5 minute read
Easy Mountain Bike Trails
GEToutside
the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life
Advertisement
Easy Mountain Bike Trails:
TRUCKEE
EDITOR’S NOTE: Priya will explore easy trails in the Tahoe Basin in upcoming editions.
STORY & PHOTOS BY PRIYA HUTNER
Federal, state and local trails or parks may be closed due to fi re danger or air quality impacts.
Check conditions before visiting.
The 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. e beauty of biking in the woods is magical and sometimes it’s nice to nd 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.
e 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 o 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 re roads to single tracks. ere 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. ere is plenty of parking at the entrance. Here you can pick up a trail within a few hundred yards on your left. is section of the trail is fun. It’s a winding uphill single is a gate to the west (before you go up the hill), and there is a re road in about 2 miles that brings you back to the lake. | parks.ca.gov
track that isn’t grueling in the least. ere are a number of connecting single-track trails to explore from this area. | tahoedonner.com
CARPENTER VALLEY
e re road into Carpenter Valley is also an easy, mellow ride. ere is ample parking at the start of Carpenter Valley Road of Alder Creek Road. Ride down the re 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
e 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. is section goes to Stampede Reservoir.
Parking and trail access is on the south side of Hobart Mills Road. e Emigrant Trail can also be accessed at the Donner Camp Picnic Site o Highway 89 for a longer ride. ere is a parking lot and the single-track trail is clearly marked. is part of the trail o ers a lovely ride through the woods.
A mellow singletrack in Tahoe Donner; the author riding along the Happy Face trail; Rachel Elste and Priya Hutner on Happy Face trail.
DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK
Fire roads are a great way to get started on a mountain bike. ey get you into the woods, o the road and out of the fray. Donner Memorial State Park has a gentle loop on the re road that brings you through the campground and back around to Donner Lake. ere 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. ere is a gate near the far south bathrooms on the east side. is re 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. ere
COLDSTREAM LAKES
Riding around the lakes in Coldstream Canyon on the re road is about 4.5 miles around. Park at the end of Coldstream Road o Donner Pass Road. Ride the re road until you reach the gate. e 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. is is one of the places I practiced mountain biking when I started. e re road is sun exposed. I recommend riding this in the morning or early evening. | parks.ca.gov
SAWTOOTH TRAIL
e 06 re road o ers 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
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 re road o elin Drive. Park in the pullout on the right side of the road. ere is signage for the start of the trail. ere are many single-track trails in this area. e entire Sawtooth loop is about 8.5 miles. | truckeetrails.org
HAPPY FACE
e Happy Face Trail is also accessible from the Sawtooth parking lot trail head o the 06 (see above). ere is a signage with all of the trails. Happy Face is a fun rolling up and down through the woods. ere is signage for the start of the trail. e trail is about 4 miles. | truckeetrails.org
