The Flume Trail & Tahoe Rim Trail, NV

Looking for some great mountain biking with your dog? Get on the Flume Trail in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park’s Spooner Lake & backcountry area. The Flume Trail is a 14 mile, one-way trail with some awesome views of the Lake Tahoe area. The best time to go is summer and fall. The park opens from sunrise to sunset year-round. Dogs are allowed on leash.

The Flume Trail Quick Links
Pawtivity Listing: Essential info and tips for dog owners. Link
Website: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/lake-tahoe-nevada-state-park-1
Maps & Access: http://parks.nv.gov/forms/Spooner_backcountry_map.pdf
Start: Spooner Lake – Carson City, NV 39.106158, -119.917994 Map
End: Incline Village, NV 39.234284, -119.930150 Map
Terrain: Sand, Gravel, Rocky
Elevation: About 7,000-8,000 feet Chart
Dog Policy: Dogs must be leashed (6ft). http://parks.nv.gov/parks/lake-tahoe-nevada-state-park-1
Motor Vehicles: Not Allowed

The starting point of the Flume Trail is Spooner Lake. Vehicles can enter the park at Spooner Lake for $10. Bike entry is $2. There is plenty of parking at the end of the trail as well along Tahoe Blvd. Flume Trail Mountain Bikes in Incline Village provides shuttles to the Flume Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail. The shuttle is free with a bike rental. Both Flume Trail Mountain Bikes and Tunnel Creek Station have their own parking lots.

There is a tough 4 mile climb at the start of the trail that goes up 1000 feet. You may opt to just walk the first few miles with your dog, rest and continue on your way. Stop by Marlette Lake to cool down and rest with your dog before continuing on for a relatively flat ride.

There are some steep cliffsides and narrow single-track trails along the route, so you will need to be able to control your dog by voice command, especially if they are off leash. Always pay attention to your surroundings and watch for other bikers, hikers, and other dogs.

A biking map is provided by Flume Trail Mountain Bikes. You’ll want to go north on North Canyon Trail. Bikes are not allowed on Marlette Lake Trail. Once you hit Marlette Lake, make sure to go towards the west side of Marlette Lake to the Marlette Flume Trail or Flume Trail and on to Tunnel Creek Rd and Incline Village.

We recommend taking a look at the entire map of the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park Spooner Backcountry which includes roads, biking trails, hiking trails, campgrounds, facilities and other park amenities. It will help you get a great sense of the surrounding area and trails you don’t want to be on if biking. Link to Map: http://parks.nv.gov/forms/Spooner_backcountry_map.pdf

Want more of a challenge and a 24 mile ride? Try the Tahoe Rim Trail at Tahoe Meadows which also connects to the Flume Trail. Pay attention to signs as bikes are only allowed on the Tahoe Rim Trail on even days and not in all sections.

Interested in camping? There are walk-in campgrounds at Marlette Peak, Hobart, and North Canyon. There are also 2 cabins are located at Spooner Lake if you want to make a weekend to bike the trail, hike, and enjoy the outdoors. Contact ltnsp@parks.nv.gov or call 775-831-0494 for more information on camping or cabins. You can always consider staying in the many lodging options Inline Village, NV or the surrounding Lake Tahoe area.

The Flume Trail starts and ends at:

Spooner Lake – Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Carson City, NV 89703
GPS Coordinates 39.106158, -119.917994 Map

Tunnel Creek Station
1115 Tunnel Creek Rd, Incline Village, NV 89451
Incline Village NV 89451
GPS Coordinates 39.234284, -119.930150 Map
http://www.tunnelcreekstation.com/about-tunnel-creek-station.html

Help a fellow dog owner! Do you have an adventure story? Contact us and we will link it to this pawtivity or event! Where did you go? What did you do? Please include any useful tips and advice that would help others!

Location: Carson City | Incline Village | Lake Tahoe | Nevada
Activities: Mountain Biking, Sports, Sports-Fitness