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Tags:
Level: Advanced
Length: 17 mi (27.4 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +2,738/ -749 ft
Total: 145 riders
Mountain Biking Hole In The Ground
#35 of 1,004 mountain bike trails in California
This ride is both fun and challenging. It has a bit of everything including steep climbing, technical downhill sections, beautiful lakes, nice smooth single-track, and some dirt and paved road riding. The trail is well marked and exceptionally well maintained. It is popular and receives a fair amount of traffic, especially on weekends. The length and vertical gain are in the immediate range of difficulty
First added by dppaladino on Jun 14, 2005. Last updated Apr 30, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: yes
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Exit Interstate 80 at Soda Springs. From the off-ramp, turn left (north) and then make a quick right after the underpass. Look for a sign board on the left side of the street where a trail intersects this road. This is the END of the ride. To avoid a few miles of road riding, shuttle a car to the Boreal Exit. Park on the road to the north of the freeway.
System trails (1)
Hero dirt, perfect weather, great trail conditions, no mosquitoes- an incredible day.
| ThankRode the full loop this week, it offers a little of everything, steep climbs, technical sections, flowing smooth trails and an incredible work out.
| ThankPlanned to ride on 9/20/2015. Was extremely smokey from the King fire in Pollock Pines. Decided not to ride. Hopefully the air will be better in a week or two!
| ThankGreat ride! It was worth getting up early and seeing the sunrise from the top. Great flowy section and fun rock gardens. "The stairs" is another story, very technical. Easy to walk though.
| Thankgreat trail, but not recommended during the off-season. snow makes it very difficult, requiring lots of pushing. also, the trail can disappear under snowbanks and is difficult to follow. also upper sections of the trail are not marked - again adding to the difficulty in navigating. the rideable sections were fantastic however, and not too technical, even for a hardtail. (rode on 6/1)
| ThankSteep rocky climbs, great scenery, lung buster. My friend and I did this trail last weekend. We shuttled from the Boreal exit to the Soda Springs exit off of I-80. Expect climbs, technical rock gardens, and one of the best stair sections near the end of the trail. The last mile of the trail made hole in the ground AWESOME. Overall, hole in the ground would be great if you decide not to party hard all weekend and ride Sunday.
| ThankThis trail was a great ride. Views were incredible. However we spent an hour riding paved road, jeep trail and fire road. Out of the 17 mi advertised loop that was 8 or more. Additionally the trail is in horrible condition, lots of fallen trees and loose rock. It is obvoius that at one time there was alot of trail work that made this an awesome ride but there has been a lot of wash out, etc. Lastly it is not as well marked as advertised either, at least 3 times we found ourselves lost, hiking around looking for the trail. Luckly we backtracked and found other riders who had been there before. We parked in Soda Springs, advertised as the end of the trail. If you do this you need to find ride back across I-80 and make a left @ snow observatory rd, there is a jeep trail back there that will take you to boreal, from there you can cross under I-80 again and follow the road. I will run directly into a fire road that you have to follow up to the trail head.
| ThankAwesome ride....but not for the out of shape low lander. It kicked my arse today. But I'll do it again sometime soon!
| ThankSuch a sick ride, my favorite so far in California (where I live). Super fun trail with a bit of everything, but nothing TOO gnarly. Full suspension makes it more fun. A+ ride.
| ThankFinally made it out, so glad I did, might do it again next week. Starts with a climb but is over before you know it.Good descent, lots of sweet rock rides and sweet descents. One of the more tech trails in the area I think. Flows real well, someone took care to this trail. This is a definate must for anyone in the area who wants to experience what Tahoe/Truckee has to offer.
| ThankGreat scenery and seemed to have a lot of fun in store, but snow prevented access to getting any further on the trail than 2.5 miles. This is the beginning of July. The 4 rating I gave it is mostly based on hope of things in store
| ThankEven with the pavement and doubletrack necessary to complete the loop, this is one of the top trails I've ever ridden. It has a little of everything; easily the best variety I've ever seen. There's a great switchback climb, followed by superb ridgetop riding with incredible Sierra vistas, totally killer technical fun as the trail zigzags from rock formation to rock formation, and a super-rockin descent. Be ready for the staircase during the quick plummet between dirt roads near the end!
| ThankPlan for a long ride if you don't leave a shuttle car. You can also park on Donner Pass Rd (near the sierra snow lab) and ride on the rough dirt road through the Boreal parking lot to the trailhead. Biggest climb is right at the start, then really really sweet techy downhill. Don't bring any beginners, unless you want them to hate you - or you want to carry them and their bike to the hospital!
| ThankA great 17 mile cross country ride. When we ride Tahoe, we usually save this one for last as it's on the way home. A nice climb at the beginning ends with a great view of the Sierra's. Great single track downhill takes you back down.
| Thankmost excellent ride for intermediate to difficult
| ThankPossibly the best trail in California!
| ThankSimply the best around. Although I am slightly partial to the 30 Mile Auburn Ride (Homer) this trail is tough to beat. Great downhills, some technical stuff, tough climbs all wrapped in the most scenic package in Ca.
| ThankThe good climb with switchbacks, got all washed out and is now mainly granite steps that are nearly impossible to get up.
| ThankGreat ride in the summer. Great views and fun singletrack. Good climb with several switchbacks.
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