In hindsight, I would've gone Flume Trail out and back at the intersection. Then on to serene Lake Marlette, and save the best almost for last- the Flume, followed by a crazy fun 3-mile tear down Tunnel Creek Road. At the top you're rewarded with a spectacular view of Lake Marlette, and then it's all downhill past fields of wildflowers and Lake Views. Not as bad as the Spooner Lake slog, and not as long, but still tough. You wind up at the same spot on the far end of Lake Marlette, but this way involves a good slog uphill. I wanted different scenery the whole way, so I chose the other fork -go around Marlette Lake via Tahoe Rim trail and then do the Flume. You can go around the right side of Marlette Lake via the Flume itself, then go back the same way and down Tunnel Creek Road. Then you come to a 4-way intersection, and it's decision time. For cautious newbies like me, you just have to get off your bike in a few places. There's some jumping over rocks, but really not enough to challenge hardcore mountain bikers. So you start with a very pleasant ride instead of exhausting yourself with a nasty slog uphill. The first 9.5 miles of this track is mostly downhill, some shade, and some good scenery opening up later in the track. And depending on how you structure it, maybe virtually no climb at all! This extends the ride to 25 miles (no big deal on a bike), but it's less climbing in terms of both the amount of miles you climb and the elevation gain. I decided to do it differently and start at Tahoe Meadows via shuttle from Tunnel Creek Cafe. Not technical enough for the experienced riders, too punishing for everyone else, and not that particularly scenic. That's the shortest route, but the first part involves a brutal 4-mile, 1000 ft climb which no one seems to enjoy. Most people do the 14-mile version of this ride starting at Spooner Lake, past Marlette Lake, on through the Flume itself, and down Tunnel Creek Rd, after which they get a shuttle back to Spooner Lake.

The ride delivers scenery in spades, and just enough steep dropoffs to make you feel like you're living dangerously. I'll say more later about the secret way to avoid the brutal climb.įor now let me just say that this may be the most spectacular ride you'll ever do. I'm in reasonably good bike-riding shape, but this was literally my second single-track mountain biking experience, so that's the perspective I'm writing from. For some people it is, but for me I just wanted a great ride with spectacular scenery.

It’s mostly singletrack with scattered technical sections, but overall a fairly easy ride on the mountain ridge overlooking Spooner Lake.Oh yes, everyone (including me) is doing this ride the wrong way, unless of course punishment is part of the goal. Hang a left around the perimeter of the lake until you make it to the Flume trailhead. I’d definitely suggest taking the shuttle back, unless you’re a total beast and take care on the Flume Trail proper – unless flying off the edge and become a permanent fixture on the mountain sounds appealing.įollow the trailhead signs posted in the parking lot to getting started on your 1000 ft climb on the fire-road before your descent to the lake. The views of Lake Tahoe are phenomenal after a good bit of climbing to start with sketchy and sandy downhills to finish off the trails. This is a great ride, and possibly the best non-technical ride I’ve ever done. The shuttle will take you back to the parking lot for $12.50 or you may opt for a gradual climb of 8 miles on the road back to the park for free. At the 10 mile mark, you can connect to the Tahoe Rim Trail to head back to the parking lot or follow the signs to the shuttle bus. No wheelchair access.įeatures: The views are spectacular.

Flume trail tahoe