Lake Tahoe
Crisp mountain air, stunning vistas, and a pristine alpine lake — what more could you want out of an epic weekend on two wheels? On this long weekend tour, we’ll enjoy the altitude of the Sierra Nevada as we circumnavigate the stunning Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America!
Our route starts by taking us from the mountain town of Truckee, home of Donner Memorial State Park beside stunning Donner Lake. From there, we'll pass by the host site of the 1960 Winter Olympics before we get to Lake Tahoe and start our clockwise loop. Along the way around the lake, we'll visit small towns and scenic overlooks including stunning Emerald Bay. Here, the state park of the same name is home to Vikingsholm, a 38-room mansion that is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States.
Our long weekend will seem like it went by too quickly, but it will give us an excitement to come back for more.
"This was a great tour. The mix of riding, scenery, hiking, and social opportunities on this tour plus great leaders made for a very special trip. This was my first tour, and it was excellent, and will undoubtedly lead to more."
Day 1. Truckee, California, 0 miles
We’ll meet our group in the beautiful gateway to the Sierras in the early afternoon and enjoy a hearty meal together before the incredible weekend ahead. If you have time, arrive early and enjoy the charm of downtown Truckee with its unique shops and experience the gritty past and vibrant present of this historic railroad town, or cycle west up Donner Pass to get your legs acclimated to the mountains. You can also visit the Donner Party Memorial and the adjacent Emigrant Trail Museum, which can provide insight into the struggles the Donner Party faced crossing the Sierras.
Day 2. Truckee to Crystal Bay, Nevada, 27 miles
We’ll start the morning with a slight incline through Tahoe National Forest and along the beautiful Truckee River, eventually joining a bike path running from Squaw Valley to the town of Tahoe City. Along the way, we’ll pass Squaw Valley and the Olympic Valley, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics. We’ll ride by Agate Bay and past Kings Beach before crossing the border into Nevada and our stopping point for the day.
Day 3. Crystal Bay to Camp Richardson, California 37 miles
We’ll continue clockwise around Lake Tahoe, riding past Sand Harbor before reaching our high point around the lake of just over 7,000 feet above sea level. After a great descent, we’ll reach Cave Rock and the craggy remains of a prehistoric volcano above Lake Tahoe and caves sacred to the native Washoe people. Making our way back into California, we’ll pass through South Lake Tahoe before our overnight in Camp Richardson.
Day 4. Camp Richardson to Truckee, 40 miles
We’ll complete our loop around Lake Tahoe, being sure to stop at the picturesque Emerald Bay State Park along the way. We’ll retrace our steps along the Truckee River and back to our starting point, with a taste of the Sierras and a desire to come back for more.
Know before you go
Information for eBike riders:
Because every rider, eBike, road condition, and elevation profile is different, it is ultimately up to the participant to judge best whether their battery will last through each tour day. We recommend using pedal assist in its lowest setting or off when not needed to maximize battery range. Bringing a second battery is also recommended. Remember, there is no vehicle support on our inn-to-inn trips, and you would need to carry the extra battery along with all of your other things.
