There’s something about the change of seasons that brings out the “urgency” in us mountain bikers. Maybe it’s because winter is knocking at our doorstep and soon a lot of our favorite trails will be closing up shop until next spring. For those wanting to see a bit of fall foliage along with their rides, here’s a few of our favorite fall mountain bike trails around Tahoe.

Fall Mountain Bike Trails in Tahoe

Flume

Ah… the legendary Flume Trail. A MUST for all cyclists and visitors alike. While it might not be too technical, it does provide views of the Sierra Nevada & Lake Tahoe in a totally different light. With a little bit of pedaling, you’ll get unrivaled views and scenery that are unlike anything else in the world. The fall colors of the aspens surrounding Marlette Lake are wondrous this time of year and make the ride that much more special, as if it needed it.

Want to see more? For a full write-up on what to expect, check out our friends’ write-up on Localfreshies.com.

The Flume Trail. Image: Local Freshies®

Cold Creek & Star Lake Connector

Although you could ascend up the High Meadow trail, we suggest the alternative of Cold Creek. Instead of a wide-open gravel road, Cold Creek provides a singletrack route that winds its way through a beautiful pine forest. Near the top, you’ll catch glimpses of some of the foliage changing colors. The cherry on top for this adventure is Star Lake. Butting up against three of the four highest peaks (Job’s Sister, Job’s Peak, and Freel Peak) within the Basin, it sits at an elevation of 9,200’ feet, nearly 3,000’ feet above Lake Tahoe. The serenity on the shores of Star Lake is beyond amazing.

Stanford Rock

There’s a reason why this trail is one of the most popular on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. It offers up a few options to make it a loop or out-n-back. Most ride the Stanford Rock Loop itself which clocks in at 15.3 miles. Starting under a forested canopy, this big, long, & sometimes punishing climb opens up around halfway to provide gorgeous views of the surrounding area including views of the Twin Peaks, Pacific Crest. And once all the hard work of climbing is done, expect an “old school” singletrack with lots of rocks and steps.

As the final dinner bell rings for mountain biking in the upper elevations, this is your chance to squeeze in one more ride that you’ve been eyeing, or better yet, try one of the mountain bike trails above before it’s too late!