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Tahoe Rim Trail -> Flume Trail (TRT Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe Meadows Flume Trail The Flume Mariette Lake)

Mountain Biking Trail

Moderate
23.84 mi
1,889 ft
An epic combination of two of Tahoe's most iconic trails.

The Flume Trail began life as the grade for a water flume that delivered lumber from high in the mountains above Lake Tahoe to the towns far below. Nowadays, the remnants of the Flume are still visible, but the old flume bed is instead utilized by mountain bikers and hikers.

This relatively non-technical trail offers incredible views of Lake Tahoe—one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere—from high on the mountainside. Despite it's non-technical nature, this trail is extremely exposed. "One slip will be your sure death," writes Tyghe Trimble in Men's Journal.

While the classic route to access the Flume Trail begins at Spooner Lake and climbs steeply up the Flume grade, a much more interesting route combination begins by riding miles and miles of one of the best sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail, beginning at Tahoe Meadows.

Rock slabs and rock gardens punctuate this section of the TRT, but overall the trail is still very intermediate-friendly... as long as you have the fitness for a few stiff, high elevation climbs. Riding the spine of the mountain range is a euphoric experience, with incredible views in all directions.

Those stiff climbs deliver up some ripping singletrack descending! Unfortunately, the singletrack downhill in this area is short-lived, with much of the elevation loss taking place on dirt roads.

Don't let that deter you, though. The Tahoe Rim Trail to Flume Trail combination is a must-ride for every mountain biker's bucket list.

Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

5 mi
6,500 ft7,000 ft7,500 ft8,000 ft8,500 ft0.0 mi2.0 mi4.0 mi6.0 mi8.0 mi10.0 mi12.0 mi14.0 mi16.0 mi18.0 mi20.0 mi22.0 mi

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Lot to Bridge Sprint0.67 mi-210 ft-5.7%
parking to technical turn6.42 mi-545 ft-1.1%
Mt Rose to Tunnel Creek Station23.82 mi-2,441 ft-1.9%
Rose TRT upper parking lot to Tunnel creek 8.22 mi-863 ft-1.6%
Mt Rose Hwy Climb1.05 mi358 ft6.4%
TRT - Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek7.58 mi-846 ft-1.3%
Tahoe Meadows to first viewpoint0.86 mi253 ft5.5%
Trt and the done dirt cheap6.17 mi-942 ft-2.7%
TRT - 431 to Tunnel Creek DH6.75 mi-919 ft-2.3%
Tahoe Meadows TRT (The good stuff)6.38 mi-876 ft-2.4%
the sandy back side0.81 mi-344 ft-8.0%
Switchback Climb from Top of Tunnel South2.19 mi764 ft6.1%
TRT - Tunnel Creek to Herlan Pk2.67 mi715 ft4.6%
Marlette Peak Climb2.71 mi722 ft4.4%
Top of Tunnel to Marlette6.42 mi-755 ft-0.2%
TRT Peak climb1.87 mi732 ft7.3%
Switch backs1.68 mi712 ft8.0%
Marlette Peak Climb (The Money Part, Anyway)2.82 mi768 ft4.9%
Marlette Peak Steep section1.88 mi748 ft7.3%
Marlette east side, Herlan Peak to Flume Trail5.30 mi-886 ft-2.5%
Overlooked0.60 mi72 ft0.7%
Marlette Peak to Campground DH0.93 mi-387 ft-7.7%
TRT/Marlette Lake DH3.06 mi-751 ft-4.5%
Marlette Lake Road descent1.64 mi-472 ft-4.7%
Marlette Backside DH0.45 mi-269 ft-11.4%
marlette to flume1.20 mi-39 ft-0.2%
Flume Marlette to Dismount2.42 mi-66 ft-0.5%
Flume Trail from Marlette Lake4.29 mi-135 ft-0.6%
Sand Point to Tunnel DH1.94 mi-89 ft-0.2%
Tunnel Creek Rd - Marlette Flume to Incline Flume Connector0.78 mi-387 ft-9.3%
Tunnel Creek DH to gate2.40 mi-1,142 ft-9.0%
Tunnel Creek to 28 DH3.19 mi-1,391 ft-8.2%
NFD041 Trail*2.97 mi-1,263 ft-8.0%
TC1.59 mi-827 ft-9.8%
Snow covered Bottom tunnel creek to gate0.64 mi-400 ft-11.9%
Flume End Smash0.44 mi-52 ft-2.3%