Tahoe Rim Trail

[mtnbike gurl]

Howdy,
We're looking at riding 90 miles of TRT on the east side of Lake Tahoe from Mt Rose Summit to Big Meadows (north to south) this summer.
Has anyone bike packed this route at all? Looking for beta. Just starting to research this.
Appreciate any info. Thx!

[JReeves]

Hi there,
  I've ridden a lot of the TRT, and it's definitely bikepack-able...  I rode a chunk of the eastern route last Summer fully loaded, on the last day of my bikepacking trip from Mono Lake to Reno(see blog link in my signature).  I've ridden some of the trail at South Lake, including Mr Toads, which is a pretty fun section.  This past September I set out to ride the whole 165 miles(yes, I'm aware of the regs), only to have my plan derailed by 5 flat tires in the first 45 miles...  I was riding some tires that had great traction, but the sidewalls were much to weak for a loaded rig, thus allowing pinch-flats galore.  It's a beautiful trail, and worth a ride.  The 90 miles you're looking at riding are pretty quick.  I'd say it's easily doable as a two day trip!  I'd recommend some pretty aggressive tires, something with some good knobs to get in deep in the decomposed granite sections.  Water is plentiful, and judging by the snow pac thus far, it should be dry much earlier than it was last year(Mid-July).
I'm sure you've found a few links, but here's some I had in my bookmarks:
TRT Website, all the maps you need...
http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=119
Pictures:
http://forums.mtbr.com/passion/tahoe-riding-november-664689.html
Ride Report:
http://ogrehut.com/trails.php/LakeTahoe/TRT

A panoramic I shot in September...  The views are spectacular from 9500'!


Holler if I can help in any way, or with any questions!
-Jesse

[mtnbike gurl]

Awesome. Thanks Jesse. Can we camp any where but only in designated sites? Have you ever used the shuttle services? Looking at leaving our car at S Tahoe & taking a shuttle to start at Mt Rose Summit.

[JReeves]

I've never used the shuttle service, but know people who have, and I wouldn't hesitate to do so.  It really simplifies it all, and not forcing you to do a loop or out-and-back is nice.  With that said, I was riding the Tahoe Loop on my road bike last October in some pretty gnarly weather(rain/sleet), and did have the shuttle van stop and offer me a ride...  So they're definitely a friendly bunch!
You can camp pretty much anywhere along that Eastern stretch.  I believe they word it as "within 300 feet of the trail" to keep the area from getting too trampled.  Spooner is just under the half-way point for the 70 miles between Mt Rose and Big Meadow, and there are a few camp sites just above Spooner Lake if you're not against "campgrounds".

[Aslan]

Just to add to what Jesse has mentioned.  Yes, it is mostly all rideable with bike packing kit.  Keep in mind that the Mt Rose section towards Spooner is only open to bikes on even days which may impact your ability to get a shuttle.  With a reasonable start two days is feasible; however, the time messing around with the shuttle and such often means a late start.  For touring pace you might think about camps at Marlette Peak which is early but has a pump for water.  Hobart Lake, also early and slightly off route, or the back country camp near Spooner Lake.  All of those camps can be reached with an afternoon start.  Star lake is a nice spot for a second night camp and gives you a nice day of riding with a short third day for your return logistics.  Have a fun trip.

[Kimberly]

Looking to do a multi-day tour in the Sierra's in mid August. Super interested in Sean Allen's proposed California Sierra Trail Race, but can't seem to get ahold of the GPS track or further info. Any updates on this route or any other suggestions on a 300-400 mile route that incorporates the TRT? Thanks for the info!

[JReeves]

Kimberly, click the link below my post that says "My Blog..."  I did a 250ish mile trip last Summer From near Mono Lake to Reno and used the TRT in the last segment...  I just used google maps and a few Forestry maps to plan my route.  There are a ton of roads and trails around, and you could kind of piece them together to suit your linking and destinations you'd like to visit.
I'm also hoping that more becomes of the California Sierra Trail Race that has been discussed.  Holler with any questions.

[Aslan]

Kimberly,  My buddy and I are doing a circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe this July.  Pick up the latest copy of the Lake Tahoe basin map http://www.adventuremaps.net/lake_tahoe_trail_map and that will help you put together your route.  It is a little shy of info to the south and west but if you combine it with Google Earth, a Delorme or benchmark maps atlas and the Eldorado National Forest map you will figure it out.  The main routing headaches are avoiding the PCT, Desolation wilderness and Granite Chief Wilderness on the west side and the routing headache that the Mt Rose Wilderness area causes in the north east. There is also an odd day only restriction on a portion of the TRT south of Mt Rose. You might also email Sean Allen to request a copy of his latest track as it is coming along nicely.  There are also a number of good tracks on mtbguru.com that will help you piece together some of the less intuitive sections.  Happy trails.

[mtndragon]

Hey, I live up in Tahoe, and have ridden that section several times, although never all at once.  My friends do the Mt Rose to South Shore ride in a day and call it "The Big Ugly."  For some reason this ride always seems to happen when I am unavailable.  Bikepacking you could do it in two days easily if you travel light.  There is a big climb after Spooner summit to The Bench, and then some technical riding after.  I rode the Rim Trail from Armstrong Pass to Toads and down yesterday, and it still had a few patches of snow, and was wet, but in another week it will be dry and clear.  Let me know if you have any questions about current trail conditions. 

[fat_and_lazy]

Hi forum.  I'm trying to put together a ride from Tahoe City down to Mammoth/June Lakes or possibly Lee Vining area.  Jesse, if you get this could you pm me about your trip? I'm looking for maps/advice. I figure I'll ride the rim trail down to S. Lake but after that I have no game plan and would love help. 

Thanks
Ashley

[Aslan]

Thanks for the conditions update.  Last July we had to abort our round the lake ride due to snow up around Star Lake.  It is good to know that it will be all clear by the end of July this year.

[saltygirl]

Thinking about doing parts of the tahoe rim trail with a little one.  What is the less hilly/less technical section that is rideable?  Just a day ride.....

[Aslan]

The Marlette lake / flume trail section. Easy and reasonably flat for kids. Nice views of the lake from the flume trail but there is a a bit of exposure / cliffs that might make young kids, or their parents, a bit nervous.

[saltygirl]

What about Echo Lake to Big Meadow?  I was looking at the GPS fly over thingy and it seemed OK?  What is your thoughts on that one? 

[Aslan]

That section, especially the Pony Express Trail portion is not as nice.  If you Leave from Echo, you would be on the PCT which is not legal and heavily used by hikers, so you would be stuck on the road until you crossed hwy 50.  Once you cross 50 you have to divert to the old pony express grade, which is nothing special, as the PCT is closed to bikes.  At the bottom you would have to either divert to hwy 89 to get to Big Meadow or you would have to do some reasonably technical climbing to Round Lake and cut back to Big Meadow.  It is all perfectly adequate riding but a bit technical for kids.

[Sean Allan]

Looking to do a multi-day tour in the Sierra's in mid August. Super interested in Sean Allen's proposed California Sierra Trail Race, but can't seem to get ahold of the GPS track or further info. Any updates on this route or any other suggestions on a 300-400 mile route that incorporates the TRT? Thanks for the info!

  www.californiasierratrailrace.com  I've got GPX tracks for most everything up there. I've done all the legal sections of the Rim Trail in a day, it ended up being a bit over 140 miles total with about 18,000' of climbing so two days loaded should be doable.
You could certainly add to that without leaving the Basin and get to nearly 200 miles I would think, especially with a road return back to your car.

You'd have to do some map work, but you could also do the Rim Trail sections and head out Pony Express up to Wrights Lake and return via the Rubicon jeep trail. All that route would be in the trail race. Just make a loop out of the Loon Lake area essentially.