Tahoe Rim Trail and Flume Trail, from Spooner Lake to Tunnel Creek

From GlobalMotion

Here is a nice hike or run that can easily be covered in a day. Enjoy great views of Lake Tahoe. If you time it right, you can catch a shuttle back to the start.

[edit] Getting There

The trail is easy to get to. Take Hwy 50 East from South Lake Tahoe and take a left on Hwy 28 at Spooner Summit. The entrance to the Spooner Lake Park is on the right after about a mile. If you come from Incline Village, just head south in Hwy 28 for about 12 miles and you will find the park entrance on your left.

You pay about $5.00 to park for the day. Visit the Flume Trail Bike Shop for any supplies and to make arrangements for the trip back. (Bike rental shop is usually open every day 9:00 - 5:30, but check their web site at http://www.theflumetrail.com/)

[edit] The Trail

This is scenic hike/run/mountain bike ride. If you go straight through, it is roughly 16 miles long. From Spooner Lake, you take the trail to Marlette Lake. This section climbs fairly consistently. You then take the Tahoe Rim Trail to Tunnel Creek Road. You get some beautiful views of the lake on this section and there are plenty of other trails to explore in the area as well. Once you are there, you can additional mileage by going to Red House or up to Tahoe Meadows. However, you can also finish by taking a short 2.6 mile hike down to Hwy 28, and if you time it right, you can get a ride back there. To do this, you simply take the flume trail down on Tunnel Creek Road and head down to the highway.

This is where the Flume Trail Service (http://www.theflumetrail.com/shuttle/#Flume) picks up mountain bikers, runners, and hikers on the hour at a turnout where the Tunnel Creek road meets Highway 28 across from Hidden Beach. They shuttle you back to Spooner in their van (1-5 p.m. on the hour for $12 -- always call them to confirm).