Go Pedaling

Bike Paths

Smoothly paved and separated from vehicle traffic, lovely bike paths are found throughout our region. South Lake Tahoe’s network includes fun rides to several beaches. Incline Village’s path to Sand Harbor has stunning views and accesses several small coves. Tahoe City is the center of over 19 miles of connected bike paths, including the popular route along the Truckee River to Olympic Valley and a 12-mile stretch down the West Shore to Sugar Pine Point State Park and Meeks Bay. Truckee’s network of paths includes the Legacy Trail, a 4.4-mile ride along the Truckee River.

Mountain Biking

The Northern Sierra is a mountain biking mecca of single-track and fire road fun, including newly built routes that curve and flow down mountain sides. Flume Trail is the most iconic Lake Tahoe single-track, a breathtaking trek along mountain ridges and cliff side that follows an old lumber flume. Turn to the map on page 20 for more information on popular trails.

Road Biking

For riders at ease cycling on narrow mountain roads, this region is full of challenges. Chief among them is the infamous Death Ride circuit, winding over steep mountain passes south of Tahoe. Or try the 4,400-foot ascent from Reno over Hwy. 431 that leads to a 2,500-foot descent to Incline Village. Less strenuous, but still a belt-notch Tahoe ride, is the 72-mile journey around the lake (turned into a “century” with an out-and-back to Truckee). The lakeshore highway has mostly singlefile shoulder but also stretches of little to no shoulder on East Shore and Emerald Bay. Highway 89 from Olympic Valley to Truckee has wider bike lanes and connects to a scenic 3-mile, 1200 vertical foot climb up Old Highway 40 and over the Sierra Crest.

Bike Parks

Truckee has an excellent bike park with beginner to expert jump lines. Incline Village and South Lake Tahoe have public bike parks with pump-tracks and beginner to intermediate flow lines. Boreal Mountain and Northstar California bike parks have numerous features, single-track, and ski lifts to carry you and your bike back up the mountain.