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Sawtooth Trail

Intermediate Intermediate
 4.0 (54)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. Truckee
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“A beginner/intermediate ride with easy access from downtown Truckee. ”

Thomas Page
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Map Key

8.5

Miles

13.6

KM
Singletrack

6,477' 1,974 m

High

6,192' 1,887 m

Low

608' 185 m

Up

525' 160 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (1°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

The FS06 road is closed in winter; the trails are good before the road opens in the spring.

Description

Sawtooth is a beginner/intermediate trail with easy access from downtown Truckee. The route listed here is the 'standard' Sawtooth route, but there are many different variations available. There is little vertical gain/loss on this trail, but it is not as fast and flowy as you would expect due to the abundance of rocks. Sawtooth is great, low consequence training for Tahoe's plethora of rock gardens.

Access to the Sawtooth trail system is from the FS06 fire road off of Thelin Dr. in Sierra Meadows neighborhood. Park in the pullout on the right hand side of the road. There is signage for the start of the trail.

0-1.08: Start out on flat singletrack, cross a fire road at .25. The section after the fire road is one of the more rocky sections which ends in a beautiful overlook of Hwy 89, Squaw Valley, and Castle Peak.
1.08-1.97: The terrain starts to gently undulate after the overlook and comes to an intersection at 1.97; go right at the signed intersection.
1.97-3.37: A fun but short and rocky downhill leads to more gently rolling terrain. There is a three-way split at 3.37, the right leads to another overlook of Hwy 89 and Squaw Valley, the left continues on the Sawtooth and makes the only seasonal stream crossing.
3.37-4.74: More gently rolling terrain takes you to the southernmost part of the Sawtooth at a well signed crossing of the FS06 road.
4.74-5.98: The 'backside' of the Sawtooth is more flowy and less rocky than the 'frontside'. From the intersection with the FS06 road, ride fast and flowy terrain, avoiding the left turn that follows the powerline. This section winds through the woods and continues over a fire road. There is a 4-way singletrack intersection at 5.98; continue straight for Sawtooth, or go right to the "2 Beavers and a Bear" and "2 Bridges" trails.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Tahoe National Forest Office

Shared By:

Thomas Page with improvements by Ashley Seaward and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 54 votes

#1

in Truckee

#197

Overall
  4.0 from 54 votes
5 Star
28%
4 Star
46%
3 Star
22%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
2%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Truckee

#16

in California

#197

Overall
21 Views Last Month
28,997 Since Jun 11, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
2%
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91%
4%
4%
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Photos

Sawtooth, looking west.
Jul 18, 2019 near Truckee, CA
Fun in the shade, near beginning of trail.
Sep 12, 2023 near Truckee, CA
SawTooth. A fun little trail, a local favorite. <br> Truckee, Ca
Jun 27, 2013 near Truckee, CA
Newly added pit toilets.
Oct 4, 2023 near Truckee, CA
Log ride at Happy Face intersection.
Oct 4, 2023 near Truckee, CA
Sawtooth Trail
Jul 18, 2019 near Truckee, CA

1 Comment

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 59 days ago
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Check-Ins

Sep 7, 2024
MICHAEL SCHOCKET
Heading back 8.4mi — 12h 40m
Sep 7, 2023
Mark Loftin
Mild rock gardens, flowy singletrack and awesome scenery. Lots of shade on hot summer day.
Sep 24, 2022
Daniel Trugman
Jul 6, 2022
Bj Ebinger
Jun 18, 2022
Meg Van De Walle
first full loop. learned a lot about lines and looking farther out than my front wheel. hailed. 8.5mi
May 23, 2022
Robert Kyte
Rocky first half, flowy second but with solid uphill
Nov 29, 2021
Emily Kay
Oct 10, 2021
Philip Muse
Just 1st part to fire trail and back with Logan. 3.5mi

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