tahoe - sacramento bike ride

Nice... No matter what this is a pretty wild goal. What's the distance, like 300 miles or more? You should post your daily blog here with pictures, so we can see... Would be cool to track your progress. I'll reach out to a friend who rode across the country - started in Northern California...

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

I know there's got to be a way to do it mostly, if not all, on dirt, although some of it definitely will be on forest roads and some of it will likely be VERY scary. Off hand, I'd say your best bets will be along one of the forks of the American River. The trails are mostly old mining trails and were built to connect two points in the fewest steps possible. Thus, many go straight up and down very steep pitches that are difficult to walk, let alone ride. Other sections - especially in the foothills - are largely private property, and access may be illegal if not impossible.

I would suggest buying the mapping program TOPO! and plotting a route section by section (make sure you get the California map set). Keep in mind that wilderness areas are off limits, and Desolation and Granite Chief wilderness areas span most of the western side of Tahoe.

I'll poke around a bit and see what I can find. I know there's an ultramarathon that's run, I think from Tahoe to Auburn.