Best bike trails around South Lake Tahoe you definitely need to try
Explore South Lake Tahoe by bike, and you’ll find breathtaking scenery and well-maintained trails for all levels of riders.
It features stunning views of the surrounding mountains, crystal clear lakes and dense forests. Riding here is unforgettable. The iconic Flume Trail is one of the most popular routes for expert riders, offering epic views of the lake. Beginners should check out the South Lake Tahoe Bike Path for a relaxed ride that winds along the lakeshore. In this article, we’ll share some of our favorite routes for all bike types and experience levels.
Best paved trails for family rides
South Tahoe is chock-full of beautiful, family-friendly bike rides. Here are four of our favorites that you can enjoy on a hybrid bike or electric bike.
Family ride #1: Bijou Bike Park
The tour at one glance
This bike park is located right within the city. It is free to use and has everything from a BMX track and slopestyle lines with jumps to an easy loop trail. You can also enjoy a game of basketball, disc golf and more.
Family ride #2: Trout Creek Trail
The tour at one glance
- Level: easy
- Path condition: well-maintained
- Starting point: Trout Creek Pocket Park on Donner Pass Road
- Highlights: Trout Creek, family-friendly atmosphere
- Length of the route: 1 mile
- Altitude difference: 325 feet
- Travel time: 15 – 30 min
- Total distance: 1 mile
- Cycle path: 1 mile
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At just 1-mile long with 325 feet of elevation change, this is an easy-going paved trail that takes you through the woods along Trout Creek and ends in Truckee. The grade of this bike trail close to South Lake Tahoe isn’t too steep, and the trail can be ridden in both directions.
Family ride #3: Fallen Leaf Lake Trail
The tour at one glance
- Level: easy
- Path condition: unpaved singletrack
- Starting point: Fallen Leaf Lake Trail parking lot
- Highlights: Forest scenery, Fallen Leaf Lake shoreline
- Length of the route: 3.5 miles
- Altitude difference: 243 feet
- Travel time: 1 – 1.5 hours
- Total distance: 3.5 miles
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An easy mountain bike loop that runs 3.5 miles along an unpaved singletrack that you’ll share with hikers, with 243 ft. elevation change. Start at the parking lot and follow the signs to enjoy some beautiful forest scenery and the Fallen Leaf Lake shoreline. Ride time: 1 – 1.5 hours.
Family ride #4: South Lake Tahoe Bike Path
The tour at one glance
- Level: easy
- Path condition: paved
- Starting point: Stateline
- Highlights: Lakeside Beach and Marina, Ski Run Beach and Marina, El Dorado Beach, East Cove, Pope, Camp Richardson Resort, Valhalla Historic Site, and Baldwin beach
- Length of the route: 11.7 miles
- Altitude difference: 223 feet
- Travel time: 2 – 3 hours
- Total distance: 11.7 miles
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For families, the 11.7-mile long South Tahoe Beach Bike Path Cruiser route can hardly be beat. It’s a mostly flat, paved bikeway that connects different beaches along the lake, but does have intersections. Plenty of stunning scenery and chances to stop for a swim.
Best road rides around South Lake Tahoe
Like everything around Tahoe, the road biking routes here are breathtaking. As long as you’re on the right road bike., you can’t choose wrong.
Road ride #1: Emerald Bay Out-and-Back
The tour at one glance
- Level: easy/advanced
- Path condition: paved
- Starting point: Intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 89
- Highlights: Emerald Bay, Bliss State Park, views of Pyramid Peak and the Crystal Range, Camp Richardson
- Length of the route: 26 miles
- Altitude difference: mostly flat
- Travel time: 3 – 3.5 hours
- Total distance: 26 miles
- Cycle path: few sections
- Secondary road: few sections
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This 26-mile ride around Emerald Bay is challenging, with steep grades and a narrow shoulder in sections. But the views are worth it. Start and finish at the intersection of Hwy 50 and Hwy 89. Hwy 50 takes you around Emerald Bay and on to Bliss State Park. Enjoy views of Pyramid Peak and the Crystal Range and get an ice cream the size of your head at Camp Richardson.
Road ride #2: South Tahoe Loop
The tour at one glance
- Level: intermediate
- Path condition: paved, well-maintained
- Starting point: South Lake Tahoe
- Highlights: Views of Lake Tahoe, challenging climbs, exhilarating descents, charming mountain towns, Sierra Nevada Mountains
- Length of the route: 20 miles
- Altitude difference: 820 feet
- Travel time: 2 – 3 hours
- Total distance: 20 miles
- Cycle path: some bike lanes
- Secondary road: few sections
- Road: few sections
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The South Tahoe Loop is perfect for road cycling, offering scenic beauty and varied terrain. Highlights include breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, challenging climbs, exhilarating descents, charming mountain towns, access to pristine beaches, and the opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Road ride #3: Emigrant Loop
The tour at one glance
- Level: difficult
- Path condition: paved, well-maintained, rough sections possible
- Starting point: Stateline
- Highlights: Steep climbs, stunning views of alpine meadows and Hope Valle
- Length of the route: 52 miles
- Altitude difference: 4,672 feet
- Travel time: 6 – 8 hours
- Total distance: 52 miles
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As an expert-level route, this 52-mile ride packs a real punch with 4,672 elevation change. Expect long, steep climbs, fast descents and stunning views of alpine meadows and Hope Valley. Start the loop in Stateline and travel counterclockwise.
Best mountain bike trails around South Lake Tahoe
The many mountain passes in Tahoe make this an awesome place to go mountain biking. Here are some routes to enjoy, whether you’re just getting started or already a pro.
Mountain bike trail #1: Star Lake Connector Bike Trail
The tour at one glance
- Level: intermediate/advanced
- Path condition: well-maintained, but check before starting the tour
- Starting point: High Meadow Road
- Highlights: Epic views, Star Lake (beautiful high alpine lake)
- Length of the route: 4 miles
- Altitude difference: 1,400 feet
- Travel time: 1 hour
- Total distance: 4 miles
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This 4-mile ride climbs over 1,400 ft., giving you epic views and ending at Star Lake, a beautiful high alpine lake. The trail can only be accessed by bike, starting at High Meadow Road. Makes a great ride up or down, but uphill is fairly challenging (intermediate/advanced) and should not be attempted by inexperienced riders. The route may be closed through mid-spring due to snow.
Mountain bike trail #2: Armstrong Pass Trail
The tour at one glance
- Level: intermediate
- Path condition: rocky sections
- Starting point:Highway 89 (Luther Pass)
- Highlights: 12 miles
- Length of the route: 2,250 feet
- Altitude difference: 12,000 feet
- Travel time: 45 minutes – 1 hour
- Total distance: 12 miles
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A super-fun, 12-mile singletrack downhill, this route is generally ridden as a shuttle, parking at Highway 89 (Luther Pass) and riding out to the trailhead from there. Expect tons of corners, berms, and jumps on your way through the forest. It’s intermediate difficulty with some options to make it more suitable for novices.
Mountain bike trail #3: Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Bike Trail
The tour at one glance
- Level: difficult
- Path condition: rocky sections
- Starting point: Big Meadow Trailhead
- Highlights: thrilling descents, technical sections, stunning alpine scenery
- Length of the route: 10 miles
- Altitude difference: 900 feet
- Travel time: depends on how you reach the top of the trail
- Total distance: 10 miles
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This is an ultra-challenging, technical downhill bike trail around South Lake Tahoe that is best for advanced riders who like things rocky. It’s a shuttle route with different options for biking in to the top of the trail. You’ll climb 1,500 ft. and descend 2,400 ft. over the course of the 10-mile route.
Mountain bike trail #4: Flume Trail
The tour at one glance
- Level: intermediate
- Path condition: depends on the season, check before riding the trail
- Starting point: Spooner Lake Trailhead
- Highlights: Spectacular vistas, challenging climbs
- Length of the route: 14 miles
- Altitude difference: 1,800 feet above the lake
- Travel time: 2.5 – 3.5 hour Total distance: 14 miles
View the tour
The Flume Trail in South Lake Tahoe is renowned for its incredible mountain biking experience. Highlights include breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, a thrilling singletrack along the ridge, challenging climbs, and exhilarating descents. The trail offers a unique blend of scenic beauty, technical sections, and an unforgettable adventure for mountain biking enthusiasts.
Discover the best bike trails in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is an incredible place to explore on two wheels. With the different lakes, mountain passes, and stunning scenery, almost any ride you choose here is sure to be memorable.
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