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Tags:
Level: Beginner
Length: 14 mi (22.5 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +799/ -997 ft
Total: 225 riders
Mountain Biking Flume Trail
#4 of 115 mountain bike trails in Nevada
Follow signs in the parking lot to the trailhead. Start a 1000 ft climb on fireroad then descend to the lake. Take a left around the perimeter of the lake until you come to the Flume trail trailhead. The trail is mostly singletrack with sparse technical sections, but overall an easy ride on the mountain ridge overlooking Spooner Lake. The views are spectacular. At the 10 mile mark, you can connect to the Tahoe Rim Trail to head back to the parking lot or follow the signs to the shuttle bus. The shuttle will take you back to the parking lot for $12.50 or you may opt for a gradual climb of 8 miles on the road back to the park for free.
First added by alvin.santoy on Oct 11, 2003. Last updated May 11, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Trail starts at Spooner Lake State Park, see http://www.theflumetrail.com/directions.html for directions.
System trails (1)
Absolutely beautiful trail. From starting point to finish the signage was clear and easy to follow.
| ThankLocals east shore Tahoe ride. A buddy and I left a car at Tunnel Creek (finish) and didn't use shuttle. First 3.6 mile climb gets steep - some may walk the last half mile. Otherwise, expansive views from high above Lake Tahoe and fast down hill (with sandy spots). Super enjoyable and a good ride for beginner to intermediate levels. It's ~ 2 hours from start to finish.
| ThankConditions *update* As of early June was clear of snow, but needed brush cleared in a few spots
Super fun downhill if you can hit it when there aren't many hikers.
| ThankEpic. Absolutely a must ride. Challenging uphill to get to the start. Not long but incredibly scenic and technical enough to challenge anyone/everyone. Yet you can easily walk around and avoid the natural obstacles so kids can actually handle it....as long as they can make the climb to get started.
| ThankWow, this is a must ride trail in Tahoe. This ride is packed full of awesomeness! It's a non technical ride, but so rewarding!
| ThankDid the shuttle from Spooner Lake via Flume Trail Bikes. (8/1/16) Shuttle was great. You jump right in and climb for about 3 miles. Then it gets really steep for about a half mile and the climbing is done while reaching 8200 ft. This would be very tough for low landers or people that are not very fit. Several people hiked a bike through some of the toughest sections. But it is worth it. Nice downhill to Marlette Lake and then the Flume Trail begins. Flume is indescribable. Views are amazing. Trail is generally not as narrow as it appears to be in youtube videos I previewed. I am not great with heights but did okay all but in a very short narrow section. Two way traffic is a little disconcerting but we went on a Sunday and only passed 5 people. The part with the amazing views is probably 4-6 miles. Very flat. You end the ride with a long downhill back to the bike shop/cafe where the food was good.
https://youtu.be/h4lGK04tA7w
| ThankGood ride, with amazing views of Lake Tahoe. The first 4 miles from Spooner Lake SP climbs up a fireroad, is fairly easy, and not technical. The next section of ~1-2 miles descends a fireroad to a wide path before the Flume Trail begins. The Flume trail is mostly elevation neutral for the next 5 miles of nice singletrack along the cliffs above Lake Tahoe. The biggest objective hazard is keeping your eyes on the trail and not the lake view. The final descent avoids the exposure of the cliffs.
| Thankgreat view of Tahoe good singletrack
| ThankGreat Trail. Read my full review with VIDEO at
| Thankhttp://getsomeadventures.com/ride-the-flume-spectacular-views-mtn-biking-at-lake-tahoe/
This trail is all about the spectacular views. It is a bucket list ride for sure. Decent climb to get to the Flume trail but not bad and well worth it. Some exposure so be careful but not technical.
| ThankAwesome trail, breathing views - a real fun ride.
The best way to do it is to drive to the bike hire place at the trail end (put 1115 Tunnel Creek Road into your navigator) and take their shuttle to the trail head.
| ThankAMAZING!!!! The views and the smell of the pine combined with great riding...it is heaven!
| ThankBeautiful single track that follows Lake Tahoe. Decent amount of climbing to get to the flume, but worth every bit of effort. This trail is not for those who are afraid of height as it sits about 1000-1500 feet above the valley floor.
| ThankThunderstorms over the past few days has made the trail a bit more challenging. Watch for the ruts and sandy spots. Otherwise it is the great ride as always.
| ThankAs others have said, not very technical, but the actual Flume Trail IS legitimate, narrow, very exposed singletrack. Also, this trail has THE best views of any mountain bike trail I have ever ridden! Keep your eyes on the trail... someone almost ran into me and off the cliff because he wasn't paying attention.
| ThankGreat ride, probably the best non-technical ride Ive ever done. Fantastic views of the lake, and good bit of climbing to start and some sketchy, sandy downhill to finish. Be sure to take the shuttle back, and take care on the Flume Trail proper, lest you cannonball off the edge and become a permanent fixture.
| ThankAbegold hit it spot on. No technical, but the views are spectacular. Hard to keep your eyes on the trail! a must ride.
| ThankThis trails about views. It's a wide dirt road so almost no tech.
| ThankFirst off the trail is in Nevada Not CALI!!
I have a home on the East Shore, 5 miles away from Spooner Summit (the start), so I've used this as the preeminent ride to expose visitors from all over the world to the joys of MTBing in Tahoe.
Let's describe the Flume as EPIC for view alone. It's not very challenging for technical qualities, the biggest encumbrance to your ride will be wanting to continually pop pictures and take in the views.
It's DRY in the sierras so be prepared with plenty of water or at least bring a filter as there is plenty of water sources enroute. The weather can change FAST...afternoon thunderstorms can crank up within a few hours and if your in the backcountry..it can go from 85 degrees to high 50's with hail so fast it'll and have you wondering if there is a god.
I'm not a fan of the Tunnel Creek shuttle game..I believe you make it all around under your own power. Start at Spooner...go up Nrth Canyon for 4 miles to the top of the climb and then down to Marlette Lake, then pop down the dam onto the flume. At the North end...don't go left down Tunnel Creek to the Ponderosa..turn right and head into the hills. Several backcountry loops, head up Twin Lakes along the legal portion of the Rim Trail or head out towards Franktown and Red House. You'll have a few more options and you can head even further up and out on Hobart Res or climb Sunflower Hill and descend back to Marlette.
Be cool, don't ride the portion of the rim trail that is not legal...it's a tranquil fragile environment.
You can tap out 23-36 miles going the back side trails..see some bears and wild life, be out so far that the only sound when you stop is the ringing in your ears, because it's so quiet.
The Flume is TOURISTY and can get absolutely clogged with bike traffic on obvious weekends (Mem, 4th, Labor), the back-country is serious and a different animal with limited to no traffic and for good reason......you're a long way from help. No your cell phone won't work out there.
The Flume loop up from Tunnel Creek is done counterclockwise for the NV Xterra held there in late Summer/Early Fall every year.
* Review edited 8/6/2009* Review edited 8/6/2009* Review edited 8/7/2009
| ThankFun trail. Make sure to bring some cash to get in the park. The start is a climb for me. Once up its mellow for the most part. The only thing keeping things tough is the sand. The views are great and the drop off is scary. Tunnel Creek road is sandy as always and is a real thrill ride. I recommend taking two cars and shuttling it.
| Thank