Lake Tahoe Biking
Lake Tahoe Cycling Events
America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride - Annually in June
Built on a reputation for not only its spectacular scenery, but also its great food and support. Boat Cruise/35-Mile Fun Ride, 72-mile ride around the Lake, and full 100-mile century are offered. This ride promotes Lake Tahoe Bikeway, the plan to build and interconnect bike lanes/trails around Lake Tahoe, and is the culmination of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America's National Team In Training spring fund raising program. 3000 participants. Start and Finish at the Lake Tahoe Horizon Casino Resort. Contact Info Phone: 800.565.2704.
Tour de Tahoe - Annually in June
Built on a reputation for not only its spectacular scenery, but also its great food and support. Boat Cruise/35-Mile Fun Ride, 72-mile ride around the Lake, and full 100-mile century are offered. This ride promotes Lake Tahoe Bikeway, the plan to build and interconnect bike lanes/trails around Lake Tahoe, and is the culmination of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America's National Team In Training spring fund raising program. 3000 participants. Start and Finish at the Lake Tahoe Horizon Casino Resort. Contact Info Phone: 800.565.2704.
Tahoe Sierra Century Ride - Annually in June
The century ride includes incredibly scenic as well as challenging terrain. The ride begins in Squaw Valley, follows along the beautiful north shore of Lake Tahoe, Brockway Summit, the Tahoe Donner area, Donner Lake, Donner Summit, and finishes back in Squaw Valley.
Lake Tahoe Road Biking
Tahoe City to Squaw Valley
Bike path located along the Truckee River
Distance: 8 miles (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
This is fun ride the whole family can enjoy. Start in Tahoe City, the bike path is located on the south side of SR89 just west of the WYE in Tahoe City across the street from the gas stations and runs along the Truckee River. Enjoy scenic views of the Truckee River and the beautiful landscape of Squaw Valley USA. Stop for a bite to eat at River Ranch Lodge along the way or at The Village at Squaw Valley.
Tahoe City to Sugarpine Point State Park
Bike path located along SR89 south
Distance: 10 miles (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
Start in Tahoe City, the bike path is located just south of the WYE in Tahoe City on the west side of the road. The bike path continues along the scenic west shore of Lake Tahoe and travels through the towns of Homewood and Tahoma. There are a couple of spots where you have to cross or ride along the road where the bike path terminates. Stop for lunch along the way at the West Shore Café or pick up a sandwich at the Tahoma Market PDQ and enjoy at Sugarpine Point State Park or one of the many beaches along the way.
Lakeshore Drive, Incline Village
Bike path located along the south side of Lakeshore drive in Incline Village
Distance: 5 miles (out and back)
Difficulty: Easy
Perfect for those with kids. Start at either end of Lakeshore drive (east or west from SR 28). The paved bike path is located on the south side of Lakeshore Drive. This is an out and back ride with plenty of great views of the lake and beautiful homes on the shore of Incline Village. Stop at Lone Eagle Grille at the Hyatt - Incline Village for a bite to eat along the way.
Kings Beach - Truckee - Tahoe City - Kings Beach
SR28 -> SR267 -> West River Rd (Truckee) -> SR89 -> SR28
Distance - 25 mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate+ - Elevation Gain: approx. 2000'
Start up SR267 north to Truckee. This starts with a fairly rigorous climb up to Brockway Summit (ele. 7200') to a payoff descent to the Truckee Meadows. Turn left on West River Rd. or cruise through Downtown Truckee and stop and any one of a number of restaurants and eateries for refreshments. Pick up SR89 south at the west end of West River Rd. This is a steady 13 mile easy climb back to Tahoe City. Tahoe City is another great place to stop for rest and refreshment. Hop back on SR28 east over Dollar Hill to Kings Beach.
Ride around Lake Tahoe
Distance - 72 mile loop
Difficulty: Difficult - Elevation Gain: approx. 2600'+
The most popular route is clockwise starting anywhere from the West Shore of Lake Tahoe to Incline Village. Ascend up SR28 south to Spooner Junction (SR50). This is a steady 13 mile climb gaining approx. 1000' in elevation to a payoff descent 17 miles down SR50 to South Lake Tahoe. Take Emerald Bay Rd. (SR 89) west then north up the switchbacks 8 miles to Emerald Bay for a fairly steep elevation gain of 800'. Some of the most beautiful views can be found at one of the most photographed locations in the world, "The Jewel of the Sierra". Continue up and down shorter hills along the "Magical West Shore" of Lake Tahoe and return to your original start point.
Truckee - Soda Springs via Donner Pass Rd.
Distance - 22 miles out and back
Difficulty: Difficult - Elevation Gain: approx. 1000'+
Start anywhere in Truckee. Ride along Donner Pass Rd. across the I-80 bridge and continue along the north shore of Donner Lake up Old HWY 40 (Donner Pass Rd./Donner Summit Rd.). The climb begins at the west end of Donner Lake and gains approx. 1000' in elevation over the next three miles. Continue up Donner Pass Rd. to Soda Springs. Turn around and enjoy the payoff descent!
Truckee - Tahoe Donner Loop
Distance - 15 mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate - Elevation Gain: approx. 900'+
Start anywhere in Truckee. Ride along Donner Pass Rd. and turn north onto Northwoods Blvd. The climb starts right away and gains approx. 900' in 3 miles. Continue up Northwoods Blvd to Alder Creek Rd. The payoff descent runs along Alder Creek to SR 89 north where you'll turn right and ascend back to Truckee.
Lake Tahoe Mountain Biking
The Flume Trail
One of the most beautiful mountain bike rides in the world with panoramic views of pristine Lake Tahoe along the east shore... Read more >>Truckee Mountain Biking
Emigrant TrailDistance - 22 miles (out and back) Difficulty - Easy
The Emigrant Trail is one of the most popular rides Truckee has to offer because of it's early season, low elevation access. It is a non-technical winding single track with super fun rolling hills. It starts along Prosser Creek 3.5 miles north of I-80 off SR 89 just past the bridge and ends up 11 miles later at Stampede Reservoir.
Hole in the Ground
Distance - 16 miles
Difficulty - Moderately difficult and technical in spots
Elevation Gain: approx. 800'
From Truckee head west on I-80 to the exit marked Boreal Ridge Road/Castle Peak (approx. 10 miles). Turn Right onto Castle Valley Road and park at the end of the pavement. Ride up Castle Valley Road for approx. 1.5 mile. The trailhead is on the left but is easy to miss. If you get to the PCT junction, you've gone too far. Because Hole in the Ground if off of Donner Summit it holds the Snow pack later than any other ride in the basin and often doesn't open until late June or early July and can still have many patches of snow to navigate. Hole in the Ground starts with a fairly rigorous climb (approx. 800') up switchbacks but the views from the top of Andesite Ridge are amazing, especially during wildflower season. The descent flows very nicely zigzagging through some pretty technical sections, rock gardens, and stream crossings terminating down a long winding staircase for about 1.5 miles. Hole in the Ground is one of the best descents in the Tahoe Basin. Lower Lola Montez Lake is a beautiful alpine lake and great place to stop for a snack before the small climb to the final staircase descent. If shuttling vehicles you'll want to park a car at the end of the ride. From I-80 west of Truckee take the Soda Springs Exit. Turn left and cross over the freeway and make a right just after the westbound off-ramp onto Sherritt Lane. Drive a short distance up and park anywhere on this road. To avoid shuttling vehicles park at the intersection of Donner Pass & Soda Springs road. Ride east on Donner Pass road to Bunny Hill Rd. stay left up the winding dirt road that goes along Hwy 80 to the Boreal parking lot. Take the underpass across I-80 and up the paved road on the other side to the dirt road leading to Castle Valley Road. Continue up the road for a little more than a half mile to the start of the single track trail up to Andesite peak.
Sawtooth Trail
Distance - 12 miles
Difficulty - Easy
A winding single track loop located off of USFS 06 at the top of Sierra Meadows. Go up Palisades Drive off (next to 7-11, off Brockway Rd). Turn right on Silver Fir, and then left on Thelin. The USFS 06 road is on the right. The trailhead is on the right approx. 1/2 mile up USFS 06. The trail runs high above the east side of the Truckee River Canyon and crosses the 06 on the way out as well as on the way back. Because of it's elevation and thick forest coverage, the Sawtooth Trail can have snow on it well into June.
