Power Line Trail (South Lake Tahoe)

OTE Ratings: O8/T7/E6
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 2 hours
Climbing: ~1000 feet

Description

Power Line is a fun ride, about half in the woods, half in the sun, with a bunch of short climbs, swoops, and descents.

Directions to the start

Near Meyers, south of South Lake Tahoe, Pioneer Trail goes east off of California Highway 89. Take Pioneer to Oneidas, turn right. Park at the "Power Line Trail" sign. Or nearby.

The ride

Ride on up Power Line Trail. It's a dirt road for the first few miles, as it does some ups and downs under its namesake power lines. Finally it crosses a creek and abandons the lines, climbs up some switchbacks, to end at a tee on a dirt road.

This is High Meadow Trail; turn right and ride up ~1/3 mile, to get to the other section of the Power Line Trail. Turn left onto that section and you can ride right on over to Ski Run Blvd, at the bottom of the California side of the Heavenly Valley Ski Area.

Alternatively, you could start this ride in the middle, because you can drive up High Meadow Trail (off of Pioneer Trail). Be aware that this entire trail allows dirt bikes.

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