Review Date
July 31, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: mountainbikeloco ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Rode this trail this weekend and the elevation kicked my butt. Both the trail and the fireroad leading to the trail are very sandy, so have your favorite sand busting tires mounted. I used weirwolfs on the front and back and they did really well.

The views are incredible. Wow! The descent is slow and sandy until you get to the end fire road, the it's fast and sandy so watch out.

And be sure to hook up a shuttle. The 10 mile ride back along highway 28 is all up hill and hot. Plus, if you go on a weekend the traffic is crazy.

That said it was a lot of fun for an intense workout.

Review Date
October 9, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: chiefbsnow ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This trail is the best trail I have ever ridden in my life! Prepare to blow your mind on the awesome views and the nice flowing single track. Not recommended if you are afraid of heights or are not comfortable on your bike, as there is a big drop-off.

Recommended Route:
Everyone will tell you to start from Spooner Lake, but here is a route if you are more adventure-minded: start at Tahoe Meadows on the Tahoe Rim Trail (bike or hitch a ride up in the AM). You can only bike this on even days, I think, so check it out before you go. Head SE on the Tahoe Rim Trail, and keep following this all the way to Marlette Lake. Follow the Lake around to the right until you get to the start of the Flume Trail. As of June 2006, the lake was so high that you had to carry your bike over a rock to get to the start.

The very start has a few tricky rocky switch-backs, but then it is smooth-flowing but still adrenaline-pumping single-track for what seems like miles, with awesome views the whole way.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Tahoe Rim Trail between Tahoe Meadows and Marlette Lake. The first 9 or 10 miles are all alpine single-track, with lots of dodge-em rocks and some short rock-stair-cases you may have to walk up, but it is 99% rideable. It is continually changing, both in views and terrain, from rocky to woodsy to meadows, etc. You will feel like you are heading towards Reno at one point but the trail follows the ridge Sth towards Spooner Lake. Eventually the trail cops out and becomes fire-road access when you get close to Marlette campground. Enjoy!

Review Date
July 20, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: dhouston ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Very scenic as well as aerobic. Nothing in trail guides and mountain bike trail books prepared me for ascent. After the initial four mile climb the last 1.5 being a be-otch, was rewarded with another, even steeper and sandier Hobart Road 1.8 trail connector. Once you climb the 6+ miles, trail is pure heaven. Huge views of the lake and Carson Valley. SOme fun downhill but trail as a whole not terrible technical. Passed a number of folks with rental bikes that were not all that happy with life. Please bear in mind that this trail is not for a beginner or occasional rider, it is a hard intermediate if you take the 23 miles loop trek.

Recommended Route:
Spooner Lake to Marlett Lake go right up Hobart Road to Tahoe Rim Trail to Flume Trail. Trail will eventually gain hook up with Marlett Lake where trail is briefly interrupted by a small stretch of water from lake which is passible, trail resumes on other side of water.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Mr. Toads Wild Ride.

Review Date
September 28, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: eraserhead ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Beautiful trail,fortunately its really easy technically or I would have ridden into Lake Tahoe checking out the views.This area is one of the most beatiful places I've ridden. I was surprised at how easy most of the trails in this area were.Most of my Tahoe area rides have been pretty intense.Leave the suspension bike at home,a hardtail would work fine. The only things that make the ride difficult are the altitude and sandy sections of uphill.I felt like I was out of breath all day.The only technical riding was on the Rim trail.

Recommended Route:
I rode up No.Canyon,took a right around Marlette lake out to Red House Flume Trail,turned south on the rim Tahoe trail back to Marlette lake and did an out and back on the Flume trail,then descended back to Spooner to finish the ride.My route was 33 miles, 3000+ ft. of climbing.My ride started at about 7000ft. and Climbed to about 8800 ft. elevation at the highest point on the Rim trail.Most of the ride was above 8000 feet

Other recommended trails in the same area:
For really technical riding try Eagle Lakes area 10mi. west of Donner Pass-Check out Spaulding Lake trail and Grouse Ridge trail(Youll need a good 4WD to drive in here),also check out Loon Lake on the west end of the Rubicon trail.Mr. Toads is pretty intense along with all the other trails on the ridge towards Heavenly.Theres also killer high elevation trails aound Hope Valley surrouding Hwy. 88.

Review Date
August 23, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: el chivo ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
First off, The Flume Trail is located in Incline Village, NEVADA... not sure why it is listed here as Tahoe City, California, 20 miles away, but I digress. This review of the Flume is for that segment from Spooner to Tunnel Creek Road is a beautiful, but not technically challenging ride. The climb to Marlette Lake is steep at the end, but not too tough for any rider Intermediate and above. For someone looking for a major workout or technical challenge, there are better choices, but I think it is a must do for the visitor to Tahoe as the scenery is hard to beat.

Recommended Route:
For the advanced rider, I would recommend starting at Spooner, then heading to the Tahoe Rim Trail from Marlette Lake (go right at the Lake, instead of left to the Flume Trail). You climb on a double track road for a couple of miles, then branch off left on the Tahoe Rim Trail. The trail is awesome singletrack that is a mix of technical climbing and descending, fast downhills and mild climbing all the way to a quick fireroad descent to Tunnel Creek Road. Pick up the Flume here and return to Marlette Lake, then descend the trail back to your car. At a decent pace, this 22.5 mile ride can be done in 3 hours or less.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Tyrolean downhill (pick up in several locations along Mt. Rose Highway), Lloyds (Boca Hill singletrack, Truckee), Tahoe Rim Trail (Brockway Summit to Mt. Rose Wilderness), Sawtooth Trail (Truckee), Mt. States 100 (Tahoe City)