Live Your Best Lives
Flume Trail Reviews
4.7
8 of 54 Best Attractions in Lake Tahoe (Nevada)
Reviews
This hike has been on my bucket list for several years and we finally made it. It wasn’t easy but it’s not the most difficult. Our son,12, did it but he was overly exhausted at the end, about 3/4 hours later. It’s worth the hike for sure. Bring money to pay the fee and keep your receipt, otherwise it’s a fine! Enjoy.
I did this by mountain bike, three times in a 6 day stay, but you can also hike it. Yes, it was that good.
If you're a reasonably fit person with some bicycle riding ability I'd highly recommend the shuttle from Flume Trail Bikes, located at the very bottom of the trail. For $19 they'll take you and your bike up to Spooner for a wonderful bike ride back down past Marlette Lake and down the flume.
It's moderately arduous for the first 3 miles or so but pretty much downhill after that. The path gets narrow at times so if you're uncomfortable with heights you might want to give this a miss or just get off and push. My wife is not a fan of heights, nor an avid cyclist, but she managed it and loved the views - when she could step away from the edge!
This trail is amazing, and proper gear and preparation is essential to a successful run. This trail is moderate for mountain bikers, but can be very challenging for those who do not mountain bike. We started at Spooner Lake State Park. The trail requires a 1000' vertical climb within the first 4 miles, which would be a challenge for even the enthusiast. Bring 2 liters of water per person, and snacks or lunch, as the entire trail run will take between 3-5 hours. Once you reach Marlette Lake the amazing views begin, and beyond the lake the trail becomes more challenging and fun, with breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe. I highly recommend this run, and would also recommend renting bikes and getting a shuttle from Flume Trail Mountain Bikes - these guys really know what they're doing, and are very helpful with top-notch gear.
The Flume Trail was awesome. My husband is a pretty good trail rider & I am a novice trail rider & it was super fun for both of us. The first big hill is a doozy & I had to walk my bike up about 1/3rd of it but it was totally worth it.
If you are a novice like myself, it is good to take it slow when riding along the ledges as you could take a pretty nasty plunge if you are not being careful.
If you want a rush of adrenaline, this is a great trail for you to bike. There were a ton of runners/walkers along the trail too & I would definitely recommend that for those to nervous to ride it....keep in mind that it is a pretty long trail. Bring a granola bar/snack & definitely some water. I can't remember for sure, but I think it took us 2-3 hours to bike it.
My wife and I took our two boys on this ride when they were 10 and 13. First of all, it was a tremendous ride that we are planning to do again this summer. We absolutely loved it. A few hints though. 1. Pack as much water as you think you will need and then pack some more. Between the four of us we had 2.5 gallons of water and we still ran out! 2. Start early in the day and spend some time swimming in Marlett Lake. We didn't get on the trail until 11:00 or so, and we were going slow with the kids, so we didn't have enough time to spend lounging at the Lake. 3. Rent the bikes at the trailhead. They are full suspension bikes of great quality. If your bike is a little out of date, it will make all the difference in the world. 4. Plan on more time than an hour and a half. I'm an experienced rider and I think I could probably do it in that time if I really pushed it and did not have the family in tow. In this case, take your time and savor the experience. Enjoy the views and relax. Better yet, break the ride in two and plan to spend several hours swimming in Marlette Lake.
Awesome (and short) trail with spectacular views. We rented bikes at Flume Bikes--great rates and easy process. Highly recommend.
Mountain biking on the Flume Rim Trail should go straight to the top of your bucket list! It is not for anyone with height fears however everyone else should go now! It is not easy, however, if you are reasonably fit you can do this. The views are shockingly beautiful and the thrills are unmatched. I am a 57 year old woman and my son is 25. We were equally impressed with the experience.
We are not experienced mountain bikers, but are an athletic family, including me (47), my wife (44), son (15) and daughter (13). We thoroughly enjoyed our ride on the Flume Trail. We rented excellent bikes at Spooner Lake and off we went. The first part of the trail up to Marlette Lake was strenuous. We are sea-level people and parts of this ride were very hard and we ended up pushing the bikes in several places. Once we got to Marlette Lake the riding got much easier, although throughout the trail there were narrow areas where my daughter walked her bike. The views were fantastic and we stopped and took pictures on many occasions. We took lots of water and power bars/breakfast bars to snack on, which worked out great. The last part of the ride down to the shuttle pick-up was downhill and sandy, a dangerous combination, but with common sense we did fine. My daughter walked her bike through some of the sandier areas. Overall the was an oustanding adventure that I am glad we did not miss.
We took this ride on a recommendation from a local. Six Aussies ranging from 21 to 53, some very fit and some not so fit.
The first climb had us all wondering but that bit of pain was forgotten as soon we hit lake marlett. From then on there was a wow moment at every corner. Truly magnificent scenery, good equipment and helpful and well skilled staff-a must do!!
We had a weeks vacation in South Lake Tahoe and being from Florida, wanted to take advantage of the beautiful October weather. We rode the Vail Pass while in Breckenridge last summer and enjoyed it so much we wanted to do something similar. Well, let me clear up any misconceptions. This ride doesn't compare, it is much more difficult and the views are amazing. As others have noted, the first four miles are more a hike with your bike if you don't do this on a regular basis.
We arrived in Tahoe Saturday night and did the trail on Monday. I don't think we were fully acclimated to the elevation and I wasn't sure what I was thinking when we signed up for this as I tried to get thru the first four miles. Well, it was well worth the struggle, the views were spectacular. The ride along the top was a bit scary as the trail is narrow with a long drop down the side of the mountain, leaving no room for errors. I was so glad we did it and will remove it from my bucket list.
I would hike it next time but should say that I am not a big speed freak and like to have control while biking which was not the case for a big part of the ride. Anyone with a fear of heights should avoid this trip.
My sister and I reserved bikes through Flume Trail Bikes which is at the base of Tunnel Creek. The team was great and very friendly and were happy to help find the right bikes for us.
They offer multiple shuttles throughout the day to the different trail options. We took Incline Flume to the actual Flume Trail and it was one of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen. The trail is not necessarily well marked. The team gave us good directions and turns to look out for, but I still recommend downloading the all trails app.
We are not the most skilled bikers relative to some of the mountain bikers we encountered but we were still able to do the trail and had a blast. The climb is challenging but also manageable. When you finally get to the Flume it is a thrill for any adrenaline seeker. It’s very narrow and can be scary at times. It was my favorite part of my trip to Lake Tahoe. The trail is downhill the last three miles and ends at the shop.
I highly recommend using Flume Trail Bikes/Shuttle service at Tunnel Creek.they have great coffee and craft beers. I used my own bike and wished I had rented one of theirs as mine didn’t have gearing needed for the climb. The shuttle is great- It takes you to Spooner where the trail begins and you end up back where you parked your car. The Flume Trail is legendary and it lives up to its amazing reputation. The first four miles is all up hill. After that it’s mostly flat with mild downhill slope until the last 3 or 4 miles which is all downhill and sandy.
Spectacular views of Lake Tahoe along the single track section of the route, but not for people who are afraid of heights. Wide trail for the climb up and descent.
Challenging climb, followed by fantastic views on a moderate single track all the way back to the cafe
Look, there are lots and lots of great mounting biking trails around Tahoe. You could easily ride a different great trail every day of the week, and you can certainly pick an easier one. I've ridden around Tahoe a lot, and this is the CLASSIC, EPIC ride, and my go-to ride if I can only do one ride, and I've got the time. Sit back, and let me take you through the ride - Here's how I like to do it - Park at Sand Harbor Park parking area in NV. (this will come in handy later) Head out South along Hwy 28. Yeah I know, its a paved road. But there is a benefit to this. It gives you a nice gradual warm up to get the legs loosened up and the blood pumping. And the scenery is pretty good. Continue to Spooner Lake, about 7.5 miles. From here, find the sign that directs you to Marlette Lake. This is a good spot for a quick snack and stretch for what's ahead. Don't forget to fill up with water. The road starts off pretty gradually, and then BANG, your front wheel is pointing to the sky. There is a very steep climb as you get closer to Marlette Lake, but it doesn't last too long. I've never been able to make it through this stretch without taking a breather, but some people do power through it - it's about a 7 or 8 in my book, and I've been riding mountain bikes since 1984. Once through it, you are rewarded with a nice little glide to Marlette Lake, a beautiful unspoiled alpine lake. If it's hot and your knackered, jump in. The good news is the hard work is over. This is the beauty of the Flume Trail - it is mostly flat and downhill from here to the end. To continue on, pick up the flume trail to the left hand side (west) of marlette lake. If you want to do more climbing, you can head to the right and up Marlette Lake Road to the Pacific Rim Trail for a fantastic view out over Carson City. Othefwise, the Flume trail will take you along the east shore of Lake Tahoe at about 1,000 feet or so above lake level. The view is amazing, and in some places it is almost a straight vertical drop. But it's plenty wide, so no worries. You can take your time and enjoy, or blast through it, but be careful because some people do ride in the other direction. You will eventually come to an intersection with Tunnel Creek Road. Be careful here to pick the direction that takes you down to the lake. The other direction is the outback. The ride down Tunnel Creek is a blast, and can be really fun if you're with a competitive group. At the end you'll hit the same road you started on, and your car will be to the left, about 2 miles. Now, run off the pier and jump in the lake. You'll be clean and refreshed and will have just done a bike ride you will never forget.
To set the scene...my partner and I both are in our early 30s, both about a stone overweight, both have a reasonable fitness level and occasionally ride road bikes where we live at the weekends but neither of us have been on a mountain bike since we were about 10 years old!
The equipment hired was very good quality and the guys ensured you were measured up for the seat and clear on the breaks etc. However the information given about the trail was maybe a bit misleading and to be fair we didn't really do our research!
The trail is described as moderate in difficulty - but this is objective depending on your fitness level, experience on a mountain bike and how scared you are of heights, cliff edges etc.
We were dropped off at Spooner park and decided to take our bikes for a test run round the lake trail (c2miles flat around a smallish lake) before we took on the 12 mile Flume Trail. So far so good!
Then we took on the Flume Trail...I would say you could break the trail down into 4 sections;
1. The 1000ft incline push up a hill for
4 miles! This is very difficult. It would be difficult to hike, it was even harder with a
heavy mountain bike in the heat of the sun! There is no way you are cycling up this unless you are super fit ...and even then I think you may struggle! I was ready to quit at this stage as I felt quite sick...but I pushed on as my partner was keen to reap the rewards of the climb. (I'm glad I did)
2. Once you've done the climb you are treated to a slight descent before you come to the Marlette Lake which is beautiful, great place to take some respite following the climb and some pictures before moving on to the cliff edge
3. The cliff edge section is c5miles. This was super fun and the views were amazing!! I never truly felt in any danger (you'd have to be pretty out of control to go off the cliff edge) and managed to navigate
this section relatively easily, I only got off and pushed where there were signs advising to do so.
4. The 3 mile decent of 1000ft. This had all the makings of being extremely fun but to be honest I didn't feel in control of my bike and nearly came off twice when my back
wheel skidded out below me in the sand. It wasn't frightening - just hard work staying on the breaks and trying to maintain control, by the end my arms and shoulders we in pieces. In contrast my other half loved this section.
We both thoroughly enjoyed the Flume Trail
it was challenging both mentally and physically. I would recommend it to those who are not scared of heights, like a bit of adventure and who are reasonably fit.
A couple of things to highlight - this is not for the faint hearted, it is hot out there and you will be
The Flume Trail is almost always ranked as one of the top ten mountain bike rides in America. It starts at Spooner Lake in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on the east shore. If you can take your eyes off the single track that traverses the slopes 2000' above Lake Tahoe, the views across the lake are truly spectacular. For a biker, this ride is not to be missed. The Spooner Lake Outdoor Company, a concessionaire in the state park, offers a shuttle service from the end of the ride back to your car.
The views are spectacular on this trail! We brought our MTBs to travel it. The first 4miles are a hard uphill climb. I recommend going when it is early. We didn't and suffered in the heat! However once you get to the top you forget the climb because it is so beautiful! Be careful for hikers, blind corner, and death cliffs.
Don't underestimate the energy it will require to get past the 4 mile uphill start to this one. ...and the water will go quickly. The view definitely pays off once you get past this hurdle and the rest is gravy! Be prepared for hand cramps from the last 4 miles of braking and remember to use your rear brakes too! Well worth it!
This was a long steep hike up to Monkey Rock but once we got there the views and the monkey were worth the trip!
This is a great mountain bike trail. The first part is an old dirt road. There is some serious elevation gain for the first three miles. After that, it is a gradual descent. There is some singletrack which is a little tricky but overall, this trail is fine for beginners. The views are quite amazing. At the end, there is a long downhill where you can get some serious speed. I would highly recommend this trail.
A friend and I brought our own bikes and had the shuttle service take us to Tahoe meadows. The driver was excellent and gave us directions to go towards the Flume Trail which we enjoyed all the way to Marlette lake. If you're comfortable on a bike this is an outstanding mountain biking experience. Mountain bikes can be rented for a reasonable fee. Give yourself a day and have a great time!
I rode this with my 13 year old son and we had a great time. We went swimming in the lake half way and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
A must do.
My wife and I wanted to moutain bike during the first part of our Honeymoon when staying in North Lake Tahoe. The Flume Trail was highly recommended and so we gave it a shot. Our ride quickly went from enjoying to surviving as this trail was much more demanding than expected of described. We are both quite fit (cross-training exercise 3-4x/week minimum) and casually road bike fairly frequently. Unfortunately, we spent a good deal of time walking our bikes secondary to the steep climbs, sandy terrain, and occasional technical turns.
No doubt the views are divine but after all the toil it takes to get to them (+/- 8 miles) we were in less of an admiring mood. However, the rental shop at Spooner Lake was great and the equipment was also nice. The shuttle service back to the trail head is a must unless you want to spend another three hours +/- getting back.
Overall, our biggest disappointment was that we felt misinformed about the degree of difficulty. I can say with confidence that if we had better understood the challenge it would be, we definitely would have passed on this ride. Bottom line: If you attempt for the first time, understand that it will take more effort than you probably expect!
My husband is a hard core mountain biker and was blown away by the views of this trail. It took him a lot less time that all the reviews stated. He went solo and didn't make many stops. He wants to go back next year and do it again.
we leave a car in incline village, then drive to spooner lake. park in the parking lot there and start the killer ride up a dirt road to marlette lake. once at this beautiful lake the fun begins! ride around the lake to the west side and find the flume trail. the view of lake tahoe is awesome. mostly level single track riding till you get above incline village then a nice downhill to where we left the other car. tough ride but the views are worth it.
Gorgeous scenery and a good cardio workout. Awesome views of Monkey Rock and the lake from a mostly easy trail. Some loop sections will wear-out even the most energetic Border Collies!
This is an absolute breathtaking hike along this trail. It is a very easy hike above the lake. At a. Purple os points it appears that you could jump over the edge and land in the water below. I would go hike this one again!
Supposedly one of the top 3 trail rides in the US. This certainly did not disappoint. We book directly through Flume Trail Tahoe dotcom and opted for the uplift service. The staff and facilities were absolutely top notch. The level of detail taken to make sure that the bikes are perfectly set-up and the users are completely trained in how to use them. My wife is not an avid mountain biker, yet she was shown the ropes before we loaded the bikes on to the vehicle. The ride itself is stunning and offers some of the most amazing views of the azure blue lake below. The first 3 miles are a steady uphill and quite taxing. The 4th mile is hard work and my wife walked it. But once you arrive at the summit, you are blessed with 10 miles of fantastic trail riding though some of the most incredible terrain.
Traveller tip - beware if you are scared of heights. Some of the precipices are quite severe, but it is well worth it!!! Altogether an amazing experience!
There are four reasons to ride the Flume Trail and rent a bike (if necessary) from Flume Trail Bikes
1. The Flume Trail is an epic ride with spectacular views. It is not super technical or difficult for a "fit" individual. Fit does not mean attending an aerobics class for 30min 3X/week. Please look at You-Tube videos. Also if you're afraid of heights you might want to avoid. The Conservation Corp has done a lot of work on the trail this summer and two "gnarly" hike-a-bikes have been cleared! There are a number of options but the easiest is to take the shuttle to Spooner Lake. The more difficult choices are riding the Tahoe Rim Trail from the Mt. Rose Highway (also a shuttle or long bike ride) or riding up the Tunnel Creek Road - not technical but a little steep and sandy in spots.
2. Max the owner of the shop, is an incredibly nice guy. He was previously a world-class mountain bike racer and is in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. He started re-buiding the trail in 1983 (laketahoenews.net/2013/0…). He knows the trail as well as anyone.
3. They have excellent bikes, that are incredibly well maintained and are the best to be found in the Tahoe-Truckee area. The bikes are thoroughly cleaned after each ride. The chains and transmission look brand new. Their prices are as good if not better - considering the quality of the bikes - than anyone in the region. These are not street cruisers. These are excellent mountain bikes that make the ride more enjoyable. If you want a great deal on a well maintained used bike, you can purchase the rentals at the end of the season. (I have personally done this and saved a lot of money on a high end mountain bike!)
4. Finally the Tunnel Creek Cafe provides beer and great eats at the end of your ride!!
This is the second year that I have done the Flume Trail. Both times we started from Spooner summit at the parking lot. Last year we did an out and back. This year we went out and then turned right and looped up to the top of Marlette Peak. That is an incredible view.
There is some steep climbing so get a little advice from the locals as to whether you are up for the adventure.
You are looking down on Marlette Lake below you...and below that it Lake Tahoe. Truly incredible.
First of all, I have to admit, there’s was once I told my husband, “what have you gotten me into!?!” That being said, I am glad I biked the trail but the e-bike was a lifesaver for me. I’m close to 50 and don’t exercise much. My husband and 2 teenage sons rented a regular bike and walked their bike most of the way up. I’ll be honest, the 4 miles up is rough. With an e-bike, it didn’t get tiring til last mile up which is steepest. Then there’s a short downhill ride before it gets flat. Beautiful scenery and lots of places to stop. It was a little dicey at times for me riding on a narrow path along mountain. But the scariest was the downhill last 3 miles. There was one time my husband had stopped and I couldn’t stop because I was going so fast. Thought I’d run into him but thank goodness I didn’t. I was pretty terrified most of way down because hard not to go so fast. My husband and sons loved it. That said, I’m glad I did it. Was awesome but I’ve checked it off my list.
Reserved bikes on the internet where you can select bikes and timeframes. Once we get there (2pm as stated on their confirmation) first we get an interogation: what shape are you in, how old are the kids etc. Then he mentions that we're too late because of the length of the trail, that it's too hot, that it's too steep for us (tri-athlete and marathonrunners...) and that we should have arrived at 1.30pm latest. When I point out his own website and his confirmation email, I get the response that that's just their reservation system and that I should have called. WHY do you have a website then with reservation sytem??? And make it clear on your website that one should arrive before a certain time. It was clear that he obviously didn't feel like waiting for us until 6pm since we were the last customers. Thanks for letting us drive two hours for nothing. Lousy communication and no excuses.
Take the shuttle service from the bike rental at the end of the trail. Enjoy wonderful views over lake tahoe. End with a snack and a mango smoothie at the bike rental place and then go take a swim. The ride takes about 3.5 hours and is by no means hard.
...Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life"
..That's exactly what riding the Flume trail feels about: A complete state of optimal experience.
Some advice: bring your own downhill or trail bike or rent one at Flume Trail Bikes in Incline Village. Take their shuttle, they run it daily every hour during the summer months (starting at 8:30AM). Their service is great. Be prepared for a grinding climb and some suffering for the first 4 miles on North Canyon trail (which is really a jeep road) till you reach Marlette Lake. It get really steep right before you reach the lake. From there you will border the lake from the West and once you reach the North end is all great views of Lake Tahoe on narrow and easy (sweat) single track on Flume trail. There are sections with large bolder walls on your right and exposure on the left side of the trial. Unless you have great bike handling skills expect to walk some sections where the trail narrows. Also don’t look down if you have vertigo. It’s not really dangerous but be careful. Once you reach Tunnel Creek trail you will get hiker traffic as the trail widens to a jeep road. Definitely worth the experience.
Nice, and quasi challenging trail because of the altitude. The views and fall colors were amazing. Recommend, 10/10.
Our party of six (ages 55-67) rode the Flume Trail Shuttle to get to the start of the Flume trail and had a wonderful day enjoying spectacular views of Lake Tahoe. Purchased tickets online and caught the shuttle at the scheduled time. Driver was friendly and gave us a few navigation tips at the drop-off. The views from the Flume trail are spectacular. There is quite a bit of exposure in several spots (if you slipped off the left side of trail you would be seriously injured or killed) so would not recommed for beginner mtn. bikers or children. There is also a four mile climb from the drop-off point so riders should be in reasonable shape. Recommned downloading the TrailForks app prior to the ride.
We enjoyed the Flume ride so much that we also did the Tahoe Rim and the Tahoe Rim/Flume Trail rides. All spectacular rides. Beautiful flowy trails through large granite bolders with views of Lake Tahoe and to the east.
My only suggestion would be for Flume Trail Bikes to improve the navigation on its web site. Depending upon where you land on the site it can be quite difficult to find descriptions of the routes. If you land anywhere on the site except the gateway page look in the footer for a link labeled "Trail info."
My husband and I were in Incline Village for a weekend wedding. After spending one full day driving all the way around the lake (not as fabulous a trip as the visitor center promised), we decided to do something more, well, out-doorsy. We are both 50+, above average fitness, but not experienced mountain bikers. Thought the Flume Trail would be a fun trip. Oh my goodness! Not sure if "fun" is the right word!
Rented awesome bikes at Flume Trail Bikes (thank you Specialized for shock absorbers, hydraulic brakes, and light weight frames) and took the shuttle to Spooner Lake. The driver recommended walking for the "tough part", but the other riders looked pretty confident and experienced as they took off up the trail. The first mile is fine, wide gravel road, gradually uphill. Off to an encouraging start.
Phase 1: Straight up hill -- or at least that's how it felt to me. 3 miles pushing my bike, Magoo, along. It wasn't so much physically exhausting as it was hard to catch my breath. I just reminded myself how high up we were and paused often, very often, surprisingly often. I really wasn't having much fun at this point but I knew we would crest eventually. There's some shade, but thankfully it wasn't too hot that day.
Phase 2: Marlette Lake. What a gift at the top of the climb. Take time to enjoy the cool water and peaceful surroundings. You earned it.
Phase 3: Several miles of the most beautiful and freaky riding I've ever done. No chance to take in the view -- but I could see it from my peripheral vision. Couldn't chat with hubby either as the ride took total concentration. Had to ignore an itch on my face for fear of taking a hand off the handlebars. Some reviews have described this trail as wide, but to me it was just big enough for my own bike. Sandy, gravely, and a little rocky makes for a thrilling experience. A wonderful personal accomplishment. This is not a ride for acrophobics.
Phase 4: Into the woods and down the mountain. I could relax a little as the trail widened and we were no longer perched on the edge of the mountain. Really fun ride from here to the parking lot at Flume Trail Bikes.
I'm so glad we did this and so glad I didn't watch youtube ahead of time. Be sure to take about a liter of water. You won't have time to drink it once you start on the mountain trail, but you'll want it on the uphill climb at the start. They suggest the ride takes 2-2.5 hours. We took over 3.
My Husband and I decided to do this based on a positive review in the tourism magazine we found in our hotel room. We had no idea our little "bike ride" would be that challenging. I'd consider myself a novice mountain biker, even though I frequently ride my bike around town. All reviews are accurate that the first 1/3 is quite difficult. It completely baffled me how ANYONE could ride their bike up the sandy steeply inclined trails whilst I stood there gasping trying to catch my breath.
I consider my-self relatively fit. Certainly better than the average Midwesterner, with perhaps extra weight of 10-15 lbs from my personal IDEAL goal - even though my doctor says I'm within the range of "normal" and certainly not obese or fat. I found myself needing to push my rented bike for about 50 - 70% of the incline up, and stopping frequently to catch my breath. I didn't want to fatigue my body and hate myself for the downhill fun, nor pre-exhaust my muscles which would possibly leave me in a vulnerable physical state.
I found myself thinking during the first 1/3 of the trail that this is more like a hike with your bike, than a bike ride and that this definitely did not fall into my definition of "fun". I seriously considered quitting and turning around, had it not been for my husband patiently cheering me on. But once we made it to the posted map just before the lake it became MUCH more enjoyable. Several people were resting there, not looking very happy themselves. We spoke with a few athlete types on the trail who said perhaps we had not yet adjusted to the altitude which made it harder for us. This made me feel much better and less like a cream-puff and more like a cupcake!
The flume part of the trail was quite beautiful and in my opinion very scary. So scary, I found myself wanting it to be over about a mile before we got to the Hwy 28 junction sign. We walked our bikes anytime we were a bit unsure of what to do with the particularly narrow, or rocky, or sandy sections. I would not recommend this to anyone who is afraid of heights, or traveling with children. While it was statistically not likely that either of us would face injury or death, it certainly was a very REAL possibility, which left me concentrating much more on the trail and objects in front of my bike, than on the lovely and absolutely marvelous view! Because of the difficulty of the first 1/3 and the increasingly overwhelming fear of injury, which kept me from enjoying myself, I gave this a “very good” rating. If I were to do this again, I would have gladly hiked it. And it seems anyone could do that with plenty of time for rest and pictures within about 4 1/2 hours. I would not recommend doing this alone for the very real possibility of injury.
If you are the type of person who is an adrenalin junkie, or just doesn't get enough dopamine, you will love this trail. As for me, I think I'd rather just hike it next time.
Breath taking views. The ride from Spooner to Marlette Lake was very strenous (great to burn off major fat) but well worth it. Took a shuttle for $12.50/person back to Spooner. The rest of the trails are maybe more fabulous but COMPLETELY unmarked so we got lost all the time. Nonetheless amazing views
Amazing view from this trail! Lots of exposure riding the mountain bikes. Steep climb to get to the flat exposed part of the trail. Not great for ppl with a fear of heights. And not a beginner trail because of the exposure, the climbing and the elevation.
Totally worth it to take a shuttle and ride back to Tunnel Creek Cafe for lunch. Best turkey sandwich I've ever eaten 😋
Good bikes, well organised, friendly staff. Highly recommend!! Awesome views of Lake Tahoe. Great day out.
This is a really great ride. A challenge for the final part of the four mile climb at the beginning, but well worth it. Gorgeous views, not technical riding and very exhilarating. The final part of the downhill back to the bike shop can be a little hard on the hands since you are riding the brakes the whole way as you slip and slide through some of the sand - kind of like surfing or fishtailing on the ice. Can't wait to do it again..
Writing this review as I sit in the hospital in Reno. My wife and I heard and read all the great reviews mentioned and agree for the most part. We were told this was an easy ride. We are not experienced mountain bikers and don't want to discourage anyone like us from this experience, but be careful. We made it through OK until the last 1/4 of the ride that is very sandy and have to ride your brakes constantly. My wife took a spill that broke her back, jaw, and finger. I rated the value low because this ride turned into a very expensive one! Still recommend the experience but do so carefully. Good idea to have plenty of water and a first aid pack.
I managed to find a nearby place to park where I could walk to the bottom of TUNNEL CREEK road. The road is about 2 1/2 miles - going up. Even though places are sandy or have loose dirt, that is never a problem when you are hiking!. I thought that this hike was scenic and rather easy by my standards (I'm 70 years old). Once you are up at the level of the FLUME TRAIL, then it's a short walk through the woods to where the actual trail starts. The scenery above SAND HARBOR was magnificent!! I hiked most of the narrow stretch that runs along the top of the cliffs, and then returned the same way I came, hiking down Tunnel Creek road.
My only advice would be- watch for bikes, although I never saw one on the day I was up there. I did this hike in September after the kids were back in school and all the tourist traffic is gone, You would have a problem with finding parking during tourist season unless you got up to the area at 7am.
If you have a fear of heights this will probably not be for you, since the trail is narrow and is right along the top of cliffs that drop straight down several hundred feet.
If you can't do one sport- try a different one!! Thus, hiking The FLUME TRAIL was a perfect solution for me, to replace the brutal biking needed to even get to THE FLUME from Spooner Lake State Park.
Some brave souls bike this trail, I hiked it one-way, with a car shuttle with a friend. There are outfitters who shuttle bikers, and I imagine they would shuttle hikers as well. The trail clings to the side of steep drop-off in some places which could be disconcerting if you are afraid of heights. But it is rightly known as one of the most beautiful trails in the area.
We do the ride every year. Love the shuttle and bike rental service though now as we are coming from New Jersey. Very easy to set up the reservation and shuttle over to Spooner. Bathrooms and a cafe next to the shop. The bikes are always good quality. The hill is really hard and a test of fitness but that is only the first 4 miles and the next 10 are gorgeous. Technical and don't do it if you are afraid of heights!
Oh yes, everyone (including me) is doing this ride the wrong way, unless of course punishment is part of the goal. For some people it is, but for me I just wanted a great ride with spectacular scenery. I'm in reasonably good bike-riding shape, but this was literally my second single-track mountain biking experience, so that's the perspective I'm writing from. I'll say more later about the secret way to avoid the brutal climb.
For now let me just say that this may be the most spectacular ride you'll ever do. The ride delivers scenery in spades, and just enough steep dropoffs to make you feel like you're living dangerously.
Most people do the 14-mile version of this ride starting at Spooner Lake, past Marlette Lake, on through the Flume itself, and down Tunnel Creek Rd, after which they get a shuttle back to Spooner Lake. That's the shortest route, but the first part involves a brutal 4-mile, 1000 ft climb which no one seems to enjoy. Not technical enough for the experienced riders, too punishing for everyone else, and not that particularly scenic.
I decided to do it differently and start at Tahoe Meadows via shuttle from Tunnel Creek Cafe. Wise move. This extends the ride to 25 miles (no big deal on a bike), but it's less climbing in terms of both the amount of miles you climb and the elevation gain. And depending on how you structure it, maybe virtually no climb at all!
The first 9.5 miles of this track is mostly downhill, some shade, and some good scenery opening up later in the track. So you start with a very pleasant ride instead of exhausting yourself with a nasty slog uphill. There's some jumping over rocks, but really not enough to challenge hardcore mountain bikers. For cautious newbies like me, you just have to get off your bike in a few places.
Then you come to a 4-way intersection, and it's decision time. You can go around the right side of Marlette Lake via the Flume itself, then go back the same way and down Tunnel Creek Road. Basically you do the Flume twice.
I wanted different scenery the whole way, so I chose the other fork -go around Marlette Lake via Tahoe Rim trail and then do the Flume. You wind up at the same spot on the far end of Lake Marlette, but this way involves a good slog uphill. Not as bad as the Spooner Lake slog, and not as long, but still tough. At the top you're rewarded with a spectacular view of Lake Marlette, and then it's all downhill past fields of wildflowers and Lake Views.
Then on to serene Lake Marlette, and save the best almost for last- the Flume, followed by a crazy fun 3-mile tear down Tunnel Creek Road.
In hindsight, I would've gone Flume Trail out and back at the intersection. The Flume trail itself is almost flat and not very technical, and the views are good enough to do it twice and see the scenery from a different angle. Kind of glad I took Tahoe Rim Trail to the lookout, but I wouldn't do that again.
You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to do any version of this ride, but know what you're getting into and be prepared.
-Have a GOOD mountain bike. Full suspension. The bike I rented at Flume Trail Bikes made me thankful that I left my department-store "mountain bike" at home.
-Hydrate like mad. Bring twice as much water as you think you'll need. This is not the ride to do nursing a hangover on 4 hours of sleep.
-Don't be too proud to walk your bike if it's too steep or too sketch. Some can do the 25-mile ride I did in 3 hours. I took me over 5. I lingered. I took lots of pictures. But most importantly I didn't do a cartwheel over the handlebars.
-Study your options and know which days are available for which route. For example, the Tahoe Rim Trail is only open to bikes on even days.
With the route I chose, extremely fit, experienced mountain bikers will be entertained, if not particularly challenged. Reasonably fit beginners like myself will find it a brutal but spectacular ride that you'll want to tell all your friends about. And people who are either not fit or unprepared really shouldn't be doing this.
It was super crowded, and I think the local bike shops advertise this trail WAY too much for beginners. We came across a girl that had fallen off the side of the steep trail and had to help her back out. Lots of exposure. Great views, but not my favorite trail.... There are other trails that I think are way more fun and less crowded.
I rode the flume trail after renting a bike from flume trail bikes and getting a shuttle ride from them as well. I also rented a helmet (included in the price). They were fantastic and made the ride possible. Everything is thought of, from the time you rent your bike until you are back at their store to drop it off.
As far as the ride goes it is extremely scenic on the flume trail and the main draw is the views. There is a 4 mile climb on fireroads to get up to it, 4 miles on the flume trail, and 4 miles of fire road descent. The Flume trail itself is a nice cross country trail that is fairly easy but next to a cliff edge. If you are looking for a great views, but not the most technical ride, this is for you.
If you're in Tahoe - ride this trail. It's a bit of a challenge at the beginning, if you take the shuttle from Flume bikes, but the rest of the trail is wonderful. Not technical, single track with amazing views.
Max at the bike shop is the real deal.
First there's alot of good rides in tahoe, so I would
make sure you know what you r doing before you attempt. My first flume experince turned into an epic.
anyway here's the ride. Your going to up hill for 4 miles, by the way your at elevation, you will go around the lake an enter the flume trail. You might want to walk some of the trails sections.(especially if a sign ask you to).yea baiscly flat and twisty, with the best view of the lake Tahoe you will ever see , next its downhill, can be sandy beware, s
First, if you are not in fantastic-mountain-bike-shape and do not have a GREAT mountain bike, pop the $$ for a bike rental nearby that has an adjustable seat and appropriate gearing for uphill, some sandy parts and a fast downhill. Just. Do. It.
Second, you are in altitude (7,000-8,000 feet) and you will be going UP if you access this trail via Spooner Lake parking lot or the Incline Village side - UP for 4-5 miles and like 1,000 feet! DRINK plenty of good-for-you fluids BEFORE, during and after! Small camel-backs need an extra bottle handy. I had minimal mtn bike experience but a good amount of road riding and I was able to do it but had to get off and push the bike a few times - it was worth it!
Third, this is a SINGLE track with STUNNING views so bring your photo-taking apparatus. If you are going to stop for a photo, make sure you stop somewhere wider on the trail so others can pass easily. You are SHARING this trail with hikers-- some with dogs who have NO idea that you are clipped in to your pedals -- keep an eye out for them in advance so you are not taken off-guard and go sliding down the cliff.
Fourth, make it your own journey. If you want to stop at the half-way, eat a sandwich that you bring with you (and do NOT leave any trash behind) and head back you will still have had a wonderful views and a challenging ride!
Can't beat this ride which takes you along the flume trail. It's sits above the lake a couple thousand feet. Looking down while riding along is amazing. So many variations in blues within the waters below. Not difficult and something you have to do if you have mountain bikes.
We (family of five) walked from Tunnel Creek cafe parking lot for about 45 minutes. Beautiful views of Lake Tahoe especially from the rocks. Not sure how much of the actual Flume Trail we walked but nonetheless it was a beautiful (and yes uphill, somewhat strenuous) walk.
One of the most beautiful mountain biking experiences bar none. Do it now. The sites were amazing. The first four miles to get to the trail required a 1100 foot vertical but he remaining trail was horizontal for nine miles. The last three miles was a 3000' descent overlooking the lake.
Its a wonderful ride, and the views are just amazing. Its is described as moderate ride, so we took our two 11 year old kids with Us.
The first part of the ride is a 4 mile uphill to lake marlette. I would describe it as moderate to step uphill. We saw plenty of fit bikers pushing their bikes, in special the last mile. Needless to say, we pushed ours (and our kids) most of the way up.
After that the road gives you a nice .8 miles downhill, that is not difficult at all. It ends at the lake, so you can spend some time relaxing there.
The road continues to the flume trail which is a 4 mile flat trail. There is were we felt worried about our kids. the ride itself is not difficult, but with the amazing views, it also has amazing cliffs, right next to the bike path, which is a few feet wide and sandy. i can definetly see a mistake been very costly. We asked our kids to walk sections of that trail, just to feel better.
At the end, there is a 3 mile downhill, which is very sandy, was a good practice for the kids to keep control of the bikes.
Because of all the walking it tooks us a long time, so give yourself plenty of time if you think you will need it. You do not want to miss the ride back. Take also plenty of water. At least 2 liters or more per rider.
With
Fabulous scenic bike ride. Start with a van ride from Flume Trail Bikes. Either bring your own or rent from them. They drop you at Spooner Lake to start the ride. First 4 miles are tough rising over 1,000 feet in elevation. I had to walk probably close to 1 mile. After that it was amazing. Circle around Marlette Lake and then the flume trail is carved out of the mountainside with amazing views overlooking lake Tahoe 2,000 feet below. Take your time, enjoy the scenery and bring a lunch. Roughly 2.5 hours in duration. If you are not in shape the first 4 miles will be a real challenge
Stunning ride, technical easy with a bit of sand + certain death cliff edge to keep you focused.
The initial hill climb is no fun, but the reward after it is well worth it! Unbelievable views and a fun trail ride!
Did this ride again this last weekend (8/16/15). I have been doing this ride since 1987.
It's the most scenic Mtn bike ride at Tahoe with killer views from the Flume trail. I take the shuttle from Tunnel Creek to Tahoe Meadows. Then 9 miles of killer single track on the TRT. Then the Flume trail out & back & then back down to Tunnel Creek. Its much easier with modern Mtn bike technology. When I first did it in 1987 it was on a Novara Ponderosa, with a rigid frame & steel fork. I'll do this annually until I can't ride anymore.
We followed the trail to the top to enjoy such amazing views and see Monkey Rock!
Start on the paved road area behind Tunnels Cafe, it will become gravel. Great for all mid to moderate hikers, dogs and bikes. The trail splits and the left is a steep shortcut, or you can stay on the main trail and loop around to the rocks.
Not a good trail for strollers, wagons or wheelchairs.
Totally worth the time out and back. We did it in just under 2 hrs. Views to die for of the Lake Tahoe area!
The view was spectacular as you hike along the trial. It took us about 3 hours in and 3 hours out to go 5-6 miles. It was so beautiful and in September the trail was quiet.
I could probably ride this trail on a 3spd beach cruiser. It's not technical. It is at least 15 miles of riding, can be more depending on detours. There is a long stretch of uphill at the beginning of the trail and some sandy downhill that requires some attention. I'm sure that many folks choose to walk their bikes for at least part of the uphill.
It *is* amazing. The views of Lake Tahoe are splendid.
I will ride it again, with pleasure.
I did this mountain bike ride and the climb is insane! Well worth it though, beautiful views and a fun downhill down the backside!
The Flume Trail is a must for mountain bikers who love beautiful scenery. The trail is well maintained and not too difficult. When you get to the part that follows the rim the trail is a bit thin at places but the view... just stunning. You are overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes in the world... Lake Tahoe. Go for it!
The bikes we hired were great and we used the shuttle to be dropped off at the TRT. Even days only for this part. Excellent riding over to join the Flume. Stunning views. Total 25mile ride. Well deserved craft beer at the cafe.
This is a 12.8 mile hike with about 4.5 miles uphill in the beginning and it is pretty intense. However after getting past the uphill, the flume trail has extremely satisfying scenes. Highly recommend to spare a day for this hike. You’ll be completely exhausted at the end of the day after doing this trail. It is very very beautiful and extremely rewarding. Shout out to the staff, they are extremely friendly and are always ready to help!!
This is an amazing ride, but not for the faint of heart or out of shape. I've ridden it at least six times. We two 70 year olds doubled the average age. Everyone except the fanatics walk their bikes on the steeps and narrows. The scary parts are where the upside cliff brushes your shoulder to push you off the 18 inch track down the lower cliff. Takes a good 4 hrs to really enjoy it. Photos are amazing. Trust your momentum and the inherent stability of you bike. Do not try to stop once you are on a narrow stretch, stop before. If you fall off yor bike you are toast. Trail is well maintained; you don't have to carry your bikes across the rock slides anymore and the rickety cantalevered grates are gone. Still can't believe my wife rode this trail. There is an early steep and a late steep where most walk their bikes. You start at 7,000 ft and top of the pass is 8,050. Ride down has many stretches of sand. Be very careful going down. The bike rentals and shuttle are excellent.
We took the hiking trail up to Marlette Lake and it was gorgeous. If you happen to hike here in the Fall you can enjoy the gorgeous foliage of the Aspens. (see photo.)
The hike is mainly uphill to Marlette Lake and is about 5 miles that's 10 miles - 15 km round trip from the parking lot The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow, but it is a moderate hike since it is uphill and in high altitude. Definitely worth the effort. The trail is beautiful and the reward of arriving at this clear, mountain lake is your reward.
The trail begins at the lower parking lot at Spooner Lake State Park. Charge for car entrance to the park is $5 or $6.
We hired bikes from Flume trail bikes at the start of the pick up trail. They are knowledgable and make sure you have all you need. They then drop you and your bikes at the start of the actual trail. It is everything everyone tells you - beautiful, exhilarating, rewarding and punishing! The first half mile is misleading and make sure you follow signs carefully but it's pretty flat. Soon after it picks up to a 4 mile ascent. We were warned that its steep particularly the last mile...... The first couple of miles are uphill and we saw a lot of people walking and pushing. The third mile is very hard work in heat, then you reach the last mile of the uphill - be prepared to think you may pass out or simply lie down! It's really very steep. To put it in perspective we are both fit and had been running and hiking for the past 10 days and my husband is a cyclist at home. However it's very steep, think even hard to push a bike up it and hot in July and I gave up with half a mile to go!! Once you've conquered that it's beautiful with amazing views and relatively easy until a downhill section at the end. That said there are some steep drop offs on your side frequently. We'd heard people say it was tame for Tahoe but if you're not used to it - it can be daunting We wouldn't recommend taking kids on it as one family were about to when we returned. At times the track is shoulder width wide with steep rocky drops. Overall a very cool thing to do that left us with great pictures and sore quads!! Highly recommended with half a mile to go and walked
Everything was just nice and easy, the little cafe next to the place made a wonderful breakfast and a perfect coffee.
Bike rental was easy and hassle free... and the trip was just so beautiful, full of wonderful views so please give yourself time to enjoy the ride, highly recommended!
Unless you are driving up to Tahoe, do not bring a bike, just rent one at Spooner summit or any of the other rental outlets---of which there are many. Heading north, expect a very steep climb up to the Flume Trail then right past the lake, it becomes a single track on the edge of a cliff for about 5 miles. Incredible scenery. Be sure to bring a tire repair kit, water, and some food. The trip will take about 4 to 5 hours depending on what shape you are in. If you are a beginner, don't do this trail, if you are out of shape do not do this trail, if you are from a low elevation---get prepared for the altitude. Use caution on the trial returning back down to route 28----it is sandy and you could easily take a spill. This is one of the most rewarding mountain biking trips I have ever done in my life.
We highly recommend this Mtn. bike trail for the intermediate to advanced rider. The views were unbeatable and the terrain was challenging enough to keep the crowds away. Start at Spooner Lake and ride the North Canyon trail to Marlette Lake, continue around into the Flume Trail and finish at Tunnel Creek. Take snacks and plenty of water. Arrange for the shuttle to pick you up and take you back to your car. Good luck keeping your eyes in the trail, this ride is awesome!
My friends and I did not hike the entire trail, but we started at the Incline side and hike almost 5 miles in. One friend has a bad hip and knee but was able to move at a pretty decent pace, so that tells you it is not super strenuous. The climb features a fairly wide, smooth trail. After about 3.5 miles you reach the ridgeline (at about 7,700 feet elevation) and the single-track trail, which again has very nice footing. The views are simply stunning on the way up and at the top!
My husband rented a mountain bike & rode this trail while I had a business workshop. He thought it was so great we should go back. We hiked it rather than do another bike rental ( I should mention it was $60.00 to rent for one day- more expensive than our weekend car rental).
Wow! It was such a great day. Please know that while everyone shows the great pics once they get to the flume trail, it took us 2 hours of uphill hiking to get there. From central Oklahoma so I thought about flinging myself off the hill at some points. So just keep on & the views are well worth it! Oh, and its all downhill from there!
We're also convinced that there's something in the water there because everyone is so upbeat & positive!
I seriously regret not renting an e-bike for the Flume Trail ride. (I rented a mountain bike from Flume Trail Bikes, but it was not motorized). I mistakenly thought slogging through the initial four-mile incline (from where the bike shop shuttle dropped us off) was what most folks did. Rookie error. I'm not young, but I'm very active and in shape. I didn't expect to see folks ten, 20 and 30+ years younger than me sailing by on e-bikes. An e-bike would have made the ride way more pleasurable, and I wish I was better informed when I made my selection.
We ended up turning back about five miles into the ride as the experience was more treacherous than we expected. As a previous reviewer wrote, this trail is not for beginners.
Shuttle service is very reliable, we got great and well maintained bikes. Ride requires initially a good climb, partially on sand. Gets hot around noon, but is well worth the effort. Once being up with a few exceptions it gets only back down to the lake. Views are gorgeous. Trail is pretty easy, was totally ok with my son of 11 years. Took us about 3h. Probably one of the most scenic bike rides in the world.
Four of us 50-something, reasonably fit adults had an amazing ride today from Spooner Lake back to Tunnel Creek Road along Marlette Lake and the spectacular Flume Trail thanks to Flume Trail Bikes. Reading previous reviews, we were excited for the ride but nervous about the first four uphill miles, which we had heard were so steep that most riders have to walk their bikes up the hills. When we arrived we talked to the guys at Flume Trail Bikes about trying the electric version of their high-end mountain bikes and decided we would try them today. What a great decision!!! The e-Bikes are fabulous!! You still pedal the bikes and get a great workout but have some electric assistance when pedaling that makes the steepest hills totally do-able. The rest of the ride was relatively flat, and while narrow and rocky in some parts, was well worth the effort to get the fantastic views of the lake, Sand Harbor and other memorable spots. Not a ride for beginners or those with fear of heights and narrow trails, but with the e-bikes, nearly anyone can make it successfully. Thanks Flume Trail Bikes!
We were recommended Flume Trail Mountain Bikes by a local of IV. Their website was very informative, and provided a detail description of what to expect of the Flume Trail. We made a reservation for our bikes (recommended especially on the wknd) and showed up about 30 minutes before the shuttle. We were helped by so many people, everyone was nice and explained eveyrthing in detail and were happy to answer questions. We felt super comfortable with the whole process and got excited for the ride. We took their shuttle to Spooner Lake, then started the 14 mile ride. They were not joking when they said the first 4 miles were uphill and hard. Being in good shape, i didnt expect it to be tough, but it was. it was worth it as the 10 miles that followed were straight or downhill. the views were incredible and we found ourselves stopping often to take pics. I was surprised not to see a ton of people, especially it being a saturday, until about the last 2 miles we began seeing more hikers. I highly recommend this trail, and also renting from Flume Mountain Bikes. When we got back to the rental area, we were asked by numerous people who had helped us earlier if we had fun and what we thought of the trail, etc. which made it even more personal to have them remember us. :) will definitely be coming back.
I reluctantly accepted the recommendation to hike this 12.9-mile trail. So glad I did.
I had nothing to fear. The going was easy, the trail mostly wide and level and clear. The views of the mountains and of Lake Tahoe below, which you see for at least half of the hike, are outstanding. We stopped for a quick dip in Lake Marlette along the way. Refreshing. I never get tired of the Sierra Nevada terrain, geology, and flora. We also encountered a beautiful, healthy looking black bear grazing for berries. He was a bit startled and lumbered away from us. But what a treat to see!
The author of our guidebook writes that in his opinion, this is one of the best and prettiest hikes on earth, including the alps and Himalayas. I haven't been to those places, but I can believe him. It is epic in the vast distances and tremendous natural beauty you can see from almost every foot of this hike.
The path north from Lake Marlette follows the old logging flume, and some old metal and woodworks from the old flume can still be seen (and touched) along the route. The route is shared by hikers and bikers. Most bikers use pretty good etiquette, but a few still can't seem to announce their approach, so be sure you have your ears open and glance over your shoulder for oncoming traffic on occasion!! I guess you could pin a yellow triangle to your back?
Carry plenty of water. The lake, at about midpoint, was the only place we saw to get water should you need more. The dry air and altitude will get to those accustomed to lower and more humid locations. The South end is very easy to get to and park. The North end usually is, but they were doing washout road construction while we were there, so our pick up car could not get into the North end parking lot. The nice flaggers actually stopped the cars for us so we could jog down the road to our Ride!
October great time to do the mountain bike ride. Aspens changing colors, cool temperatures, and limited number of riders.
Do not do the flume trail if you’re a beginner. We were told by staff that “If you can ride around the car park you’ll be fine”, this is definitely not the case and the trail became quite dangerous. One of our group members had the most horrible time and hurt themselves quite badly and ended up pushing their bike almost the entire 14 miles! Extremely disappointing, and a major incident waiting to happen. The company really needs to reassess their OH&S
As part of my recent trip to North California I spent three night in North Lake Tahoe and whilst there took the opportunity to ride The Flume Trail, hired a bike from Flume Trail Bikes at Tunnel Creek, the bike was very well maintained and the staff helpful, took the shuttle to Spooner Lake where after a couple of minutes on the road we started the four mile fireroad climb, I consider myself reasonably fit riding a couple of times a week here in the UK, however I did struggle a bit towards the top of the climb with the altitude, once the climb is out of the way there is a good quick downhill section to Marlette Lake, once past the dam The Flume Trail proper starts the views of the lake are incredible, having said that anyone who is nervous of heights may want to think again as a false move could be disastrous, the final downhill back to Tunnel Creek is superb just need to be aware of a few sandy sections which could catch you out, overall the ride was awesome which could easily be extended if you have the time and stamina.
Would highly recommend
The bike rental shop and cafe at the base of the Flume Trail exceeded my expectations many times over. Its called Flume Trail Mountain Biking.
Amazing food. Great service. Good mountain bikes. Thoughtful direction and advise.
It'd sure be nice to get this kind of feeling spending money other places.
Most of the trail is free to use. Mountain bike rentals for the best ones were $60/day. Shuttle services up the hill [which we didnt use] was $15. Food was a great value.
The trails are super-well maintained. The views are extraordinary. Someone who likes technical and climbing will love it. Less-experienced riders will do well with the shuttle ride up and the fire road down.
We picked up the trail just above the Tunnel Creek Cafe. It’s a bit steep for the first part, so if you are not in shape, it may be difficult. We are over 6o years old and hiked about 1.5 miles or so to Monkey Rock. The views were simply breathtaking! So worth the effort!
We rented e-bikes & took the shuttle provided by Flume Trail Bikes. Bike shop staff was super helpful in getting us set up, and we were there early for the shuttle we'd reserved so we had time to ride out and back on the East Shore Bike Path for a while before boarding the shuttle. The shuttle driver gave us the general overview of the route, which wasn't difficult to follow. Super fun ride, although the Flume Trail segment itself could definitely cause some anxiety if you're afraid of heights or are not all that confident on a bike. E-bikes made riding up the first 4 miles a blast rather than a slog. If I did this again, we'd bring some towels so we could take a dip in Marlette Lake at the top of the climb.
Gnarly fun! This ride is amazing , views around every corner, lots of varied terrain . The uphill section is hard , no sugar coating that. We were in a party with adults , teenagers and our 8 yr old son (I would not recommend this to other parents after completing the ride)
We decided to rent bikes and ride the trail. Our 15 year old daughter and 11 year old son joined. Thankfully it was the kids’ idea- they would have hated us if we came up with this. We took the 9:30 shuttle. The bike shop was really busy but worked fast to get everyone set up on a bike. The bikes were great. No complaints at all. We started out with confidence but quickly realized despite being physically fit, we are not bikers (unless spinning class counts😂). We ultimately walked our bikes through portions of miles 2-4 taking several breaks. Once we made it to mile 4 we couldn’t have been more excited. The next portion (miles 4-6) were easy and fun. At mile 6 there is a swimming hole and we wished we had suits to jump in. Several people were swimming. From there miles 6-10 are narrow. It’s pretty reasonable to ride (don’t let the first switchback of this section scare you- it’s rocky). There were a few areas that we had to walk through more narrow areas and one place where the signs told you to walk your bike due to falling rock potential. We are from GA and found the elevation to add a level of difficulty for us breathing climbing the hills (mountains). From mile 10-13.4 were wide again and all downhill. Super easy. My husband saw a large bear run across the trail at mile 11. We also saw tons of Monarch butterflies the whole way. Apparently they are migrating now. I would say if you are fit, looking for adventure and willing to take time and laugh- the views are absolutely incredible. Several of the most beautiful views ever as you wind around Lake Tahoe. I recommend going earlier for both temps and crowds. Wouldn’t take younger kids- we left our 9 year old boy with family and that was the right choice. I was nervous at times but never felt out of my league or unsafe. The locals describe it as a good beginner trail- I would say it is a great moderate trail🤷🏽♀️. We are happy we did it but completely wiped after finishing.
We walked this trail from the Mt. Rose Highway to the first good view of Lake Tahoe. Even though we got an early start on this short stretch, we met many mountain bikers and people walking their dogs. At frequent intervals we found bags of doggy-doo beside the trail. (I hope the owners were planning to remove the bags on their return trip, but I doubt it.) It was hard to imagine seeing much wildlife activity on the trail, but there seemed to be no prohibition against leaving the trail. A highlight of our outing was finding cougar tracks a few dozen feet uphill from the trail. They were certainly more interesting than the bags of doggy-doo.
The Flume Trail is a beautiful, classic Tahoe ride, but avoid renting from the shops near the Tunnel Creek Cafe if possible. Their shuttle service is convenient (and the shuttle driver is super friendly and helpful), but the bikes and poorly maintained and the employees there are not very customer service oriented. The bike I rented was not set up properly and lost its chain three times in the first two miles. Only about four of the bike’s gears were usable, making the initial climb impossible. The employees did not bother to adjust the fork to a lighter rider, so I had no suspension for the long downhill back to the shop. Ride the trail, but look elsewhere for your bikes.
Biked the flume trail from Spooner Lake Park to Incline Village, NV. What a ride it was, you will surely get a work out riding up to Marlette Lake. The views are like no other and it's worth the effort. Highly recommended for the tremendous beauty of it all.
We parked on the road near the Tunnel Creek Cafe and walked up to the trail. It was all up hill. We walked 3 miles uphill and 3 miles back. The view is gorgeous and the trail is beautiful too!
We were in search of a mountain bike ride and The Flume trail was mentioned to us by friends that rode The Flume in the past. What they seemed to have left out was the air sucking 4 miles you have to ride to get to the top of The Flume Trail. It is absolutely worth the sweat equity that is put into the ride! After backtracking 1 mile to see if we missed a turn we realized we just had to ride through and around a small area of water to get to the other side, of course...this is mountain biking! Once on The Flume (4 miles) you will get a breath taking view of Tahoe while hugging the side of a mountain! The last 4 is downhill all the way...easy of the breaks! This trail is a MUST for mountain bikers...hint (bring plenty of mosquito repellent during the Summer month)
There is not one review on this trail that really tells the truth of this trail..I went on this trail September 27th and the truth of the matter is that this trail is extremely difficult and for experienced riders only. it was a 5 hour trail ride and most of the time you have to walk your bikes uphill because the hills were so steep. Once you get to the Flume Trail you go over huge boulders and a tiny bridge to ride on the mountain overlooking lake tahoe. Although the views are spectacular as promised, you are riding a bike on a 6 foot wide trail that to the right of you is a mountain and to the left is the drop off the cliff. You are too busy wactching where you are going to really experience the view. I only reccommend this trail to highly experienced mountain bike downhill adreneline junkies, with full suspension mountain bikes. For me, I am just happy that I survived.
This trail is many, many miles long. We only hikes a few miles of it near incline Village. It was a bit of a climb but once you are up high the views are worth it. Very forested area with some wildlife. It was warm the day We hiked so we enjoyed the shade from the trees.
First things first; a hard tail will be fine, preferable even for this ride (because of the climb). Essentially, if you enjoy a bit of mountain biking, then the Flume Trail is great. To be fair, the cycling part is fun, but it’s a means to an end, which is the views. Nor is it particularly easy. The first four miles is a climb from 7000 ft to over 8000 ft and the gradient can be challenging in sections (although the path is wide and smooth, so the cycling suitable for anyone that can make the climb).
We hired bikes from Flume Trail Bikes (who run the shuttle) and they were good quality, well looked after machines. As easy solution. What would have made it a six-star experience would have been to be able to hire an electric mountain bike...
We timed our ride to perfection, arriving at Marlette Lake for a picnic lunch – you’ll need the break after the climb anyway. To do this, we had booked (from memory) a 10:00am shuttle, but it was late, so we started the ride around 11:00am and it took about 1.5hrs to do the climb at a leisurely pace (okay, so I mean the best we could manage). Marlette Lake was deserted and is simply stunning; a great place for lunch.
The descent from the far side of the lake starts with a very short section that some will find a challenge, but the obstacles can be easily walked. After that, it’s the six-mile long gentle slope of the old flume, with unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe. It’s easy going from here on it, although the path is narrow and the drop to the left is a little unnerving at times. None of us were particularly phased by this and unless you are really, REALLY nervous, I wouldn’t let it put you off; especially as you miss out on a unique way to see Tahoe.
The final section is a quick downhill blast on a wide path (you’re still quite high at the start), keeping an eye out for walkers. Remember to turn right at the junction on the path when you come to it (you’ll know it when you see it).
The total ride is some 14 miles (four mostly up, ten mostly down), including a detour onto the promontory on Lake Marlette. Enthusiastic riders will be able to do it inside a couple of hours. Overall, with stops, we took considerably longer, getting back mid-afternoon. Budget around four hours with stops for lunch and photos.
This is the perfect vacation bike ride, it's easy to rent bikes at trail head with nice people at Spooner lake, ride the trail then take their shuttle back to shop (google 'flume bike trail' for rental info). A dirt road climbs for 4 miles and goes around small lake, a trail descends the 'flume' for ~5 miles then a very sandy steep roadbed goes down to the shuttle pickup. I'm 50 year old intermediate biker (couple of 2 hour rides a week and the gym) and made it up the climb fine with a few stops. The scenery on the whole trip is good, on flume part of trail the views of the lake are awesome. The flume trail hugs side of mountain (it is an old flume bed once used as water source for Virginia City) but pretty buff and not very steep or difficult. You would fall a looong way if you fell off the trail but the chances are slim (the shuttle driver says he doesn't know of anyone that has taken this route but said injuries do occur going down the sandy road at the end). The only scary part for me was the 40 foot walk through the landslide area. If I did it again I would start at Spooner Lake and at end of the flume part of trail turn around and ride back to trail head. If you plan to do turn-around option get an early start in order to avoid the crowds on the trail. I think the bike rental shop is moving from Spooner to the end of the trail in July 2012.
We did not know that this trail was here until we asked at the Parkside Inn motel. We are glad we did. We were advised to have breakfast at the Tunnel Creek Café, which is at the start of the trail. We were glad because their breakfast was superb. But the trail is a must for anyone passing through in terms of enjoying great views of Lake Tahoe. There is a slight incline to get to where the trail levels off and becomes flat, but after that, it is completely flat. The trail is wide and adequate for hiking, running, or mountain biking. You can go any distance - google map for details.
This is a beautiful mountain bike ride through forest to a remote lake and then spectacular views of Lake Tahoe. But it is hard work. The first four miles my son and I walked our bikes about half the time because it was steep. But after that no problem.
We stopped a few times to take in the scenery, and it took 3.5 hours. Suggestions: bring 2 bottles of water per person, bike gloves if you have them, a few snacks, and your camera.
Hard to imagine anyplace with more scenic bike ride than this. The 1000 foot vertical ascent at the beginning makes the following few hours of flat, precarious riding feel earned. Well worth the money and we might even consider this ride again. If you're clumsy or afraid of heights, this is not the ride for you; there were a few locations where one wrong move would have you falling head first down the steep embankment, likely to your demise. It made it all the more thrilling to us. :)
Highly recommend to add to your bucket list. If you are in the area this is a must-do activity. We rented bikes from Max at Flume Trail Bikes in Incline Village. He shuttled us to Tahoe Meadows/Mt Rose Trailhead. We peddled about 14 miles on the Tahoe Rim Trail, then peddled around Marlette Lake and over to the stunning Flume Trail. Biked another 9 miles on the Flume Trail and back to the Flume Trail Bike shop. These are awesome single track trails with great scenery--so bring a camera. The Flume Trail is right along the edge-you must kept your eyes on the trail. The trails are rocky and sandy for the most part. A few good climbs but nothing too steep to ride. There were several sketchy rocky sections throughout that we walked around. Thin air nor high altitude was not an issue for any of us South Dakotans. We are a group of six fit 50-year olds that mountain bike regularly. It took us about 4.5 hours to peddle 23 miles. We got a late start otherwise it would have been nice to take a little more time an enjoy the views (had to get the bikes back by 5 pm). We each took 100 oz of water and 3 of the 6 ran out of water before we finished on a cool day.
The review by 'Carrieleigh1102' is a great review and pretty much nails it!
However, I feel I need to put down a few extras and detail my experience.
I used to do a lot of mountain biking in my 'pre - children' days. Mainly in the Lake District in the UK and round the Chilterns, close to where I live.
I've also been lucky enough to have done 2 summer mountain trips to Morzine.......and survive!
So, whilst staying in Lake Tahoe on vacation with my 23 yr old son, and looking for good 'father - son' things to do, he mentioned several times how he'd seen on you-tube films of this so called 'flume trail' and suggested we do it.......and I'm so glad he did.
We did not have our own bikes with us and due to time constraints decided to hire from the bike place near the cafe, which is the end of the trail. The bikes they hire out are pretty good and reasonably priced when compared to other Tahoe bike rental places.The bike rental staff were great and were not objective to swapping my brakes over to 'left for rear' and 'right for front'. If this is also your preference, make sure you get it done as you will have your natural braking reaction and if the brakes are wrong sided, it could turn out a bit of a mess.You do get a helmet with you rental, so, no worries in that department...........and you do need one!
Once you have your paperwork complete and a bike in your possession, you are then taken 14 miles south, with their minivan and trailer, and dropped off very close to spooner lake.
A short trek along the main road, by bike, then you're into the park entrance, where you pay your dosh and off you go.
As mentioned by several other reviewers, you then start the 1000', 4 mile climb. The thing to bear in mind is, you're already 6000' plus above sea level and about to climb another 1000', so, don't be surprised if you find this a struggle! Mile 4 of the 4 mile climb was definitley the steepest/hardest.It was a sandy/loose surface from what I remember.
Then, you have a gentle roll down to a beautiful lake. Once here you can't help but take in the beauty and serenity of the place. The lake looks like a mirror! If you're in no rush, take time to put your bike down and dip your feet in the lake.........it's an ideal lunch spot.
Then comes the flat ride ride by the lake until you come to the end of that lake and then the path veers off and it's time to swith on your 'Go-Pro'! The gentle lake side ride ends and the fun starts now!!! Not long after you've started the descent you'll get some amazing views of Lake Tahoe. The narrow track winds its way down with a steep drop on your left, which you can't help yourself looking towards due to it's amazing scenic view.
It's a narrow, winding, dusty track with hardly anywhere to pass. You do eventually get to a part where you are advised to dismount your bike. This is your call, but, we didnt find it necessary really - there's a couple of tight spots and its a tad loose on the surface.............but, thats all.
You'll find yourself stopping and taking loads of pictures fairly regularly - and so you should! The views from this trail are truly amazing!
Parts of the trail feel a bit woodlandy...........when you get to these parts you'll start the final descent on a wide, loose trail which is as fast as you want to get............this is where the brakes start to get HOT!
Finally, you end up back where you began............at the cafe/bike rental area.
Time to reflect on what you've just done ........and chances are you'll be saying 'I'd love to do that again'.
To sum up, this is not the most technically challenging ride you'll ever do, but, great fun and some of the most amazing scenery!
We did the ride on a very sunny day with a gorgeous blue sky.............which rewarded us with amazing pictures.
If you do this ride, allow plenty of time, so as not to rush it. Depending on how much 'chill out' time you want, allow 3 to 5hrs.
If/when I return to Tahoe, I'd love to do it agin.
What was amazing was, whilst flying home to the UK, we flew over Tahoe and I could easily make out Marlette lake.....and I think the trail......and it put a smile on my face.
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We've done this ride with our two teenagers (14 and 15) for the past two summers. Although it is expensive to rent high quality mountain bikes at the trailhead (about $200 for our family of four) it is worth every penny. The first few milesof the trail are a steep uphill. ( I walked part of the way and enjoyed the scenery.) Most of the rest of the ride is either relatively flat or downhill and not difficult. The views of Lake Tahoe are absolutely spectacular. Take a picnic lunch and spend some time at Marlette Lake--at this point you've completed the difficult part of the ride so don't feel compelled to hurry.