• Powerlines – beginner/kids, Out and back ride
One of the benefits of the Powerlines trail is that you can start from the heart of South Lake Tahoe and simply enjoy the fast, mellow, rolling terrain through forest and wildflowers in spring and early summer or you can use the Powerlines trail to hook up to longer rides on the Tahoe Rim Trail or Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Beginners will simply want to stay on the Powerlines trail and turn around when they’ve had enough. Caution: this trail is open to motorized vehicles.
Getting there: Powerlines parallels Pioneer Trail Road, making many access points along the trail, but to start from the top turn up Ski Run Blvd. from Highway 50. Turn right again near the top of the road before it dead ends.


• Kirkwood – beginner/intermediate/advanced, all distances
There’s plenty of riding at Kirkwood winter and summer. Lift accessed riding typically starts in July and runs through early September, but those willing to put in the work can access dozens of miles of singletrack and service road trails before the lifts start spinning. Beginners will want to try Summer Road which starts at the base area and climbs to the top of Chair 2 before descending to Chair 3. Intermediate riders should check out Vista Trail into Devil’s Corral continuing on either Upper Corral or Lower Corral loops. This ride features fun singletrack with plenty of wildflowers, waterfalls and creek crossings. Advanced riders head to Thunder Mountain and Horse Canyon trails. Lung-busting climbs provide riders with exhilarating descents. Visit www.kirkwood.com for more details.
Getting there: From South Lake Tahoe take Highway 50 towards Meyers and turn south on Highway 89. Continue 11.1 miles before turning west (right) at the Highway 88 junction. Turn left into Kirkwood after 14.3 miles.


• Kingsbury to Spooner – intermediate/advanced, 9.6 miles one way
If you’re looking for some great views, technical riding, good climbs and fun descents this is the trail for you. You’ll gain 1,220 feet and lose 1,540 feet over 9.6 miles, then turn around to gain what you’ve lost and lose what you’ve gained. Or set a shuttle half-way if you’re short on time or motivation. The views rival the Flume trail on this technical ride where you’ll have to be ready for rock steps and hair pin turns. Follow the orange diamonds to stay on track.
Getting there: From Highway 50 at Stateline head up Kingsbury Grade towards Daggett Pass, turn left on North Benjamin and park in the lot where the road turns to dirt. Ride up the main road and turn left at the third road. About a half-mile later, turn uphill to start the ride.


• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – advanced, 20 mile loop
Mountain bikers can breathe easy on this highly technical and arduous trail since motorized vehicles were outlawed here in 2007. However, that doesn’t mean this ride is going to be easy. Toted as one of the most technical, demanding and exhilarating rides in the Tahoe area you’ll climb 3,200 feet before screaming down the technical Saxon Creek Drainage on the way home. Bring plenty of water.
Getting there: From South Lake Tahoe head east on Highway 50 towards Myers. Turn onto Pioneer Trail at the stop light and follow for almost a mile before turning right on Oneidas. Park at the turnoffs past the Forest Service gate.

• Sugar Pine Point State Park/ General Creek – beginner, 2 to 12 miles
Ride color-coded trails individually or connect all five for longest ride through park - lakeside yellow and orange trails offer lake views and access to adjacent historic site; blue, red and green trails follow General Creek through forested area with red trail offering access to 1960 Olympics biathlon range.
Getting there: Hwy 89 south 9 miles from Tahoe City. Turn left into Day Use Area (lakeside) parking, right into General Creek campground parking.


• Blackwood Canyon/ Ward Creek – beginner, 2.5 miles to bridge, 4 additional miles to summit
Paved "country" road with gentle terrain, open meadows and aspen groves. Cross bridge and continue on pavement to climb 4 miles to Barker Pass summit; or, turn left on dirt trail spur through forest to Ward Creek Ave., connect back along Hwy 89 to Blackwood Canyon Rd. This is a multiple use area. Parking, restrooms and bicycle campsites available.
Getting there: Hwy 89, 4 miles south of Tahoe City at Blackwood Canyon Rd.
Getting there:


• Emigrant Trail – beginner/intermediate, 19 miles out-and-back
This popular mountain bike trail sees plenty of weekend traffic, but it’s a worthy ride for people of all ability levels. You’ll see plenty of wildflowers in spring and early summer while you roll along over fun and fast single track. A bonus is the half-way point at Stampede Reservoir where a cool dip makes a refreshing treat on a hot day.
Getting there: Follow Highway 89 north out of Truckee approximately three miles from Interstate 80 (exit 188A). Park in the dirt lot on the right, just after the bridge over Prosser Creek.


• Northstar-at-Tahoe – beginner/intermediate/advance, many trails/distances
There’s a new vocabulary in mountain biking these days – “Do you ride regular trails or do you ride at Northstar?” – and that’s thanks to Northstar-at-Tahoe’s more than 100 lift-accessed mountain bike trails. While riders of all ability levels can find fun and challenging trails, Northstar shines as a destination place for riders looking to take their two wheels into the sky. Featuring hundreds of jumps, banked turns and ultra-steep and rocky downhills, come here if you want to experience the new wave of mountain biking. And, unless you’ve got your own downhill set-up, definitely rent a bike to save yours. Visit www.northstarattahoe.com for more information.
Getting there: From Interstate 80 exit Highway 267/Lake Tahoe. Turn left at the second light into Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.


• North Tahoe Nordic Center – beginner/intermediate, many trails/distances
A convenient sampler with potential for more: Pick some distinct landmarks and create your own loop on this easygoing network of trails, or make your way to the Fiberboard Freeway for more. From the trail head, follow the main trail to the water tank and pedal on, across two dirt roads and straight onto a narrower trail. Climb to the dirt road and turn left, descending for a quarter mile. Look for a singletrack diagonally up to the right, stay right again and then left back onto a well-traveled singletrack. Stay right as you traverse up to the Fiberboard Freeway. For more, climb the pavement a few miles and link with Painted Rock or the Rim Trail.
Getting there: From Tahoe City, head a few miles east of Tahoe City on 28, left at top of the hill on Fabian Way, quick right on Village. Follow signs to Nordic Center on Country Club Drive.


• North Tahoe Regional Park – beginner/intermediate, 8+ miles of trails
This 125-acre park contains many trails including the 300-foot climb on the North Ridge trail, the highest in the park. Maps and difficulty ratings are posted. Unsigned singletrack paths wind throughout park, with several trails extending into adjoining USDA Forest Service land. A 1.2 mile paved bike path follows the lower east end of park to Highway 267, and connects to the Tahoe Rim Trail on Regency Way at Brockway Summit.
Getting there: Take Highway 28 to National Avenue, then take a left on Donner Road.


• Sawtooth Ridge Trail – intermediate, many distances
This area has seen an explosion in new trails in the past couple of years and with good reason. An intermediate rider’s dream, there are dozens of miles in this network of trails that spans from Truckee to Tahoe City. From the trail head, follow the singletrack to a vista point offering views of the Truckee River, Squaw Valley and Highway 89. Continue on the trail to Sawtooth Ridge Road, cross the road to continue on the trail before reaching a sign that says 2 Beavers and a Bear and Two Bridges. Make a nice loop by starting toward 2 Beavers and a Bear and finishing on the Two Bridges trail (there are actually three bridges).
Getting there: From Brockway Road, turn on Palisades Drive at the 7-Eleven. Turn right on Silver Fir and left on Thelin. Park in the lot past the green gate on Forest Service Road 06.


• Brockway Summit / Tahoe Rim Trail – intermediate, 18 miles
Great vistas of Lake Tahoe, the Sierras and Carson Range with some technical single track. Trail starts at 7,200-feet. Technical descents and moderately steep climb. Generally narrow and sandy, with some rocky sections and occasional scree slopes near Rose Knob. Sights include Painted Rock and Glass Mountain. Limited dirt road parking, no facilities.
Getting there: East side of Hwy 267, 1/2 mile south of summit on USFS RD 16N56.


• Fiberboard Freeway & Watson Lake – intermediate, 15 miles
Partly paved, partly graded dirt road/path, good for novice riders. Great lake views. Take a short side trip to Watson Lake. Limited parking.
Getting there: Access trail behind Tahoe City Golf Course on Fairway Dr.; or top of Hwy 267; or, turn left off Hwy 267 at Regency Way, go 1 mile to "Fiberboard Freeway" sign.


• Martis Peak – intermediate, 5 miles one way
This 5-mile climb along a wide fire road leads to Martis Peak lookout. Outhouse and picnic area available.
Getting there: Hwy 267 to summit. Park 1/2 mile past summit on USFS RD 18N02.


• McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road – intermediate, up to 15 miles round trip
A variety of opportunities from easy trails with some rocky sections and occasional scree slopes, technical descents and moderately steep climb. Trails are generally wide and frequented by off-road vehicles.
Getting there: Hwy 89 south 7 miles from Tahoe City, turn right onto McKinney-Rubicon Springs Rd., left on Bellevue, right on McKinney Rd., follow Miller Lake signs. Park at end of pavement on dirt road.


• The Flume – intermediate/advanced, 23-mile loop or 13.5-mile shuttle assisted downhill
You cannot come to Lake Tahoe to mountain bike and miss the Flume trail. This iconic trail provides dramatic views of the Lake while it hugs steep hillside 1,500 above the azure waters. For the cross country option, access the trail via North Canyon Road from Spooner Lake or take the downhill-only approach and reach the trail from Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431, shuttles available at Spooner Lake Outdoor Company (775) 749-5349.
Getting there: Spooner Lake: From Incline Village, follow State Route 28 south for 10 miles. Turn left into Spooner Lake. Tahoe Meadows: From its junction with State Route 28, follow Highway 431 seven miles to the large parking lot on the right.
Detailed account: Check out www.Tahoe.com/FlumeTrail for a detailed description of this Tahoe classic.


• Hole in the Ground – advanced, 17 miles
If you’re dying to test your technical skill, you owe it to yourself to ride Hole in the Ground – a challenging loop atop Donner Pass. A tough climb to start, then the trail descends into the lower Castle Creek Valley where it twists and turns as often as it rolls up or down. Swim at Lake Lola before finishing the last third of the ride. Note: The trail leaves you at Soda Springs. You need to cross the highway and head east up Old 40. About a mile and a half up look for a dirt road to the left (Snow Lab) that will take you through Auburn Ski Club/Boreal. Go under I-80 and back to trailhead.
Getting there: From Truckee, head up I-80 west to the Boreal Ridge exit. Make a right at the bottom of the off-ramp and park up near the pavement’s end. Pedal up the two-track and stay left of the Pacific Crest Trail, follow the primary singletrack the rest of the way.


• Western States Trail – advanced, 4 miles roundtrip on Western States, but many side options exist
A North Tahoe classic, straight up (pun intended): Warm up on the bike path before climbing up and away from the Truckee River on this relentless string of switchbacks. At the trail’s end, if you want more turn left and climb to the first fork in the road, turn right. Continue up and look for a single track to the right which brings you back down to the top of the Western States. For the climb of your life, go left at the top of Western States and right at the second fork. The Wall awaits, as does the Rim Trail to the east or west.
Getting there: Right off Highway 89, approximately five miles north of Tahoe City and 11 miles south of Truckee. Halfway between the entrances to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows on 89, look for a bridge with pullouts on either side. Parking on the southern Tahoe City side is best. Trail starts under the bridge and heads up the east side of the river.


• Tahoe Meadows to Marelette Lake or Spooner Lake – advanced, 20+ miles
A hearty ride with exquisite scenery: Sample one of the better sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail from this northeast corner of the lake and take in the dramatic views down to the Carson Valley and back to the Tahoe basin. To make a loop of this is a strenuous, all-day ride with some tricky sections of singletrack heading up toward Marlette Peak. From the peak, turn-around to complete a solid out-and-back ride or, drop into Marlette Lake and traverse the shoreline to make your return trip along the infamous Flume Trail. Climb back up to the Rim Trail at Tunnel Creek Road. Cars can be left at Ponderosa (bottom of Tunnel Creek Road at north end of Flume trail) or at Spooner Lake campground (five miles south of Marlette Lake). Note: Rim Trail from Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek road is only open to bikers on even days.
Getting there: From Incline Village, up Highway 431 approximately seven miles to Tahoe Meadows. Park at the far/northeast end of the meadow. Maps available at trailhead.


• Stanford Rock Loop – advanced, 14 miles
A single-track loop with challenging climb and technical descent. Views include alpine forests, Stanford Rock and Ward Canyon.
Getting there: Hwy 89 south approximately 3.5 miles from Tahoe City, just south of Ward Creek bridge.