Flume Trail

One of the quintessential photos usually seen of Lake Tahoe is from the Flume Trail. This technical mountain bike trail has some of the best views of the lake and the mountains. The trail for the Flume starts at Spooner Lake near Highway 50, but if you are hiking the trail (watch out for bikes!) you can also check out the view from the entrance at Tunnel Creek and the Tunnel Creek Café. The trail consists of both wide tracks and some steep uphill riding or walking of your bike. There is some sand and scree along the trail. The trail passes by the beautiful Marlette Lake at 8,161 feet and after that it becomes a little more tricky with steep, narrow tracks. However, this is where the incredible views will start. From the top you will see the lake, Sand Harbor, Incline Village and the entire North Shore. The entire trail is 13.2 miles from point to point and the entrance to the Spooner Lake parking area is $2. The elevation gain for the trail is 2,116 feet and the elevation gain is 2,844 feet. There is no water or food along the trail, so be sure to bring your own. Give yourself 2-4 hours to complete the trail. A shuttle and bike rental service at the Tunnel Creek Café is available to anyone who does not want to bike their way back or bring their own bike. The $15 shuttle service is knocked down to $10 when you rent a bike with Flume Trail Bikes. The shuttle schedule is offered 7 days a week every hour from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.