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Easy Mountain Bike Trails: TRUCKEE S TO RY & P H OTO S BY P R I YA H UT N E R
EDITOR’S NOTE: Priya will explore
Federal, state and local trails or parks may be closed due to fire danger or air quality impacts.
easy trails in the Tahoe Basin in upcoming editions.
Check conditions before visiting.
is a gate to the west (before you go up the hill), and there is a fire road in about 2 miles that brings you back to the lake. | parks.ca.gov
T
he Tahoe Sierra has some of the best mountain biking in the country, much of it rugged and technical, requiring skill and agility to master the challenging uphill climbs and rocky downhill single tracks. The beauty of biking in the woods is magical and sometimes it’s nice to find gentle trails to bask in the beauty of the mountains. Finding rolling cross-country mountain bike trails with some uphill and forgiving downhill is not as hard as it may seem.
COLDSTREAM LAKES Riding around the lakes in Coldstream Canyon on the fire road is about 4.5 miles around. Park at the end of Coldstream Road off Donner Pass Road. Ride the fire road until you reach the gate. The route starts with a bit of an uphill, but it evens out and loops around the lakes. On the return, it’s easy to hop on the single track and an excellent place to practice riding over smaller rocks. This is one of the places I practiced mountain biking when I started. The fire road is sun exposed. I recommend riding this in the morning or early evening. | parks.ca.gov
The Emigrant Trail from Hobart Mills Road is considered an easy-to-
SAWTOOTH TRAIL
moderate mountain-bike
The 06 fire road offers access to Sawtooth Trail, which is considered a beginner trail. Much of the trail is a rolling singletrack ride with some rocky sections and smooth winding downhill. Access to the
ride. It does take some stamina to get up a few of the hills. I don’t recommend doing it at high noon on a hot day. The mountain bike trail system in Truckee is extensive and below are a handful of trails to explore. One thing to remember is that if you are uncomfortable with the terrain, get off the bike and walk. It’s better than getting hurt.
TAHOE DONNER Tahoe Donner has a bevy of trails that are well maintained, fun to ride and accommodating to most skill levels from fire roads to single tracks. There is a parking area on Alder Creek Road a quarter mile east from the intersection with Highway 89. Hop on the bike from the parking area and follow the single track west along Alder Creek (this is section of the Emigrant Trail) for a steady but mellow uphill ride. Cross over Schussing Way and continue for another mile. Stay right at the fork, and cross Alder Creek. You can turn around here for an out and back and return to the car or cross the road on to Carpenter Valley Road. There is plenty of parking at the entrance. Here you can pick up a trail within a few hundred yards on your left. This section of the trail is fun. It’s a winding uphill single 6
track that isn’t grueling in the least. There are a number of connecting single-track trails to explore from this area. | tahoedonner.com
CARPENTER VALLEY The fire road into Carpenter Valley is also an easy, mellow ride. There is ample parking at the start of Carpenter Valley Road of Alder Creek Road. Ride down the fire road to the Lower Carpenter Valley trailhead or enjoy a number of trails from the main road. | truckeedonnerlandtrust.org
EUER VALLEY Another one of my favorite trails in Tahoe Donner is biking to Euer Valley. It’s beautiful and there are several ways to get down to the valley that are easy. It is uphill on the return, but some uphill is good for the soul and the body. Park at the Tahoe Donner Adventure Center. Single-track trail is at the entrance of the parking lot. | alltrails.com
EMIGRANT TRAIL The section of the Emigrant Trail from the parking area on Hobart Mills Road is considered an easy-to-moderate mountainbike ride. It does take some stamina to get up a few of the hills. I don’t recommend doing it at high noon on a hot day. This section goes to Stampede Reservoir.
A mellow singletrack in Tahoe Donner; the author riding along the Happy Face trail; Rachel Elste and Priya Hutner on Happy Face trail.
Parking and trail access is on the south side of Hobart Mills Road. The Emigrant Trail can also be accessed at the Donner Camp Picnic Site off Highway 89 for a longer ride. There is a parking lot and the single-track trail is clearly marked. This part of the trail offers a lovely ride through the woods.
DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK Fire roads are a great way to get started on a mountain bike. They get you into the woods, off the road and out of the fray. Donner Memorial State Park has a gentle loop on the fire road that brings you through the campground and back around to Donner Lake. There is parking along Donner Pass Road with an entrance to the park next to the Tahoe Donner Marina. From here, ride over the bridge and on the road along the lake for about a half of a mile. There is a gate near the far south bathrooms on the east side. This fire road will take you to the campground. It’s a short 1-mile ride. Once in the campground head south and connect with the feeder road until you see the outdoor amphitheater and look for a single-track trail on your right. Continue east to access Coldstream Canyon. There
THE TRAILS Alder Creek trail | 5 miles RT Carpenter Valley | 4 miles RT Coldstream Canyon | 4.5 miles RT Donner Memorial State | 1-5 miles RT Euer Valley | 5.8 miles RT Hobart Mills to Stampede | 13 miles RT Happy Face Trail | 4 miles RT Sawtooth Trail | 8.5 miles RT
Sawtooth trail is from the 06 fire road off Thelin Drive. Park in the pullout on the right side of the road. There is signage for the start of the trail. There are many single-track trails in this area. The entire Sawtooth loop is about 8.5 miles. | truckeetrails.org
HAPPY FACE The Happy Face Trail is also accessible from the Sawtooth parking lot trail head off the 06 (see above). There is a signage with all of the trails. Happy Face is a fun rolling up and down through the woods. There is signage for the start of the trail. The trail is about 4 miles. | truckeetrails.org
