pullover on the right side with parking spots and a portapotty. you can start there, cross that fence and the trail that goes to the left is it, it has a multi purpose trail sign on it. some climbs at the beggining and downhill then its all ups and downs after that. ask if u need some more help.

 

[wg]

Flume is good for scenery. Do it during the week to avoid the tourist crowd.
More entertaining rides: Mr Toads, Mt Rose to Flume, Hole in the Ground by Boreal.
Dig around in the trail reviews section for more good info too.

Check this for the upcoming gathering July 7
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=67008

 

[d-bug]

I hear the Flume trail is really just a tourist trail and not all that great.

Cheers

Yeah, I HATED the Flume. It's a fairly sandy trail, and totally flat. However, the route we took to get there was (a) killer. We started at Spoon lake, but made a right at the top of the 6 mile fire road climb where you meet another lake (left will take you straight to the Flume trail). There was some more fire road, and then some nice single track that can eventually lead you to the end of the Flume so you can: 1. still take the free truck ride back, 2. turn around and go back the way you came, 3. head up Flume back towards Spoon lake (this is what we did) All in all it was 24 miles, and we were DEAD tired, but rewarded with a casino buffet for dinner If you want a great view, take that route. You will cross over the peak of a mountain, at which point there is nothing blocking your view for a full 360.

The best we found was called Page Meadows. It's in the West\North West area. It was a fairly easy ride, but the single track was nice, along with a fun fire road downhill at the end. It did require several miles of road riding though.

 

[sfmtber]

there's some good stuff just above Tahoe City, in an area called the Nordic XC Center. it's off of Fabian Way. not terribly technical but swoopy fast singletrack and there's so much of it, nobody has bothered to map it. just kind of have to explore. recommended route -climb fireroad to Watson Lake, find TRT trail, and either go toward Tahoe City/around Watson Peak or towards Kings Beach/Hwy 267/Northstar. either way, very fun singletrack. about 2 hr ride time or more depending on loop.

 

[Ebo]

I would also do the Tahoe Rim Trail from Spooner to Kingsbury and back too. About 25 miles out and back. Some killer views and sweet, rocky, and at times technical singletrack. Another ride would be Mt Rose Hwy trailhead for the Tahoe Rim Trail to Marlette Pk, to Marlette lake, and back via the Flume, back on the Tahoe Rim trail to Mt Rose Hwy. This one is about 30 miles. You can also hop on the TRT at the Brockway traihead. Mid June could be tough on the high elevations with all the snowpack we still have.

 

[Brah]

TRT-Flume-TRT

I agree that the Flume trail itself is nothing special, but the views are phenominal.

However the Tahoe Rim Trail above the Flume is excellent. Very fun, technical singletrack overlooking Lake Tahoe. You can do a ~30 mile loop starting on the TRT from Tahoe Meadows (above Incline Village).

You'll ride the TRT at 8500- 9000 ft... going to Marlette Peak... then down to Marlette Lake, flume to Tunnel Creek then back on the TRT for about 9 miles back.

This map will get you there: http://www.theflumetrail.com/ridingmap/

Other big Tahoe rides:
- TRT - Spooner/Kingsbury (as described by others)
- Hole in the Ground
- Several loops on the TRT near Northstar /Tahoe City
- Grouse Ridge

 

[Ebo]

Check out tahoerimtrail.org for some good info....

 

[K-max]

Lot's o' trail info here....

Definitely check out any section of the TRT. Personally, did a 3 day ride from Tahoe City to South Lake Tahoe going clockwise. Brought all gear on my back and camped. It's all good.

I second the Kingsbury / Spooner section, awesome trail and views there. You can ride from King's Beach, up 267 to the TRT and go counter clockwise for a great 21 mile singletrack ride, all the way to Tahoe City. From there, ride the road around the lake back to King's Beach and have all-you-can-eat sushi at Hiro Sushi right in town.

Also, look into doing the BIG Mr. Toad's Loop. It's huge and brutal, even for he most seasoned of veterens. you say altitude is no problem, but believe me, you will be sucking wind. In a good way!

In that same area is the Dardnelles/Christmas Valley ride. A shortish ride with gnarly technical singletrack descents.

Two more, Paige Meadows, and Stanford Rock are both on the West Shore. Go to CyclePaths and get a cheap trail map. Both are excellent rides.

If you really want to explore, head on out 89 toward Kirwood/Markleeville. There's some amazing, way out there trails to be had. Just do a search and you'll find them.

Happy trails!
Kyle

 

[TXNavy]

I will also be in Monterey for the precending 5 days so if anyone has any good advice on trails to ride there I would appreciate the info.

Cheers

Monterey puts you next to Fort Ord, Soquel, and a long fireroad ride down in Big Sur. So long as my day is done by 3pm or so, I can get to one side or the other of Fort Ord by 4pm and get in 2-3 hours a day. Its a big enough place with enough diverse kinds of trails that you could probably ride all five days without getting bored.

"High energy physics," "Albuquerque" and "Monterey for five days in June" sounds like you're coming to visit us here at NPS for a summer boondoggle, er, I mean conference...

 

[Tracer Bullet]

I found that www.tahoeadventuresports.com has pretty good trail guides and info all around the Lake Tahoe area. My favorite so far is Hole in the Ground. I've never ridden Mr. Toads and have always wanted to.