Road
Cycling, Lake Tahoe, California
Tahoe City, California sits on beautiful Lake Tahoe, and is a hub for the lake痴 Trailways Bike Path system. Three paved bike paths extend from this pleasant community for a total of 15 miles, with many more miles of marked bike lanes along highway shoulders.
West
Lake Bike Trail This trail connects with the Truckee River
Bike Path in Tahoe City near the intersectin of highways 89 and
28, and heads south for 6 miles , crossing the road occasionally
for views of the lake痴 western shore. In Tahoe Pines the trail
ends, but you can continue the ride south, following bike route
signs on MicKinney Drive and along Rt. 89. The marked route ends
on highway 89 at Sugar Pine Point State Park. Out and back makes
a nice 2 mile ride. Advanced cyclists who are strong climbers may
wish to continue 7 miles south on Rt. 89 to the overlook at Emerald
Bay State Park. This is a steep climb on a mostly shoulder-less
section of a very scenic highway, and is not recommended during
tourist season.
Truckee
River Bike Path. This ride follows one of the most popular
of the bike trails near Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River Bike Trail.
Starting near the intersection of Highways 89 and 28 in Tahoe City,
it heads west 4.5 miles to the turn for Squaw Valley recreation
area. From here the trail continues to Olympic Village, site of
the 1960 winter Olympics. For a longer bike path ride, combine this
with out and back on the West Lake Bike Trail.
Tahoe City to Truckee: Loop or Out and back Set out for the clockwise version of this ride on the 7 mile bike trail that connects Tahoe City to Squaw Valley Ski area. From there a bike lane continues for another 10 miles on Highway 89 to Truckee, where you値l want to stop to visit the older historic section of town. To make a loop, return to Tahoe City by taking Highway 267 south , then heading west back to Tahoe City along the lake on Rt. 28 from Kings Beach for a total of 35 miles.. On Rt. 267 there is sufficient shoulder but not a marked bike lane. Although most of this ride has gentle climbs, about 4 miles after you turn south from Truckee on Rt. 267, you値l climb a five mile stretch with grades up to 8%. A much gentler option is to reverse course in Truckee and enjoy the scenery from both directions, returning from Truckee to Tahoe City on the Rt. 89 bike lane and last few miles on the Truckee River bike path.
South
Lake Tahoe Loops A marked bicycle lane, the Pioneer Trail, begins
at Highway 89 about half a mile west of the state line on the south
side of the lake. After 8 miles, the trail ends at Rt. 50 , where
you turn north back to the town of South Lake Tahoe. Total ride
is 17 miles. An easy short ride can be added by taking the Pope-Baldwin
Bike Path west from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Road, continuing
on Fallen Leaf Road to Glen Alpine Falls, near Fallen Leaf Lake
in the shadows of Mount Tallac.
Around Lake Tahoe : 72 miles This 73-mile loop circumnavigates Lake Tahoe clockwise in order to get a better view of the Lake. Starting out from Tahoe City, take the bike trail for about 5 miles to Carnelian Bay. From here there is sufficient shoulder on Rt. 28 as you begin to round the top side of the lake. After 10 miles you値l ride through Kings Beach. A bike path parallels the road from here, continuing across the Nevada state line . At mile 13 you can leave Rt. 28 for a couple of miles by riding along the lake on Lakeshore Blvd. A narrow but sufficient shoulder is provided for the next 10 miles as you begin a long continuous climb through Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.
At
mile 26, Rt. 28 ends, and you turn south on Rt. 50, which generally
offers a wide shoulder and four traffic lanes, continuing to climb
before beginning a long descent, reaching the Lake痴 shoreline again
atmile 30. Rt. 50 continues on to the south side of Lake Tahoe.
For the last couple of miles before reaching the community of South
Lake Tahoe, traffic is heavy with four lanes, no shoulder and only
occasional sections of bike path Rt. 50 turns south in South Lake
Tahoe, and you値l continue your route around the lake on California
Rt. 89.
The Pope-Baldwin Bike Path begins on your right, and continues on to approximately mile 48 one mile past Camp Richardson. Here you begin an 800 foot climb on a narrow but extraordinarily section of Rt. 89 that brings you to the scenic overlook at Emerald Bay State Park, altitude 7,032 ft. You値l continue to climb for awhile, and then a similarly shoulder-less descent awaits you on the other side. This is the most extraordinary scenery on the lake and is not to be missed. Spring and fall are considered by local cyclists to be the only safe months to ride this very challenging section, but do visit this beautiful spot by car.
At mile 60 you値l have finished your descent and reach Sugar Pine State Park. Here the West Lake bike path begins, mostly paralleling Rt. 89. You return at mile 72 to your starting point in Tahoe City, CA. Route Notes Map
Lake
Tahoe Cycling Maps from the Lake Tahoe Cycling Federation:
