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North Lake Tahoe > Tahoe Rim Trail > Tahoe Meadows

Reviews of Tahoe Rim Trail

Rim Trail and Mt. Tallac Hike 5 of 5 stars The Rim Trail is the most beautiful piece of land in Tahoe. There are many trailheads to start from. We did Tahoe Meadows, Mt. Rose Summit and Mt. Tallac. Mt. Tallac being the most strenuous of them all. Very steep at times but the view from the top is worth every step of the way. Plan on about 6 hours.

Stunning Scenery Easy to get lost - 4 of 5 stars We rode different trails and very little is marked. So at times hard to know which way to turn. One sign post had been knocked down. Fortunately Village Ski & Bicycles in Incline Village has a website with maps. Also Spooner Lake Flume Trails told us what to look for. Streuous ride. Guaranteed to go up hill a few miles...

Experience Tahoe Rim Trail 4 of 5 stars I section-hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail, mostly day hikes but with some overnighters and one 5-day trip through the Desolation Wilderness. The whole trail can be done as day hikes with some planning, and car shuttles. Beautiful, sometimes crowded, especially on the sections that allow mountain bikes. Water sources can be problem, especially on the East side, and following poor winters. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association maintains a website that is loaded with information. Any trip to Tahoe should include at least one day hike on the Rim Trail.

Start at FREE USFS Parking The Rim Trail is a lot of fun whether you hike, run, mountain bike or cross country ski. And it's FREE! The Mt. Rose Meadows parking lot is FREE. But, you have to know that you can also park for FREE at the US Forest Service parking lot on Spooner Summit. There are other NOT FREE parking lots by the State of Nevada and you can save money by finding the USFS lot. Go to Spooner Summit on Hwy 395 and look for the lot on the SOUTH side of the highway. There are shade trees and restrooms at this lot too. The parking spaces are wide and laid out very well. You can start your trip on the Rim Trail from here heading south or north. To go north, you just need to walk across the highway.

North Lake Tahoe > Spooner Lake State Park > The Flume Trail

Here you are in the picture featured in all the brochures! Good Climbs. Better Downhills. Great Views of Lake Tahoe. But you will have to pay to ride, hike or run if you enter at Spooner Lake State Park. Start at Spooner Lake Nevada State Park (trail and parking fees are required) near the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 28. Or, if you'd rather ride for free, checkout other points of entry not inside the Nevada State Park. The route from Spooner Lake State Park isn't for beginners or those looking for an easy/moderate ride. But, I guess real mountain bikers have to do it at least once or several hundred times as I have. It starts as a double-track road going north through aspen groves, then steepens and ascends to Marlette Lake, along the Spooner Lake Cross-Country Ski Area Canyon Trail route. If you're fit, it will take shy of an hour to get to the saddle above Marlette. Near the top is a granny gear section that casual riders say they wish someone had warned them about - steep and sandy and many riders have to walk it. OK you've been warned. Here is why we say this is a challenging ride for those who aren't fit or slim, but it's a good fun workout if you are. At Marlette Lake, take the dirt road to the left along the lake. At the end of the lake, which is Marlette dam, you will follow narrow single-track where the grading for the now non-existent wooden flume is etched into the side of the steep slope. Here is where you enjoy the nearly flat winding trail on the mountainside with constant panoramic views of Tahoe. With the shore of Lake Tahoe 1,000 feet below, a tumble over the edge could be unhealthy. But you won't. The flume trail turns into a dirt road that forks. Go left and descend a for 3 miles down the steep sandy fire road into Incline Village, where you loop back to your car via the paved route Highway 28, or simply take a carpool/shuttle back. Technical: Yes, Elevation: 7,000-8,000 ft., Climbing: Over 1,100 ft., Distance: 20 mi..,Take Water: Water is available at Marlette Lake but you will need to filter it.

Nevada State Park Trail Fees are Strongly Enforced We know times are tough for state budgets, but this is too extreme for us. Be advised that you will be required to pay a user fee if you enter the Flume Trail at Spooner Lake State Park. And, even if you do pay, a park ranger may meet you out on the trail and block your passage until you show your receipt! On 4th of July we were stopped going up the trail by a ranger who threw open his SUV door to block our path, and we were required to show our trail pass to the rather dour unfriendly state employee! So, if the idea of confrontation like this out on the trail bothers you and reminds you of what kind of useless service you are getting for you tax dollars, then you may want to consider other venues for enjoying your mountain biking. Fortunately, there are plenty of other more beautiful and no-fee-required FREE trails at Lake Tahoe. Tip: Check out FREE USFS trails on the other side of Hwy. 50 or head up Mt. Rose Hwy. to Tahoe Meadows on the much more popular and free Tahoe Rim Trail. -- Highsierra.com

HighSierra.com Hot Trail Tip: Make a night of it! Start and end your day at the Spooner Lake State Park wilderness cabins for overnight stays!

Flume Trail Bicycle Rentals & Tours

The following information is from Winter Mountain Biking Guide reprinted courtesy of Tahoe Mountain News, a community newspaper for Lake Tahoe's South Shore.

For more trail guides visit our Lake Tahoe Bookstore.

Fat Tire Meca Awaits Mountain Bikers
by Taylor Flynn

With famous trails like Mr. Toads Wild Ride. The Flume and Tahoe Rim Trail, Lake Tahoe is renowned for great mountain biking. The following guide will lead you to these and other well-known mountain bike trails on and around Lake Tahoe. Starting with easier rides and progressing to more difficult ones, this guide is designed to provide something for everyone. Route directions are given as suggestions only, and many trails have several route variations.

South Lake Tahoe > South Lake Tahoe City Bike Path

This paved bike path is a real asset to the town of South Lake Tahoe. Located away from the busy roads along scenic meadows and quiet neighborhoods, thhe mostly flat path is ideal for commuting whether headed to work or to the beaches. The bike path goes from Timber Cove Lodge in mid-town and connects to the Forest Service Bike Path, which continues several miles along side of Emerald Bay Road.

This is a beautiful and fun trail for cycling with family or your sweetie! You can rent a bicycle from the rental concession on Emerald Bay Road and have a very nice cruise. There's even an ice cream parlor for a refreshing stop along the trail when you reach Camp Richardson resort. Technical: Not, Climbing: None

South Lake Tahoe > Fallen Leaf Road

Though this is a paved road complete with vehicle traffic, you'll be glad you're on a mountain bike on this extremely narrow and potholed two-laner. Fallen Leaf Road leads through shaded evergreen forests, along lush green meadows and eventually flanks the southeastern shoreline of Fallen Leaf Lake. If you've never seen this pristine alpine lake nestled at the foot of 9,725' Mt. Tallac, this ride is a must-do. With just a couple gradual hill climbson this 4-mile ride (8 miles round trip) you get a lot of scenery for your effort. An extra 1/4 mile effort beyond Fallen Leaf Lodge will lead you to the Glen Alpine Falls.

How To Get There: From South Lake Tahoe, head north on Highway 89 about one mile past Camp Richardson Lodge. Fallen Leaf Road is on the left, and it can be easy to miss. Park your car in the turnout here, or access Fallen Leaf Road from the Forest Service Bike Path (on the Lake Tahoe side of Highway 89). Technical: Not, Climbing: Hardly Any

South Lake Tahoe > Bob's Nevada Beach Loop

Though much of the terrain around Kingsbury Grade (on the way up to Heavenly Valley Ski Area) in Nevada is very steep, Bob Daly at Shoreline Sports has found a 6 1/2 mile loop that's just right for the whole family - and begins at his shop.

How To Get There: From the Stateline casinos, drive east to Kingsbury Grade, turn right, and follow it up to Shoreline Sports on the right. Get a map from Bob, if you like, and maybe even a new bike. (Happy, Bob?)

The Ride: Go across the street and follow the paved bike path that begins just behind Kahle Park. It will lead you into the forest and a series of small ravines 3 miles to Elks Point Road. Turn left and head through the signal down to Nevada Beach. Now, cruise the beach path back to Shoreline Sports. Technical: Not, Climbing: Very Little

South Lake Tahoe > Angora Lakes

This is a good, steep hill climb with a pot of gold at the top - crystal clear alpine lakes surrounded by scenic cliffs, free lock-up for bikes and a resort store that serves great lemonade.

The Ride: Ride Fallen Leaf Road 1 1/2 miles from Highway 89 and turn left onto Tahoe Mountain Road, then right on Angora Ridge Road after a 1/3 mile climb. The partially paved road will climb steeply for 1 1/2 miles to a fire lookout station with great views of Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. The road then descends to a parking lot. Take the trailhead to Angora Lake, another 1/8 mile up, some 5 miles from Highway 89. Technical: Very Little, Climbing: A Lot

South Lake Tahoe > Powerline Trail

The powerline Trail does not climb much above Lake level. This, however, does not mean it is flat. On a parallel oroute with Pioneer Trail (road), Powerline is comprised of a 7-mile series of short ascents and descents as it traverses several ravines and creeks, including Trout Creek, Cold Creek and Heavenly Valley Creek. The ravines (and climbs) are tremendous fun, and generally steeper at the base of Heavely Ski Resort.

The Ride: Start from either Oneidas Street or Garbage Dump Road (at the end of Elks Club Road on Pioneer Trail), head east along the double-track, which is the service road for a large set of power lines and also doubles as a designated off-highway vehicle (OHV) route. The OHV road ends at Cold Creek, and a single track trail ascends behind the Montgomery Estates neighborhood and continues to Ski Run Boulevard near the California base-side of the Heavenly Valley Ski Area. Technical: Some Technical Fun, Climbing: Short Climbs

South Lake Tahoe > Corral Loop - Tin Shack

The Cooral Loop is a favorite for mountain bike riders and trail runners, too. One advantage of this forested loop is a paved uphill and a dirt, single-track downhill. It always seems like a good deal of off-road downhill in comparison to the smooth, hard-surfaced climb. The off-road descent is fast with a few technical sections.

The Ride: Take Oneidas Street off Pioneer Trail (road) and follow the paved but little-traveled road several miles up a steep 2-mile climb. Fifty yards past the bridge at Trout Creek, turn left into a turnout trail (you will see the trail marker). The single-track leads up one little climb and then descends through some sand and rock, technical sections before opening into some twisting, fast turns. The trail ends at Powerline Trail, so you can eigher turn right onto the Powerline or veer left back to Oneidas. Technical: Some Technical Fun, Climbing: Yes

South Lake Tahoe > Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Here's the ride you've been looking for! Named after the Disneyland roller-coaster, Toads is notorious for its fast downhill through banked turns and thick forest. Once an obscure, nearly forgotten OHV trail named Saxon Creek Trail, Toads is undoubtedly Tahoe Shouth Shore's most famous mountain bike trail due to a magazine write-up early in the start of the sport (which has wrecked sections of the trail due to overuse).

The Wild Ride: Start from the Bid Meadow Trailhead (parking and restrooms) off Luther Pass Grade on Highway 89. Ride the Tahoe Rim Trail east 3 miles up gorgeous, technically-challenging single track to tucker Flat. Turn left at the Saxon Creek trail marker and prepare to heat up your brakes. For approximately 4 1/2 miles, it's almost all downhill, technical through some early sections and pulverized by overuse in others, but there are still super-fast and fun twisties as you reach the bottom. Views of mountain wildflowers can be gorgeous, as well, due to many streams and meadows along the route. Technical: Yes, Climbing: Depends on which direction you go!

HighSierra .com Hot Trail Tip: You can get back to your car by riding back up the hill. Or, better yet ride the trail all the way to Oneidas Street, then take a left to Pioneer Trail (road) to Highway 50, where you will go left and down to the Meyers bicycle path alongside of Highway 50 going south to South Upper Truckee Road, left there through Christmas Valley and up the old Luther Pass Road to Luther Pass Rd. again, and your car. Get a street map and Forest Service map to find this great route, which rides best when started from the bridge at the end of South Upper Truckee Rd. at the end of Christmas Valley.) Technical: Lots Of It, Climbing: Lots Of It.