Mountain biking at Lake Tahoe is not a just a sport, it's a lifestyle! Bike paths, dirt roads, single tracks and bike parks abound around the lake. There are many scenic and mellow rides and plenty of steep, rocky precipices in the mountains. Some ski resorts have bike parks where you can buy a lift ticket, "ride" effortlessly to the summit and then careen your way down dusty ski trails. There are even companies that offer guided backcountry tours ranging from hours to days.

Many fine bike shops around the lake offer rentals, demos and sales. These shops are great resources for expert tips, local lore, trail maps, guide books, accessories and repairs.

Keep in mind that weather conditions can change rapidly in Tahoe. Be prepared with the proper clothing, wear sunscreen and bring lots of water. For safety, always wear a helmet.

Be advised that bikes are not allowed in wilderness areas, on the Pacific Crest Trail, on parts of the Tahoe Rim Trail, nor on the self-guided nature trails at the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center. Most other trails and logging roads are open to mountain biking. If in doubt, call the USDA Forest Service in South Lake Tahoe at 530-573-2600.

While riding, please help protect the Basin's high Alpine environment, an extremely fragile resource, by staying out of meadows and wet areas. Please do not cut switchbacks or make new trails. National Forests belong to a variety of users. Trails are shared by hikers, horses and mountain bikes. Please use caution and courtesy when encountering another user.

Enjoy your ride!

Listed in order of difficulty.

Fountain Place
This area has several mountain biking opportunities, from paved roads to more difficult trails. Note! Mountain bikes are not allowed past the gate at the end of Fountain Place Road nor the High Meadows area (private property). From U.S. HWY 50 take Pioneer Trail one mile to Oneidas Road. Follow Oneidas to the end and park at the staging area.

Fountain Place
Easy / Moderate
Elevation 6320' / 8400'
2 to 10 miles

Angora Ridge
Enjoy a moderate ride with spectacular views of Fallen Leaf Lake and Mt. Tallac. Take Fallen Leaf Lake Road from SR 89. Park past the campground on the right. Ride along Fallen Leaf Lake Road, take the first left, continue one-half mile and turn right on Angora Ridge Road 12N14.

Angora Ridge
Moderate
Elevation 6360' / 7440'
2 miles to Angora Lookout
4 miles to Angora Lakes

Twin Peaks
Perfect for the biker with limited time, this short steep ride to the top of a mountain peak has great views of Lake Tahoe. Open for public use from
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. Access is off of Lake Tahoe Boulevard approximately two miles from the intersection of U.S. HWY 50 and SR 89. Caution! This area is a very popular off-highway vehicle area.

Twin Peaks
Moderate / Strenuous
Elevation 6400' / 7010'
1 to 2 miles

Meiss Trail
Rising abruptly from SR 89 for the first half-mile, this trail levels off as it reaches Big Meadows. Trails leading to Round, Scotts and Dardanelles lakes provide access into Meiss Country with views of aspen-covered hills from lodgepole-cloaked forests. Note! This trail eventually intersects the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) where mountain bikes are not allowed. Take SR 89 south from Meyers to the Big Meadows parking lot. Follow the trail at the southern end of the parking lot which leads across the highway to the trailhead.

Meiss Trail
Moderate / Strenuous
Elevation 7280' / 8400'
5 miles

Rim Trail
Experience breathtaking scenery with exceptional views of Lake Tahoe. Take the Rim Trail past Freel Peak, the highest peak in the basin (10,881'). Take SR 89 south from Meyers to the Big Meadows parking lot. The trail starts at the north end of the parking area. A longer trip is possible by taking two cars and parking one car at the Heavenly Ski Resort's Stagecoach parking lot. The trailhead begins one-eighth mile up Stagecoach Run. Note! Mountain bikes are not allowed on the trail from Armstrong Pass north to Fountain Place, nor from Star Lake north to High Meadows (private property).

Rim Trail
Moderate / Strenuous
Elevation 7280' / 9600'
18 miles

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
A technical ride for the experienced mountain biker, this trail drops from 9,000' to 6,800' feet in three miles! Take the Rim Trail from the Big Meadows parking lot two and one-half miles to Tucker Flat. Turn left and follow the drainage of Saxon Creek. In two miles the trail forks again. The right fork leads to Oneidas Street off of Pioneer Trail. The left fork leads to SR 89, south of the SR 89 & U.S. HWY 50 junction. Watch for hikers and equestrian riders on the trail and pass with caution and courtesy.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Technical / Strenuous
Elevation 6800' / 9000'
3 miles

Genoa Peak
Enjoy a moderate ride along a ridgeline with scenic views of the Lake Tahoe Basin to the west and the Carson Valley to the east. Several spurs off the main road access peaks with Genoa Peak being the highest (9,150'). An excellent ten-mile loop off the main ridge is possible. Note! Mountain bikes are not allowed on the Rim Trail, from SR 207 to Spooner Summit. From South Lake Tahoe, take Kingsbury Grade (SR 207) and turn left on North Benjamin Road, which turns into Andria Drive. Continue to the end of the pavement and park. Take Genoa Peak Road 14N32. A longer trip is possible if you take two cars. Park the second vehicle off of U.S. HWY 50 behind the Nevada Department of Transportation Station, one-fourth mile south of the SR 28 and U.S. HWY 50 junction.

Genoa Peak
Moderate
Elevation 7720' / 8680'
8 to 12 miles

Brockway Summit to Martis Peak
The Martis Peak Road is a short five-mile climb well worth the effort. Drive north on SR 267 from Kings Beach to Brockway Summit. Park one-half mile past the summit on Forest Service Road 18N02.

Brockway Summit to Martis Peak
Moderate / Strenuous
Elevation 7120' / 8660'
5 miles

McKinney - Rubicon Road
This world-class off-highway vehicle road offers a variety of biking opportunities from loop rides to difficult peak climbs. From SR 89 north of Tahoma, turn west onto McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road. Turn left on Bellevue, right on McKinney Road, bear left onto McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road, continue to the dirt road and park. A longer ride is possible by taking two cars and parking one car at Blackwood Canyon.

McKinney / Rubicon Road
Moderate / Strenuous
Elevation 6400' / 7200'
6 to 15 miles

Marlette Lake / Flume Trail
Located in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, this popular trail is often crowded in the summer. Challenging even the expert rider, the trail begins east of the picnic area near Spooner Lake. Turn left on the dirt road that heads toward the meadow and follow a sandy road for five miles to Marlette Lake. Turn left across the dam. With magnificent views of Lake Tahoe, this single-track trail lies 1,500 feet above the lake. Remember to wear your safety helmet. Caution! Do not attempt this route if you are afraid of heights or unfamiliar with your bike. The trail ends at Tunnel Creek Road. To make a loop, turn right and ride to the top of the ridge. You will reach Twin Lakes in one-half mile. Seven-tenths of a mile past the lake sign, turn right or continue to the next main road and turn right. Turn right again on Forest Service Road 504, climb the ridge and where the road forks, continue straight to Marlette Lake. Take SR 28 to the Spooner Lake parking lot at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. A parking fee is charged. If you take two cars, be advised that limited parking is available at Tunnel Creek Road by the Ponderosa Ranch.

Marlette Lake & The Flume Trail
Strenuous
Elevation 7000' / 8300'
5 miles to Marlette Lake
23-mile loop Flume Trail


For additional information about mountain biking in the Lake Tahoe Basin, call, write or visit:

USDA -Forest Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
35 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530-543-2600

CyclePaths Mountain Bike Adventures
This company has been conducting guided backcountry tours since 1985. They focus on professional guiding, instruction and support of small intimate groups of riders over some of the best terrain on the planet. Altitude is everything!

Located on Lake Tahoe's beautiful West Shore, CyclePaths offers day tours, weekenders and three and five-day fat tire adventure camps. For those wishing to tour on their own, the company operates a backcountry shuttle service and sells a great selection of trail maps and guide books for the area.

And don't worry about the hassle of bringing your own bike. Take the opportunity to test drive state-of-the-art bikes! CyclePaths' diverse fleet of bikes offers something for everyone, from cruisers to tandems, front and full-suspension rigs, kids bikes and trailers. They have a full-service bike shop offering sales, service, repairs and accessories.

The vast wilderness of the northern Sierra offers tour possibilities for all levels of ability and is a great testing ground to judge your fitness and riding capabilities. Call for information about this company's wide range of offerings.

CyclePaths Mountain Bike Adventures
1785 West Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City

530-581-1171

Tahoe Adventure Company

From guided mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and kayak tours - Tahoe Adventure Company has something for everyone. Imagine kayaking around the shoreline under a full moon - this creative company can make it happen! Whether planning for a large group or just a family excursion, let Tahoe Adventure Company assist you with your plans.

Tahoe Adventure Company
P.O. Box 8536
Tahoe City, CA 96145

(530) 913-9212

(866) 830-6125

Tahoe Trips & Trails

Tahoe Trips and Trails offers first class active vacations for Hiking, Biking/Mountain Biking, and Multi-Sport. Tours are offered throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Tahoe Trips and Trails
PO Box 6952
Tahoe City CA 96145

800-581-4453

530-583-4506

Mountain Bike Park at Kirkwood
Kirkwood is one of the few mountain bike parks in the High Sierra. Two chairlifts provide many options with easy access to the top of the park. A network of dirt roads, trails and single tracks bring you back to the bottom, with a ride that is as mellow or as thrilling as you choose. Along the way, enjoy some of the most dazzling mountain scenery anywhere as you wind your way through the wildflowers exploring Kirkwood's flora and fauna.

Guided tours are available with advance reservations. For the more adventurous mountain bike enthusiasts, stop by the Adventure Center and pick up a map of trails accessible from the Carson Pass and Hope Valley areas.

Lift operation hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Holidays only. Bike and helmet rentals and accessories are available in the Adventure Center.

Kirkwood Ski & Summer Resort
SR 88 between Silver Lake and Caples Lake
Kirkwood

Mountain Bike Park Information:
Kirkwood Adventure Center
209-258-7283 June through October

Main Number
209-258-6000 November through May

Visit the WHERE TO PLAY main menu for information about other Kirkwood activities: Bike Riding, Day Care, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Sleigh Rides, Tennis.
 

Mountain Biking at Northstar-at-Tahoe
Mountain bikers can take it to the top at Northstar. The back roads and forested trails on Mt. Pluto and Lookout Mountain offer some of the best rides in the area with spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and Martis Valley. We're talking mountain biking on more than 100 miles to marked trails where you can grunt, groan and stir up some dirt. Northstar's Mountain Bike Park is serviced by chairlifts equipped with racks to take you and your bike from the Village elevation of 6,330 feet to the midmountain elevation of 7,040 feet and higher!

Trail maps will assist mountain bikers in exploring Northstar's back roads and forested trails with spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada. New single-track trails are continually being added to the park's extensive trail system. A wide range of skill levels is available, from the technical training course and slalom course to the gentle terrain of Northstar's cross-country ski trail system.

Bike rentals feature state-of-the-art shifting and shock suspension and helmets are included. For trail access, lift tickets, guided tours, lessons, bike rentals, biking accessories and minor bike repairs, visit the Mountain Adventure Shop located in Northstar's Village.   

Northstar-at-Tahoe
SR 267 at Northstar Drive
Truckee

Mountain Adventure Shop
530-562-2268

Main Number
530-562-1010

Visit the WHERE TO PLAY main menu for information about other Northstar-at-Tahoe activities: Climbing Wall and Ropes, Day Care, Golf, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling Tours, Tubing.
 

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