The Flume Trail

Awesome trail with views to die for once the trail gets Lake front. I opted to hike instead of MTB, the entrance is right next to the tunnel Creek café. Most of the incline is on this road, according to my elevation app, the gain was around 1500′ till you hit flume trail. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to bike up tunnel Creek road. Flume trail is pretty much flat but super narrow in some places and if you’re hiking always look behind you to let bikers pass through. The views of sand harbor is awesome from up there.

This is a beautiful but INTENSE trail.
I’d like to think I’m ‘ok’ on the range of athleticism since I regularly bike about 10 miles and run a little bit. So… I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to bike 14 miles.
This will KICK YOUR BUTT. It sorely kicked my butt.
Onto the trail:
–First 4 miles up going up to 1000 feet in elevation. I repeatedly wanted to quit and sit down because I was so tired and winded just walking uphill, I could hardly bike uphill. My group and I stopped quite often since we were just so tired.
–Top of the hill — oh JOY! We made it! It’s a pretty level field starting at this point — but be warned, there are times when it slopes quite steeply before you get to the lake. Be prepared and make sure your brake works well and go SLOW. I went down too fast here but managed to stay on.
–Lake — Beautiful! A good reward for making the trek.
–Biking around the mountain. Here is where it gets very scary — imagine a foot wide or so of actual bike path — to your right is rocks which you don’t want to hit, and to your left is the edge of the cliff which you don’t want to fall down into. So… take your time and be careful. I was very slow since I was nervous going around here, but the views (when you do take a break) are unbelievable.
–Downhill — The last few miles are pure downhill in the sandy areas. USE YOUR BRAKES and GO DOWN SLOWLY. I barreled down a section of this area and it was terrifying. You’ll have to be careful not to flop off your bike and make sure to try to avoid skidding in the sandy areas.
I’m perpetually surprised in myself that I managed to survive this because this trail is TOUGH. But, you’ll be happy and proud of yourself that you did. The views are amazing and you can’t beat the feeling knowing that you biked a mountain!

When you’re brave enough to take on the strenuous 13 mile Flume Biking Trail, there will be two questions that will interchange in your mind.
1) Why did I agree to do this?
2) Is there anything more beautiful?
The first 5 miles will be a steep, uphill battle with your body and mind. Your calves will burn, your lungs will shred, and every cell in your body will scream for oxygen. If you could make it past that, the majority of the ride will be downhill and ridiculously fun.
My tips:
1)Rent your bikes at Spooner Summit for they’re most affordable.
2)Conserve your water
3)Bring snacks, energy bars
4)Wear a hat
5)Bring sunscreen and sunglasses
6) Bring a camera because those views overlooking the lake and mountain are second to none
7) Biking along the mountain ledges is exciting, but can be frightening too since bikers are going in opposite ways
8) When you approach gravel or sand, SLOW DOWN. They can dangerously lead your bike off course and make you crash
9)Bring $ 10 cash to park your car
10) Be careful when you stop to take pictures. Bikers are behind you.
—-
Conclusion: This trail is NOT for beginners. I couldn’t help but feel some resentment towards the employees at Spooner Bike Rentals for saying that this trail could be done by anyone. I consider myself a fit male too and struggled mightily. My group and I finished in 4 hours. It’ll require effort, persistence, and determination to complete, but once you get past the worst of it (5 – 6 miles in), You’ll then be rewarded with some grandiose views that are awe-​inspiring and gorgeous. I LOVED the downhill rides too – they were exhilarating. There are also premium spots for pictures, but be mindful of bikers behind you.
Extra Notes:
–Make sure to bring some snacks!
–Shuttle is clean and offers water
–I spotted one restroom on the trail and it was disgustingly filthy, beware.

«This is beautiful…» I said, over… and over… and over again. If you got a penny for everytime I said the word «beautiful» while hiking this trail, you’d probably have at least $ 10. Pretty good if you ask me.
HOW WE GOT THERE:
We started the hike from Tunnel Creek Road in Incline Village. This is the opposite way that the bikers go. Set your Google maps GPS to Tunnel Creek Café. That’s where the trail head is, and you can park your car along the freeway.
THE TRAIL:
For the first couple miles of the hike, you are actually going to be on Tunnel Creek Road, before you hit the actual Flume Trail. The trail is well-​maintained, since this is a very popular mountain biking trail. There are some great vista spots on Tunnel Creek Road, but also constant incline, which may be difficult for your average out of shape joe. It will be a strenuous and great work out! We didn’t even hike the whole flume trail; we went up slowly and steadily which took us about 3 and a half hours. We stopped at a random point (probably about 20 – 30 minutes after the start of the official Flume trail) and going back only took us about 1.5 hours.
With that being said, watch out for super fast mountain bikers! I seriously admire their audacity, because there’s definitely some sections of the trail that are super narrow, and just a wrong swivel of your tire can send you pummeling down the mountain. Just stand aside when you see/​hear them coming in front of you, and everyone is always extremely cordial and grateful about it.
If you’re hiking the trail and not worried for your life, like I did, you can stop and enjoy the views. Oh my gosh… the views. are. breathtaking! You can see the snow capped mountains in the distance, the beautiful and expansive Lake Tahoe with it’s clear blue waters, and the dense, lush evergreens that will surround you. It was truly magical, and nothing on my camera captured the beauty that was on this trail.
Bring water and some snacks for nourishment. This is hands down my favorite hiking trail of all time.

This time around, the trail condition was optimum due to recent rain. The sandy section back to the café felt like concrete and climbing it going south to spooner was easier than my first time. May 24, 1015

I’m not one of those turbo-​charged mountain bikers willing to risk life and limb to do the entire Flume Trail. But I am one of those people who love the Flume Trail starting at THE END of the trail at the Incline Village side. If you come before or after the Tunnel Creek Café is open /​closed, you’re allowed to park in their lot (I asked the owner). Then start walking the trail from here, even if you go for just 30 minutes or so — what a great hike at sunset with the dog! The views are spectacular, it’s dog friendly (at the start of the trail, doggie bags are even provided so NO EXCUSES; please pick up your dog’s poop and for the love of god, don’t just bag it and leave it on the side of the trail).
The first 30 minutes or so is pretty easy and then it starts to climb. If you are hiking not biking the trail, I suggest coming very early or late in the day to avoid getting run over.
One of my favorite things is grabbing a hot chocolate at the café on a mild Sunday winter morning and heading up the trail with my dog. It’s why you live in Tahoe, people!

We hiked what I believe is the flume trail. But we didn’t start in Glenbrook. We started at the tunnel creek café. This was one of the best hikes of my life! I’ve done many spectacular hikes all around the world. But this was by far one of the best. The hike was both challenging and rewarding with amazing views! We hiked about 3 miles each way. The way up was very challenging and steep! With look out stops along the way about every ¹⁄₈^th to ¼th mile. We saw some amazing views of the lake and mountains, beautiful tall pines, cedars, etc. and some beautiful manzanitas and some awesome huge boulders. My favorite part of the hike was seeing the Bigfoot rock. And my second favorite part was when we got up near the top where the trail was covered in snow. Because there were no more people on the trail and it felt like we had the whole world to ourselves!!! We came across an awesome sign that explained why it’s called the flume trail. I really enjoyed this informative sign. It took us 2 hrs to hike up and only an hour to hike back. I am looking forward to doing more hikes around the Tahoe area!!!

This review is for the Marlette Lake hiking trail. I parked at the Lake Tahoe-​Nevada State Park —
. Parking was $ 10.
Once there, you can do Spooner Lake or the Marlette Lake Trail or others.
We did Marlette Lake hiking trail from the parking lot. It is about 5 miles each way. The trail itself is very smooth and well maintained, however be ready for some steady incline, nothing crazy but it definitely will work you out. It took us about 4 hours round trip with a steady pace, If you are a fast walker I would give it 3 hours.
We made the mistake of not packing a lunch, pack a lunch and picnic when you get to the lake, you wont regret it.
I posted some photos of the trail and the lake. Happy Hiking!

An amateur’s guide to the flume trail:
And by amateur I mean I have NEVER been mountain biking before, but for some reason my fiancé and I decided to try the flume trail. We heard the views were some of the best and wanted something challenging. We are in our late 20’s and in decent shape. We don’t bike but run 3 – 5 miles several times a week. Bottom line, if you are in fairly good shape you can do this trail, even if you don’t bike. You will be exhausted at the end but it is doable.
We rented bikes from Flume Mountain Bikes in Incline Village. The bikes were 35 $ ish for the day and seemed like quality mountain bikes. I think they were the cheapest ones available but were more than suitable. They seemed in great condition.
It took us about 4 hours to complete the 15 miles. Most people say allow 2 – 4 hours but we stopped often to rest and take pictures. Take lots of water, snacks, and a camera. There are a few restrooms on the 15 mile trek, maybe 2, but no running water. For iphone carriers i’d recommend using endomondo, it’s very helpful tracking how far you’ve gone. The trail is in good condition and well marked.
Once you get into the park you have about 4 miles of very steep uphill riding. Some parts are steep enough that we had to walk, especially the last mile or so which is the hardest part and very challenging. The entire climb is made difficult because of the sand and altitude, it is much more difficult than riding on pavement. The good news is after you make it to the top of the first 4 – 4.5 miles the rest isn’t challenging aerobically. You go down a fairly steep grade for about .75 of a mile before you reach Marlette Lake. This part of the ride (going around Marlette Lake) was really enjoyable. The road is wide and the lake is beautiful. The views aren’t like the Flume Trail itself but it’s enjoyable because you can relax without a ledge a foot to one side. Going around Marlette like is about a mile I’d guess, maybe a bit more.
After this you reach the sign for the Historic Flume Trail. A friendly warning, the beginning (first 50 feet past the sign) is not navigable for inexperienced riders. Pick up your bike and walk it. My fiancé learned the hard way. The Flume Trail itself is amazing but a little nervewracking. The trail is sometimes narrow, maybe a foot or two wide. To one side is mountain going up, and to the other is a sharp drop. The cliffs are steep and no joke, I’d recommend getting off and walking the bike if you’re not comfortable. We did maybe once or twice. There are also a few times where you have to be able to get your bike through narrow openings, but for the most part the bike trail itself is in good condition and not too challenging. Also its best to get off your bike if there are other riders coming the opposite way. The trail itself is maybe around 5 miles. It’s enjoyable and the views are worth it!!! The ride itself is not physically challenging, the only part that is concerning is the drop.
Once you finish the Flume Trail follow signs for highway 28 and youll start a 2.5−3 mile downhill. This part of the trail wasn’t very enjoyable because we are not experienced bikers. It is steep, there are occasional boulders/​drops/​roots in the middle of the path, and it is very sandy. It is easy to fishtail the back of your bike. We made it down with no issues but you have to be on your brake the entireee way down. At the very end (maybe 3 – 5 minutes left) you get to a fork with a sign for highway 28 or incline village. Ask the people at Flume Mountain bikes if the gate to Incline Village is closed. It was closed when we went but you are supposed to go down this path anyway (which we didn’t so we ended up on highway 28 and had to bike a mile back to where we started).
Overall, we are realy glad we did the Flume Trail. It was an adventure and a great workout. Everyone you meet on the trail is so nice and helpful. There will be many people who ride it regularly and they are more than willing to help out. The info and advice is very helpful for people that are unsure what they’re doing! Beginning bike riders can do the trail but allow a bit of time and enjoy it!!!

I’ve heard a lot about this trail so I packed some fruit and cliff bars and about a gallon of water and pretty much had the best day on a bike, ever. EPIC views of Tahoe from the top. The 4 mile uphill grind was worth it. Since I just picked up a job in Incline, I’ll be back for sure. I heard Fall was awesome. The sandy downhill track can feel sketchy when you’re bombing in the summer, so Fall should be more firm, especially after rain.

Still the most memorable ride I’ve ever taken. I’m an intermediate MB’er and was on a too-​squirrely Specialized Expert for this ride and that narrow, rocky and sandy rim trail kept my adrenalin level high (yeah I was scared, but thrilled by the challenge and the view).The ride up from Spooner Lake parking lot is a challenge, especially if your lungs are not conditioned to altitude. I was able to do it, though, without walking (age 60 at the time).
If you go with plenty of water, food and a no-rush-let’s take our time and enjoy it attitude, I can promise you something you’ll not soon forget!

Wow this is an intense trail! Not for the leisurely bike ride or the urban cyclist. It is very technical! A lot of walking up hill for the first hour and ½. The incline was at a 8 grade on average. We were wondering when are we going to stop walking and start riding? Someone lied and said it was 1,000 feet of uphill, um more like 3 or 4 miles!
Once we started to actually ride, we were still doing more uphill grades. We saw a pretty lake and then the trail was pretty easy. When we finally got around to seeing Lake Tahoe itself, the view was spectacular. Sand Harbor was by far the best view.
Though you have to be careful. The path is up to 4 feet wide and the sand can be very slippery. The hills going down are constant so you will grip your brakes and slide like a banana peel if you aren’t a highly skilled mountain biker. My hands were in pain and I got a little frustrated. I like more leisurely rides. I had no idea what I got myself into.
In the end, the workout and the view was worth it! Not sure I’d do it again, unless I had a very expensive bike that could handle that sand! It’s pretty tiring. Best to go if you are in excellent shape!
Panoramic views everywhere. Your camera will love you!
Note: Take T.P., Camera, Water and tons of snacks! Watch yourself on the edges, you could go over and fall hundreds of feet down. Go with friends or a buddy!
It was a gorgeous ride!

A really awesome and not too difficult mountain bike trail (also open to hikers). Best approach is from Spooner Lake. Tunnel Creek Road from Incline Village is much sandier and steeper — you should get a good bike with fat tires and granny gears or be prepared to push up 3 miles like I did. The trail is flat at the top with a breathtaking drop down to the lake. The trail is single track and there may be places that are technical (very narrow with steep drops or boulders) — I only counted a handful of places where I had to portage my bike. Mostly easy going gravel though you will have to pull over to let people pass in both directions (both bikers and hikers). There is a bit of a climb from Spooner Lake to the trail but it’s not that bad if you’re in any sort of biking shape. Like I said the ascent/​descent at the other end down Tunnel Creek Rd is much sandier, steeper and more technical.
If you want to go one way from Spooner Lake to Incline Village there’s a shuttle you can take back for a fee.
For context, I do not consider myself a mountain biker and do not own a mountain bike though I do go offroad on mountain bike trails. I took my small wheeled bike with full suspension and the only part that was difficult was the ascent up Tunnel Creek Rd. I was able to ride the trail down to Spooner Lake with a few pick up and carry instances. We then rode back to Incline Village along the highway (very fast mostly downhill for 13 miles).

Wowser!!! My hubby said if he had known what «moderate» meant on this trail he wouldn’t have had me on it. That being said after he dragged me up the first four miles (yes, I walked a lot of it ;0) and after a tragi-​comic (caught on video-​damn those disc brakes) fall going around the lake, and a few hyper-​ventilations later I was feeling… great! (Literally) Breathtaking views and hairpin (climb up on rock to let the crazy people fly past you) turns. I did great, he did great and we had a blast looking down at Sand Harbor Beach where we were going to the Shakespeare on the Lake that very night! So much fun and even if you’re a novice trail rider (I am that), you can get through it and enjoy this ride! Huge tip! Slow down before you get to the granite gravel (near the end) so you don’t go down. I didn’t, but someone else did and it looked harsh.

I don’t know if I can add much to what others have said. I’ve heard that it’s the most beautiful bike ride to be had. It did not disappoint.
I wish I would have worn a little more insect repellant. The mosquitos were out in force at around 9am.
Also, my sneakers were soaked halfway through. I should have brought some dry shoes to change into when I was done riding.
There is a fee for the parking area at Spooner Lake.
I am not an experienced mountain biker. I do stay fit, however. This was my first time on the Flume trail and although I had to walk my bike on some of the uphills (my lungs are a weak point) I had a wonderful time and the technical stuff wasn’t Twilight Zone scary.
Allow 2.5 hours for a one-​way trip. I’m sure this varies widely.

Certainly one of the most jaw-​dropping scenic trails at Lake Tahoe, it’s a ride on many people’s bucket lists. As stated by others, it’s not an easy trail to ride (or to hike), but that never seems to deter the hordes of folks we see here starting the climb to Marlette Lake in the heat of the day.
A few tips if you’re going to ride this:
1. Start early. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to ride uphill when it’s under 80 degrees. 10 am start = painful climb
2. It’s typically less sandy earlier in the summer, or in the autumn when it’s rained.
3. If you’re planning on doing the loop ride to/​from Lake Tahoe State Park (22 miles), consider riding counter clockwise (i.e. right when you hit Marlette Lake). This way you get the climbing over with, and can enjoy a really fun single track downhill. (Plus you can freak out everyone riding the Flume trail the traditional way…)
4. If you’re not riding the loop, pay the $ 10 for the shuttle and do it as a one way. Your lungs will thank you later.
Finally, if it’s your first time mountain biking, you’re probably better off hiking this trail. Less anxiety, more time to savor the views.

What can you say about this breathtakingly beautiful ride except that it’s so worth the hard labor climbing from Spooner Lake to reach Marlette Lake! You will take in all the beauty of a pristine alpine lake and then enjoy the fun and exhilarating ride that awaits you as cruise down the single track of The Flume Trail that sits on the cliff overlooking the most beautiful views of Lake Tahoe. The trail by itself is very beautiful, boulders and evergreens surrounding you, even without the views of the lake. I would suggest you be careful on this trail as there are sandy patches in very precarious sections. A hard climb but then a goldmine of a ride!

We rode the Flume Trail starting from Spooner Lake (7,000 ft). Spooner Lake State Park is off Rt 28, which is off Rt 50 on Nevada side. You’ll need to pay the park entrance fee, but you can park your car and use the facilities, go to Trail head store and so on. The park is quite nice.
As other Unilocalers noted, first off there is about 4 – 5 miles grinding up hills to the Marlette Lake (7,823 ft). In the beginning it is a slow climb but from the mid point on, the climb was pretty steep. I totally felt the thin air as I am used to ride around the bay area.
At Marlette lake you can rest or even fish there (NV fishing license required). Ride around the south side of the Marlette lake and you are off to the single trail, what everyone says the «scary» but beautiful scenery ride for about 4.5 miles. It was a really clear day so we were able to see the other side of Lake Tahoe. Very beautiful but it IS scary especially when you are passing fellow bikers on this skinny trail. Some up and downs on this section, but no grinding hills like the beginning of the trail.
When you get to the Twin Lakes area, you can rest a little to get ready for the steep but enjoyable down hill. If you have some strength left, the trail up to the Twin Lakes is only couple miles. In about 3 miles you’ll get to the end of the trail and out of the State park, suddenly to the residential area. Continue on down the paved road, and on the left side there is the Tunnel Creek shuttle pick up station where you can haul your bike and ride back to the Spooner Lake.
I am not that experienced rider, but I was able to manage completing this trail with my husband who is very experienced with mountain biking. Some areas are technical, there are many spots where you need to be careful not to slip off the cliff or wipe out or slip off rocks and sand. If you are not too experienced rider I’d recommend to ride with someone who have more experiences. Or you can also hike this trail and find out if you want to ride or not.
I really enjoyed this trail as it was challenging but there’s this great reward of the scenic view of the Lake Tahoe.
You can ride/​hike backwards from the way we’ve rode this trail. Park off the street at the shuttle station on Rt 28 and end at the Spooner Lake. I am not sure about the shuttle service from Spooner Lake to the Creek Station though… I am not sure which way is better or easier, but this trail is worth trying at least once.

Super technical trail with great views. Single track most of the way: rocky cliff to your right and edge of mountain to your left — pick your poison! I’d say give it try if you’re a strong intermediate to advanced rider. Any trouble riding a straight line, avoid this trail because once you’re there, it’s difficult to turn back.
From the get it’s a 4 – 5 mile long climb to the lake. Demanding is an understatement. You bike around a lake and then cross a dam. Afterwards it’s a steady 4 miles at about 8000 feet elevation around the edge of the mountain (scary part for me). Then you descend straight down for 2 – 3 miles with a loss of 1100 elevation. Pretty steep and the terrain ranged from gravel, rocky, to sandy. It was slippery and if you’re not used to sand, it takes a couple of times feeling your back tire drift.
If you reach the end by 5p, you can take the shuttle service. We opted to get picked up my friends because we didn’t finish until past 5p. Bring a map, GPS, lotsa water, and power bars. I definitely bit off more than I could chew in choosing this trail, but it’s worth it for skilled mountain bikers.
BF is a great rider and he really enjoyed it. I had to walk a large part of the trail after a pretty bad fall that traumatized me. Now I’ve hiked to Machu Picchu and bungy jumped off Vic Falls, but the elevation here shook me. Tooks us a good 6 hours to finish it because of my slow scared behind.

This is it! If you are looking for the best mountain bike ride in the United States. The views of lake Tahoe are outstanding.
Technically, I’d say this is an intermediate ride. The trail is in very good condition and the whole thing is ridable if you’re somewhat competent on a mountain bike. As the earlier reviewer stated there are sandy spots on the downhill which you should be careful of.
If you’re in halfway decent shape this should be a manageable
and fun ride. You start out on one of those hills that seems easy, but then gets progressively harder, the last 250 yards are difficult. But after that it is basically flat and downhill.
For beginner and intermediate riders the shuttle option is the way to go. For more advanced and expert riders (which I’m not) there are a couple great options which extend the ride and negate the need for the shuttle.
A map and plenty of water are nice things to have.