The smoke from the forest fires creates a haze over the peaks making it look more like islands you would see in the Caribbean than a mountain lake. We stare at the spectacle before us for a moment. It wasn’t until we made a tight 90-degree turn, exposing us to the deep blue body of water known as Lake Tahoe, did we understand the thousands of feet below us that existed. On our left we can see it falls steeply away, but the thick vegetation hides just how steep it is. Quickly snaking our way down through some tight trees and a boulder-strewn corridor, we pop out the other side onto another thin singletrack. A Little Bit Of Fun Before The Views Pausing to take in the views of Lake Tahoe – Photo by: Local Freshies® “Are we going the right way?” Unaware of other options, we continue onward. Towards the other side, the wide path suddenly narrows to a tiny singletrack barely discernible from the granite outcroppings. Throwing our packs back on, we continue pedaling our way around the lake. We could stay here for hours enjoying the serenity but alas, this isn’t our final destination. Wisps of clouds float along the sky making us all smile. The water looks like a sheet of glass with only a few ripples. A sense of calm comes over us as we attempt to absorb the sight. Propping our bikes against the rocks, we walk over to the beach and sit down on a massive piece of granite. But from there, it’s a fun-filled ride back to the shop.” Hopping onto our trusty steeds, we begin our adventure. A warning is given… “The first 4 miles are the toughest so take it easy as it’s a steep continuous climb all the way to the highest point. From here, we’re given a quick intro of what to expect this morning. After a 15 minute drive, we arrive at Spooner Lake State Park and unload our bikes. Throwing our backpacks and ourselves into the shuttle van, we pull out of the parking lot. Spooner Lake – Entrance to Flume Trail The 1st leg of the journey on the Flume Trail begins at Spooner Lake – Photo by: Local Freshies® Arriving thirty minutes before the shuttle, we put our names on the list and eagerly awaited the drive up to the start of the route. And then take a shuttle to the beginning of the Flume Trail Lake Tahoe. On the southern edge of town lies the END of the path and a company named Flume Trail Bikes. Rent bikes and check in on trail conditions at Flume Trail Mountain Bikes ( Bike rentals start at $45 a day shuttles from $15.On a cool morning, we pulled out of South Lake Tahoe and headed north to Incline Village. Many local bike shops provide shuttles for the point-to-point rides in the Rim Trail. There are beautiful meadows, quiet pine forests, and an incredible lookout at Marlette Lake vista. With amazing views and varied terrain, almost every stretch of this ride is incredibly scenic. The 24-mile Tahoe Rim and Flume Trail is the epitome of an epic ride. Need to Know: Some sections of the trail are only open to bikes on certain days. The Tahoe Flume Trail IMBA Epic Mountain Bike Ride. One of the best things about the rides on the Rim Trail is that it can be just as much fun for novices as it is for fat-tire vets. Just remember, it’s tough to keep your eyes on the trail with all those eye-popping views of the lake. Though not officially part of the Rim Trail itself, it’s the signature ride here, and it requires a decent climb and a bit of singletrack to get down. Nine miles (14 kilometers) in, you’ll split off onto the adjacent 22-mile (35-kilometer) Flume Trail, which starts at the Spooner Lake campground. In fact, the riding here is so sublime that the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) named the 21.8-mile (35-kilometer) section between Tahoe Meadows and Spooner Summit as one of its Epics, an honor bestowed on trails that epitomize the best that mountain biking has to offer.įor good reason: The trail takes in gritty climbs and fast descents with spectacular views of Tahoe to the west and the Nevada desert to the east. More than 80 miles (129 kilometers) of the trail are open to mountain bikes. Encircling the largest alpine lake in North America, the 165-mile (266-kilometer) Tahoe Rim Trail just may be the singletrack with the greatest view in the United States.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |