Adventure 16: Outdoor and Travel Outfitters - Since 1963

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Lake Tahoe

Road Cycling in California with Undiscovered Country Bike Tours

Highlights

  • Experience the majestic Lake Tahoe
  • Circle the lake by bicycle
  • Stay in the historic town of Truckee

Full Description

Twenty-two miles long, twelve miles wide, a third of a mile deep, the third largest alpine lake in the world.

These impressive statistics don’t come close to describing the beauty and grandeur of Lake Tahoe. Set within the Sierra Nevada mountain range and ringed with high alpine peaks, Lake Tahoe is a spectacle unlike any other. Mark Twain described Lake Tahoe as “the fairest picture the whole earth affords”. And fortunately for us cyclists, a very pleasant road rings this special gem.

Circle Lake Tahoe and the surrounding alpine landscape by bicycle on this five day tour. Travel 200 miles of beautiful vistas over five days, with several optional detours up some of the nearby mountain passes for an additional challenge. Stay in the historic town of Truckee in a European style sport hotel. Sleep in Olympic Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ride the cable car to Squaw Valley's High Camp to swim, soak, or hike in the high alpine terrain. Ride to breathtaking Emerald Bay and pristine Fallen Leaf Lake. Relax in a luxury Tahoe style lodge at South Lake Tahoe, ride the gondola in Heavenly Valley to view an unforgettable panorama of the entire lake. Ride through the quiet alpine meadows of Hope Valley and the stark desert splendor of Carson Valley.

If you would like to extend your tour, we have scheduled the Kiss of Death--High Sierra Challenge to follow Lake Tahoe. Adding the Kiss of Death turns the 5-day tour into an 9-day vacation. And since all the rides on the weekend are different than the rides on Lake Tahoe, you will be experiencing new routes each day.

Includes:

  • Use of a quality, lightweight road bike
  • Four nights lodging
  • Four breakfasts
  • Three dinners
  • Snacks during and after the rides
  • Daily route sheets and maps
  • One or more expert guides on bicycles
  • Van support
  • Mechanical support for minor bike repairs

Excludes:

  • Helmets
  • Transportation to Reno at the beginning of the trip
  • Transportation from Reno at the end of the trip
  • Lodging before and after the trip
  • Lunches
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Hotel charges for incidentals (phone calls, etc.)
  • Gratuities for guides at your discretion

Day by Day Itinerary

Day One: Spooner Lake to Truckee [29-45 miles]

We meet in the morning in Reno, Nevada, at the Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel. We shuttle from Reno to Spooner Lake, on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe. From here we ride north on the east side of Lake Tahoe to Incline Village. At this point, those who want a greater challenge can climb up to the summit of Mt. Rose (8889 ft.). Then it’s on to Kings Beach, a lazy summer vacation community on the edge of the lake. At Kings Beach, we leave the water’s edge for our overnight destination, the historic town of Truckee and the Cedar House Sport Hotel.

Day Two: Truckee to Olympic Valley [43-58 miles]

Today we explore some of the smaller alpine lakes that surround Lake Tahoe. From Truckee, we head east to Donner Lake and on to the mountain community of Soda Springs. Here we will find Serene Lakes, two tiny lakes surrounded by forests and mountains. A great place to have lunch is the Ice Lakes Lodge, a traditional mountain lodge on the edge of the lake. For those who want some more miles, the historic Rainbow Lodge is 8 miles farther down the road. Our ultimate destination for the day is Olympic Valley, site of the Squaw Valley Ski Area and the 1960 Winter Olympics. Guests may choose to ride the cable car up to High Camp, where a pool, spa, restaurant, and hiking trails await. Lodging for the night is in Olympic Village at the stylish Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn.

Day Three: Olympic Valley to South Lake Tahoe [47 miles]

Today’s ride takes us along the undeveloped western side of the lake. With less traffic and fewer towns, this is the section of the route where one can truly enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe. We ride around Emerald Bay, a picturesque inlet carved out by an ancient glacier. Then it’s on to South Lake Tahoe and a stay under the evergreens at the Deerfield Lodge, a small upscale hotel set in the woods on the way to Heavenly Valley.

Day 4: Hope Valley and Carson Valley [52 miles]

Having ringed the lake by bicycle, it’s time to explore some of the other great cycling the area has to offer. Today we head up and over Luther Pass to Hope Valley, a high alpine meadow in Alpine County—the least populated county in California. Grassy meadows dotted with granite boulders are framed by jagged peaks of the Pacific Crest, where snowfields linger well into summer. We’ll make a stop at Sorensen’s Resort for lunch before plunging down into the dry Carson Valley. From here, we head north along the valley’s edge, with the Sierra Range rising 5,000 feet or more out of the valley floor. Finally, we find our way back to South Lake Tahoe on the Kingsbury Grade, which takes us over a lower point in the mountains and back down to the Deerfield Lodge.

Day 5: Fallen Leaf Lake [27 miles]

Our final ride of the tour is a short but pleasant one, from the Deerfield Lodge along the Pioneer Trail to Fallen Leaf Lake. The Lake is small and tucked away beside its much bigger neighbor, having been carved out by a glacier and framed by the massive Mount Tallac. We’ll ride along the lakeside road to the boat harbor for lunch, then return to the Deerfield Lodge. After changing, we shuttle back to Reno for the conclusion of the tour.

Days 6-9: Kiss of Death

There is no day 6, however our Kiss of Death--High Sierra Challenge starts the day after our Lake Tahoe tour concludes. If you would like to extend your vacation with some challenging mountain passes, adding on Kiss of Death makes for an 8-day vacation.

About The Operator:

Undiscovered Country Bike Tours

Headquarters:

Palo Alto, CA

Established:

January 2003

Undiscovered Country Tours specializes in quality road bike tours in California for adults. Our trips are held throughout the state, all year long. We offer more bicycle vacation choices in more California locations than any other company.

At Undiscovered Country Tours, we love bicycling in California and enjoy sharing it with our welcome guests. We've spent a lifetime bicycling the state, so we know California cycle touring as well as anyone can. We feel strongly that traveling through a region by bicycle is a life enhancing experience. An Undiscovered Country trip is a departure from the ordinary—invigorating the body, recharging the mind, and renewing the spirit.

Everyone at Undiscovered Country Tours is dedicated to provide our guests the most rewarding, most memorable, and most satisfying bicycle trips possible.