Review Date
July 20, 2012

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Quik564 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Video summary of The Flume Trail:

http://youtu.be/h-bHbUP69iI?hd=1

A solid 2200' climb up from Spooner Lake to get to the actual Flume Trail. Epic views and exposure, but not much technical... unless you ride the avalanche areas. Out and back will give you over 20 miles.

Recommended Route:
Spooner Lake to Tunnel Creek... and back.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Tahoe Rim Trail

Review Date
October 18, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Reviewed by: bpressnall ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I wasn't going to rate this trail till I read "as epic as anything in Moab" in the dicription. Give me a break! Flume is a nice ride, and if you're a casual Mt. biker that hasn't riden many places, this might be the best trail you've ever riden. But for serious bikers this is just a scenic cruise on on a fairly easy contouring trail. Hats off to the guy who originally cleaned out this trail years ago. I don't mean to diss this trail, but it's so darn overrated!

Recommended Route:
If you combine it with the Rim trail or that trail south of Marlette lake that drops down to the highway, then you've got a great ride.

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, 2.00 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.