Day One: Run/Hike at Watson Lake. We will begin with a light brunch, safety orientation, and introductions, then shuttle to beautiful Watson Lake for a day of running or hiking on some of Tahoe’s finest trails. Watson Lake is surrounded by beautiful forests — it’s a high Sierra sanctuary where the only sounds you’ll hear are the leaping of trout and the occasional croaking of frogs. The lakeshore is a great spot for a picnic. Our hike will take us through beautiful wildflower habitats and some of the area’s oldest trees, the majestic California Junipers. This is fine High Sierra terrain, with fantastic views. Total Mileage: Up to 14 miles.

Day Two: Bike at Painted Rock. We will ride single-track trails past Painted Rock, with beautiful continuous vistas south to Carnelian Bay and Dollar Point. The trail, with a mix of ups and downs, also has wonderful views of Granite Peak Wilderness as it passes through ponderosa pine and incense cedar forests. Just past Old Soda Springs, the trail crosses the North Fork of the American River. For the next mile, the trail stays fairly flat, passing an area of lovely aspen trees, then climbs toward the Sierra Crest, where awesome single-track and some dirt roads weave through thick forests, down slopes, and along the ridges. Total Mileage: 22 miles

Day Three: Fun Day—Rock Wall Climbing and/or Biking. We’ll enjoy a fun day at Northstar’s Adventure Park, where you’ll be able to choose between relaxing at the full pool and spa, ascending a 25-foot, granite-like, multi-faced outdoor climbing wall, or biking downhill runs all day (yes, downhill only—we’ll be using the ski lift!).

Day Four: Kayak in Lake Tahoe. After a professional introduction to kayaking and safety, we’ll enjoy the serenity and beauty of gliding across one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. (No previous kayaking experience necessary.) We’ll paddle around gigantic boulder mazes and explore hidden sandy beaches, where we’ll stop to relax or take a plunge. The water of Lake Tahoe is so clear that looking at the shallow bottom near the shore from your kayak is like looking through glass—it’s possible to see objects clearly that are 70 feet deep. But be sure to look up at the beautiful, snow-clad Sierra peaks that surround you, more than 3,000 feet above.

Day Five: Hike/Run at Spooner Lake, Tahoe Rim Trail. Hike Spooner Lake on the Rim Trail to the peak and back. A full day of hiking awaits us on the Spooner Lake and Tahoe Rim Trails. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and its adjacent valleys, with intense blue sky and fresh, clean air. The Tahoe Rim Trail is an exquisite route that wanders for 165 miles, completely encircling the lake as it follows the ridgeline of the surrounding mountains. This spectacular necklace of trails opened in 2005, the result of twenty years of fundraising and hard work.

We’ll pass through fragrant pines, more than 3,000 feet above the sapphire shimmer of the lake far below. You’ll enjoy clear views of Washoe Valley, the serenity of the forest, lush meadows, and shimmering aspen groves. This area is popular for its abundant wildlife and wildflowers; osprey, waterfowl, and other wildlife are abundant, as are meadow and forest wildflowers. Total Mileage: 16 miles at your own pace, run or hike.

Day Six: Bike on the Flume Trail. The Flume Trail is one of the world’s finest single-track trails. It’s known for its beautiful views of Lake Tahoe, challenging climbs, and exhilarating descents down an old flume chute.

Our ride begins at Spooner Lake State Park, with a 1000-foot climb to Marlette Lake. We’ll catch the Flume Trail here, then wind around Twin Lakes, past Red House Butte, and catch another section of the single-track flume route on the return to Marlette Lake.

The Rim Trail is spectacular—it runs through fields of huge boulders, with many natural and artificial rock “stairs” to go up and down. At more than 1,600 feet directly above Lake Tahoe, yet less than a half-mile from the lake, it has been called the most beautiful trail in the world. Except for two or three short bike portages over rocks, the trail is nearly flat, dropping just 40 feet per mile, so it’s easy for beginners. You will have views of all 22 miles of Lake Tahoe and the spectacular mountains beyond. We’ll have time to stop often to enjoy the views, and we’ll take a longer pause for an unforgettable picnic.

Back at Marlette Lake, we’ll descend North Canyon to the trailhead, where our shuttle will be waiting. We’ll arrive at Northstar around 2 pm, and in Reno at approximately 3 pm.

Bring your own bike or rent one ours.

The group will meet at 11:30 am at Lake Tahoe at the Northstar Resort.

Reno, Nevada is the closest city with a major airport and car rentals. We recommend that you fly into Reno and drive or take a shuttle to Lake Tahoe.

We offer a round-trip shuttle between Reno and Tahoe. The shuttle will leave from the Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel at 10:00 am on the first day of the tour. The cost for the shuttle is $50 round-trip. Please contact us to reserve spots.