Tahoe area trip - Which are the best trails to ride?

[KYMtnBkr]

A friend and I are planning a trip to northern CA for sometime in September. We plan on staying for 10 days or so and want to ride every day. We will definitely be riding Downieville and probably spend a day or two at Northstar. Please help us with your trail recommendations within a 50 - 75 mile radius from Truckee so we can make the most of our trip. FYI, we prefer highly technical trails and don't mind climbing to reach a bombing decent. Thanks in advance.

[nachomc]

I love Hole In The Ground, even if it did kick my butt.

You should go here: http://ogrehut.com/

[kev1n]

Stanford rock / ward creek loop is fun. Ride starts near the sunnyside marina.

http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-st...5_4518crx.aspx

You can link it into the TRT for a bigger ride.

[KYMtnBkr]

Thanks for the advice I definitely will and both those trails to my vacation's ride list. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

[grrrah]

try for earlier in september than later. Early snowfall can shorten your rides and extend your blackjack time.

I like some form of ride that includes Mr. Toad's Wild ride. If you can do self shuttles, a ride from Kingsbury Grade to Mr. Toads can be an all day event, even though its less than 30 miles.

Also, flume trail is a beginner trail, but probably a must just for the views. If you want an easy day of riding, take a shuttle from spooner to Mt. Rose. Search for Flume trail.

[sactojesse]

I second Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

[kev1n]

Flume trail is great for the views, and would be good for a rest day or a second ride on a long day. There are some other trails right near it that are at least moderately technical and can be connected into a Flume trail loop.

[ffwlwhite]

1. Mr. Toads
2. Hole in the ground
3. Flume
Thats if you can pull yourself away from Dville

[Jack Tupp]

Originally Posted by KYMtnBkr

A friend and I are planning a trip to northern CA for sometime in September. We plan on staying for 10 days or so and want to ride every day. We will definitely be riding Downieville and probably spend a day or two at Northstar. Please help us with your trail recommendations within a 50 - 75 mile radius from Truckee so we can make the most of our trip. FYI, we prefer highly technical trails and don't mind climbing to reach bombing decent. Thanks in advance.

Well, well, com'n out west are we? Hole in the ground, Mr. Toads, Rose to Flume on TRT circle back or descend to incline for shuttle. The TRT around the Tahoe City area is great, many options, check out Missing link. Not on a map talk to the locals. Dirty Hairies is another underground ride. Bring your red blood cells.

[Empty_Beer]

Originally Posted by KYMtnBkr

A friend and I are planning a trip to northern CA for sometime in September. We plan on staying for 10 days or so and want to ride every day. We will definitely be riding Downieville and probably spend a day or two at Northstar. Please help us with your trail recommendations within a 50 - 75 mile radius from Truckee so we can make the most of our trip. FYI, we prefer highly technical trails and don't mind climbing to reach a bombing decent. Thanks in advance.

No reason to leave Downieville, other than a day or three at Northstar. There's so much epic riding in the Tahoe basin, but rather than drive all over trying to figure out trails, turns and routes, why not just get to know everything in Dville? Butcher, Pauley, Big Boulder, 3rd Divide, 2nd Divide... they are awesome the first time you ride them, but awesomer the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, etc. time you ride them. And there's plenty of other stuff to hit besides the shuttle runs (Lavezolla Creek, Halls Ranch, Chimney, Empire Creek, etc.). Focus on one area for a week, then hit Northstar for lifts.

That's my

[MtnBikerDan]

MR. Toads - a little climb to the DROP IN, Lots of little drops, ledges
HITG - Rocks, Dust, Ledges, Views
D-ville- gravity based funland not stellar views mostly, except for Big Boulder, Chimney Rock, packer saddle. if you ride the trail of tears the views are stellar.
Lakes Basin / Graegle - Rocks, Lakes, Views
Forest City - Epic toury - Views
Grouse Ridge / Thousand Lakes basin - Rocks, Rocks, Rocks, Lakes, Views
Loon Lake - Rocks, Rubicon Trail, Jeeps, Views, Lakes
N. Yuba - Rocks, off camber, River Views, swimming holes
Bullards Bar - singletrack super twisty ala Midwest
Nevada City - Rocks, Singletrack, River
Mammoth Bar - Rocks dust, Motos
Auburn/Cool - dust, rocks and HOT AS THE SUN in Sept.

There aint no humidity out here be advised it'll mummify you in short order.


I'll have me some of that fine Kentucky Small batch bourbon as a gift / barter....

and there's this epic from Sugar Bowl to Kirkwood - It was part of the Subaru Primal Quest.

Sept in the Sierra will be scorching moon dusty but is prime season regardless.

[Stripes]

I enjoyed the TRT-Big Meadow to Round Lake. Easy XC trail, but at elevation it kicked my butt.

Don't ride Flume on the weekend unless you really like crowds.

I'd like to check out N* and TRT-Mt. Rose sections at some point.

[Wherewolf]

Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT), perhaps 100 miles of riding. Many photos, ride reports, maps, and videos on my site. The Flume and Toads are also accessible via the TRT.

[Bail_Monkey]

Wolf, I'm surprised you can mtb with all of the surgery's done to your knees!

[craigstr]

Originally Posted by Jack Tupp

Well, well, com'n out west are we? Hole in the ground, Mr. Toads, Rose to Flume on TRT circle back or descend to incline for shuttle. The TRT around the Tahoe City area is great, many options, check out Missing link. Not on a map talk to the locals. Dirty Hairies is another underground ride. Bring your red blood cells.

You should really stay away from this trail, its really not worth wasting your time on.

["grace"]

If by technical you mean dropoffs, rocks, etc. mostly on descents, I'd vote for:
- Downieville
- Mr. Toad's; various entrance options depending on how far you want to ride & how much climbing
- N*
- Missing link (fairly short; one access is near squaw; ask as noted earlier)

& I second the comment about focusing on Downieville, or trails in one particular area anyway. Otherwise you might end up driving more, riding less. After 4 years I'm still exploring & getting to know the tahoe basin--

[Triple Threat]

Try Tyrolean Downhill.
Park at Mt. Rose Meadows and bomb down to the bottom of Diamond Peak.
The trail is marked on a good Tahoe trail map.
It is a steep downhill with great burmed turns and some small jumps.
It is about four miles long and drops 1500 ft.
This trail can easily be shuttled twice or even three times.
Or you can climb Mt Rose Hwy.

[merlin]

I live 1 hour from tahoe and Downieville, my favorite ride is the Tahoe Rim Trail from spooner summit to kingberry grade and back. A little bit of everything.
I love Downieville, but like the trails and weather better up at Tahoe, just my ,02 cents

[morganfletcher]

Ride with TahoeBC if you can. Hopefully he'll reply.

Morgan

[KYMtnBkr]

I think what we really need to do is to arrive in early May and hang out till mid October. Unfortunately that's not an option. So, all your advice will definitely help us make the most of the time that we do have. Thanks!

[TahoeBC]

On the North Shore this is a fun one
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...t=morgan+tahoe

[KYMtnBkr]

I keep looking at the Mt. Elwell Trail and it looks like a lot of fun, but no one has mentioned it here. How does it compare? It looks like it can be ridden as a loop without having to shuttle. Am I correct?

[FSRguy]

If you ride Hole-in-the-Ground, it is MANDATORY to take the side trails to the lakes. There are two of them - don't pass them up. The trails are no more than 1/4 mile long and these small alpine lakes are just spectacular. Good place for a break.

Obviously, I recommend HITG as a must-ride. Although the very end with the water-bar stairs is rideable, but not too fun and the climb out from the bottom is a gravel road - also not fun. If there is a way to cut that last section out, I'd recommend cutting it out.

Flume scenery is spectacular, but I found the climb up challenging. I had to stop and rest a couple times.

[poff]

Did 30 mi of TRT yesterday, got to 9200ft! Elevation is a byotch, but the trail is SPECTACULAR!

[KYMtnBkr]

We leave a week from Saturday for our trip. Our plans (not cast in stone) are to ride the trails around Downieville Saturday evening, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then we plan to head to Truckee for a couple of days of riding at Northstar. And wrap the trip up with the TRT trail, Mr. Toads and HIT. Thanks to all of you for the great advise you have contributed.

[Loki]

Killer trail. First time I rode it, I prefered it to anything on the downieville side, because it actually offered some technical riding. On a map it doesn't look like that long a ride, but don't be fooled. Most of your ride up is spent going 20 feet then walking 10 feet (repeat for 10 miles).

To avoid all the time off the bike I've found the best way to do elwell is this.

Start in Graeagle. Head up Johnsville Road for about 4 or 5 miles. Turn left at the state park campground and head up that dirt road for another 4 miles, turn left a major y in the road. Stay on that road as it leads you around to the backside of mt elwell. I believe there is a right hand turn you want to avoid.

As you approach Elwell, you will want to turn left on a little itty bit of the perfect cycling trail, follow that for about a mile, staying to the left at any splits, an you will end up on mt. elwell. After hiking your bike to the top, follow the trail alllll the way back down into graeagle.

I know those aren't the best directions, but if you get a topo map of the area you can find the obvious route I'm talking about. It makes for an epic ride, and the scenery is awesome.

Originally Posted by KYMtnBkr

I keep looking at the Mt. Elwell Trail and it looks like a lot of fun, but no one has mentioned it here. How does it compare? It looks like it can be ridden as a loop without having to shuttle. Am I correct?

[TahoeBC]

The ride down from Elwell towards Grey Eagle is the bomb, think Star Wars Pod racers.

But you certainly need a sense of adventure and plan on doing some hike-a-bike on the way up.

[MB24]

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

Try Tyrolean Downhill.
Park at Mt. Rose Meadows and bomb down to the bottom of Diamond Peak.
The trail is marked on a good Tahoe trail map.
It is a steep downhill with great burmed turns and some small jumps.
It is about four miles long and drops 1500 ft.
This trail can easily be shuttled twice or even three times.
Or you can climb Mt Rose Hwy.

I'm looking for Tyrolean and the North Flume trail (Incline Flume) Any idea where I can find the "good" map that shows these trails?

[Triple Threat]

I picked up a great map at the bike/ski shop in Incline Village, NV. (Incline Ski Loft- I think)
It is of the entire Tahoe area. Topographical and clearly marked.
Tyrolean is great to shuttle, and the trails behind Kings Beach are great cross country riding. Check the map for the names of the trails behind Kings Beach area riding towards Squaw Valley and 89 make sure it is singletrack.

[MB24]

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

I picked up a great map at the bike/ski shop in Incline Village, NV. (Incline Ski Loft- I think)
It is of the entire Tahoe area. Topographical and clearly marked.
Tyrolean is great to shuttle, and the trails behind Kings Beach are great cross country riding. Check the map for the names of the trails behind Kings Beach area riding towards Squaw Valley and 89 make sure it is singletrack.

Thanks!

[KYMtnBkr]

Thanks to all those who offered their advise. We've arrived home last week from what I consider my favorite mountain biking trip ever. Your advise was spot on! We rode the following trails:

Downieville: Sunrise to Pauley Creek to Big Boulder to Third Divide to First Divide
Downieville: Sunrise to Butcher Ranch to Third Divide to First Divide
Downieville: Sunrise to Butcher Ranch to Second Divide to First Divide
Downieville: Sunrise to Butcher Ranch to Third Divide to First Divide
Downieville: Mt Elwel
Truckee: Northstar
South Lake Tahoe: Part of TRT to a short downhill (I forgot the trails name.) down to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (non shuttle route up the road).
Truckee: Hole in the Ground
Auburn: Auburn State Recreation Area (I forgot the trails name.) but it was a lot of fun and different from anything else we rode.

My riding partner and I both agreed that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is perhaps the perfect trail and our favorite ride ever. I don't understand why you don't hear of more people riding this trail. You guys do a great job of building and maintaining your trails. Thanks for all your efforts, we had a great time.