Exploring North Lake Tahoe by Bike
As summer moves into fall and we all start thinking about the upcoming ski season, biking is at its best. Not only is it a great way to get into shape for your ski turns, it’s also an exhilarating and fun way to see fall colors up close while breaking a sweat. Our corner of Lake Tahoe offers some truly fantastic biking opportunities whether you’re an experience mountain biker speeding down the trails or someone who prefers to cruise along paved paths. We’ve put together a list for you to start making your plan for fall days full of biking.
Mountain Biking
It’s impossible to talk about mountain bike trails in North Lake Tahoe without mentioning the Flume Trail. With its miles of biking and views around every corner, it’s our area’s must ride. Whether you choose to take the bike shuttle to Spooner Lake State Park or get your heart pumping and start from the bottom of the trail, you’ll be glad you made your way to this spectacular trail. Every Flume Trail adventure starts or ends at Tunnel Creek Café, which will fuel you with breakfast or help you celebrate with a beer at the end of your ride.
If you’re more interested in leaf peeping along your ride, our next recommendation is Paige Meadows. With a variety of paved paths, dirt roads and single track, this area offers the perfect combination of fall color viewing and a fun, family-friendly bike ride. The Paige Meadows Loop is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Don’t forget to bring along picnic supplies so you can kick back and enjoy the fall colors along the loop. Or, if you want a more strenuous ride, you can choose to take a side trip up to Scott Peak to an elevation of 8,258 feet. Gorgeous views await!
Bike Paths
Whether you chose to set out from our home base in the Olympic Valley or explore further afield, we’ve got the paved bike paths for you. The pace is more relaxed and the changing leaves make for a gorgeous back drop along the way as you pedal your favorite cruiser bike or e-bike.
Our first pick starts out right here on our home turf. Make your way to Tahoe City from the Olympic Valley by following the multi-use Truckee River Trail. Whether you hop off your bike to relax on the sand on the shores of Lake Tahoe at Commons Beach or continue along the Lakeside Trail, you’ll enjoy the beautiful views along the way. You can always grab a coffee or lunch in Tahoe City before cruising your way back home.
Make your way to Incline Village for our next biking recommendation. The Tahoe East Shore Trail is one of the most breathtaking places we’ve ever ventured on two wheels and has even earned the title of “America’s Most Beautiful Bikeway”. This 3-mile, multi-use trail offers a safe and relaxing way to take in unfiltered views of Lake Tahoe. With plans to expand the trail from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit, this trail will be a “must visit” for many years to come.
