Lake Tahoe Information
As some of you know, Lake Tahoe had a major fire in June 2007. NASA posted a satellite photo of Lake Tahoe taken about four days after the fire started. The fire scar and a bit of smoke can be seen to east of the lake (Fallen Leaf) at the foot of Lake Tahoe. We stay at the northern end of the lake and the only ride we've done anywhere near the fire is Mister Toads which is across Highway 89 from the fire.
click for full size image.
Note: Everything below this paragraph was prepared in 2005 or earlier. So some of the links may not work, and the information may be out of date.
2005. SBMBC is planning a trip to Lake Tahoe August 24–28, Wed.–Sun. (At present what follows is from information pulled together for past trips and may not be totally up to date. A bit disorganized, but gives you and idea of what's available.). See August 2005 Newsletter for details.
Click to see the movie from the 2002 Tahoe trip.
For high speed connections; the movie will take a couple of minutes to download.
Photos from our 2003 Trip including NRMB
Camping—Sugar Pine Point State Park.
Sugar Pine Point is a forested promontory on the western side of Lake Tahoe. The park includes a mile and three quarters of lake frontage with a number of sandy beaches and a unique natural area where the untouched, primeval forest of the Tahoe Basin marches right down to the water’s edge.
There are 175 campsites in the campground. Each site has a table and stove. Restrooms with sinks and flush toilets are located nearby. Shower facilities and a sanitary dump station are also available during the summer. family campsites can accommodate a maximum of eight people and three vehicles. Ten group campsites can each accommodate up to 40 people and 10 vehicles. The campsites are suitable for tents, trailers up to 40 feet, and motorhomes up to 30 feet. Reservations for family campsites can made up to eight weeks in advance by calling MISTIX at 1-800/444-7275. Group campsite reservations can be made up to 12 weeks in advance. Reservations are strongly advised during the summer (mid June through labor Day).More info on Sugar Pine State Park from Tahoe’s Best.
A calendar of other activities going on while we’re there.
The Tahoe Rim Trail has its own organization: The Tahoe Rim Trail Association .
Lake Tahoe Biking Guide List of four popular rides. (last update apparently in 2000)
NORTH LAKE TAHOE: The Flume Ride (Beginner-Advanced); SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Tahoe Mountain (Intermediate), Mr. Toads Wild Ride (Advanced), Corral Loop (Beginner-Intermediate)
NORTH LAKE TAHOE-The Flume Ride (Beginner-Advanced) 
Map Showing the entire Rim Ride. Many of the descriptions below are of various parts of this trail.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Tahoe Mountain (Intermediate)
Mr. Toads Wild Ride (Advanced) 
Corral Loop (Beginner-Intermediate)
See above links for details on these rides.
Lake Tahoe Vacation Guide-Mountain Biking Information on three mountain bike parks (ski areas), other tourist information (lodging for South Shore, but not North Shore), and eleven trails in order of difficulty, easiest first:
Fountain Place, Angora Ridge, Twin Peaks, Meiss Trail, Rim Trail, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Genoa Peak, Brockway Summit to Martis Peak, McKinney - Rubicon Road, Marlette Lake / Flume Trail
A commercial mountain bike trip company
Tahoe City to Mt. Watson From: Go-Tahoe.com
This 15 mile round trip is recommended for experts. It is a strenuous climb and an exhilarating descent. Turn onto Fairway Dr. at the Chevron station. Go up around the corner and veer left onto Bunker St. There is a dirt road on the left which goes north away from Tahoe City. There are many side roads and old logging spurs, so a map is highly recommended as well as advice from a local bike shop. The road climbs up to "Stump Meadow" from which you can see the Mt. Watson ridge. Continue down a fast hill with several turns, hang on! You will approach the mountain top from the north side, always staying on the main road. At the top of Starratt Pass is a road to the right, almost a U-turn, which takes you to the top of Mt. Watson. You may have to walk your bike on some of the last sections, but its well worth the view. Good brakes are a must on this ride!
Two other trails listed (Brockway Summit to Glenshire and Ward Canyon to Stanford Rock to Twin Peaks) but the site wasn’t working in 2002 or 2003.
Rentals, Bike Shops and about ten trails
“Go To Tahoe” Mountain Bike Page The four trails listed below, as well as some shops, are described in the link at left. Focus of site seems to be Incline Village, NV
Five Bike ParksMarlette Flume Trail - Strenuous
Brockway Summit to Martis Peak, 5 mi. - Moderate
Mt. Rose Downhill (Kamikaze) - Strenuous
Diamond Peak X-Country/Tahoe Meadow, Choose your mileage - Easy to Strenuous
Tahoe’s Best-Five Trails Excerpts follow. See link at left for details
Alpine Meadows Loop Trip - Alpine Meadows/Granlibakken This trail is a avorite, offering to get a good climb out of the way fast, scenic views of Paige Meadows, great vista views . of the Truckee Canyon, and several miles of lush single track. 13.5 Miles. Approx. 1100 Vertical Feet
To Alpine Meadow’s Lakeview: Alpine Meadows/Squaw Valley/Tahoe City Western States Trail to Upper Junction
There are two trailheads to the Western States Trail at Midway Bridge.
Best single track My vote for the best single track close to Tahoe City goes to a section of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Tim’s Tahoe Adventures-Several detailed rides described. Excerpts follow. See page at left for details
- Paige Meadows/Ward Canyon
- How difficult is it? Everything. Some easy to moderate, some steeper. Most is not very technical.
- A number of looping trails exist that go around Paige Meadows, up to the top of Scott Peak at Alpine Meadows, into Tahoe City/Rawhide Area. One loop starts at Rawhide, goes over to Upper Bench and then you can ride back along the bike trail between Alpine Meadows and Tahoe City. Another starts at Chamonix and goes around the meadows and loops back to the same starting point or down to Ward Canyon road.
- What will I see? Rolling forested terrain with some nice views of the surrounding peaks. Beautiful fall colors. Very fun single track with some good climbs and thrilling descents. A great variety of trails allowing for repeated excursions.
- Tahoe Cross Country Area
- How difficult is it? Moderate. A real variety of trails and loops make this area as difficult as you want it to be.
- Then what do I do? Start out on the trail at the end of the parking lot and head up. The area has miles of trails that go over to Tahoe City, to Truckee, Northstar, or Brockway Summit. The trails are too numerous and complicated to give exact directions. It is a great area to go out and explore and see where you end up. Mt. Watson is about 6 miles each way and affords tremendous lakeviews. Many of the trails which are cross country ski area trails in the winter are moderate and very fun to ride.
- What will I see? A gentle rolling forest that makes for great riding. Several excellent lakeviews at the top of climbs. Meadows and wildflowers.
- Hole in the Ground Trail
- How difficult is it? Strenuous,and pretty technical. Some tricky switchbacks and a long steep uphill.
- How do I get started? Ridden as a shuttle, it is about 12 miles, if ridden as a loop it is about 16 miles.
- What will I see? Stunning vistas of Castle Peak. Two small pretty lakes. Some of the most fun single track you will ever run into. Several pretty steep sections. A real variety of terrain and views. Although a technical trail, very well layed out and designed for bikes.
- Flume Trail/Tahoe Rim Trail loop
- How difficult is it? Very strenuous. It is a long way with lots of uphills. The actual flume trail portion which is a few miles long is on the edge of a cliff and may give the agrophobically challenged the weebee jeebees.
- What will I see? Perhaps the best views you will ever see of Lake Tahoe. Beautiful open forest and views of Marlette Lake. A challenging and fun ride with great uphills and downhills over sandy terrain.
- Commemorative Emigrant Trail
- How difficult is it? Very ridable for most people who have had single track experience. Very fun for more experienced riders who want a chance to go fast.
- What will I see? Lots of gentle ups and downs through an open forest and field area. Some views of Mount Rose and other areas. Very fun ride that can be completed by experienced riders in about 2 hours.
- Pioneer Trail
- How difficult is it? As difficult as you want it to be. Turn around when you get tired. The first 5 miles are fairly easy, becoming more difficult as you go along. There are some technical sections, but most of the trail is quite smooth.
- This is not exactly a Tahoe ride, but it is so much fun I had to put it in here anyway. About 50 miles from Truckee.
- What will I see? Pleasant high foothill forest. Very smooth trail with only a few technical sections making for an unbeatable downhill on the way back. This ride is in the journey more than the views. Fall colors. Most of the trail is shaded, keeping the trail cool. The trail intersects several campgrounds making for easy access to the trail.
Short descriptions of the ten trails listed in the table below.
|
|
|
|
|
| 1. Fountain Place |
|
|
|
| 2. Angora Ridge |
|
|
|
| 3. Twin Peaks |
|
|
|
| 4. Meiss Trail |
|
|
|
| 5. Rim Trail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7. Genoa Peak |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This site, Lake Tahoe Concierge (although a bit messy—“people who live in glass houses…”) has many links to other information on Lake Tahoe.
