Tahoe Rim Trail to Christmas Valley Trail

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Climb on the famous Tahoe Rim Trail and return down through Christmas Valley. There's a reasonable amount of climbing for some terrific singletrack downhill.

A shuttle would be nice, but not necessary. Some do the Christmas Trail as an out-and-back, but the TRT is probably a nicer climb and makes a good loop.

Head to the Big Meadow Campground on Hwy 89 (just past the intersection with S. Upper Truckee Road), a few miles south of Meyers at a big bend in the road. Coming from Meyers, park in one of many pullouts, then you'll pick up the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) on the right, across the street from the campground.

TRT starts rocky and technical, but mellows out some after about half a mile. Continue up to the meadow, stay right at the junction, then climb for another mile or so. The trail eventually summits and takes some switchbacks with excellent alpine views.

Just around the corner are some trail junctions leading to the lakes. You can take a short out and back on Tahoe Rim Trail: Big Meadow - PCT to Round Lake or a slightly longer out and back on Dardanelles Lake Trail (see the Xmas Valley Epic route).

Whether or not you choose to detour to one of these lakes, the real highlight will be the downhill through Chrismas Valley. The Christmas Valley Trail is excellent--rocky at times, technical, but generally rideable with low consequences. It's well worth the climb and goes for quite a while. When you get out of the singletrack, it's a bit of a climb on the road back to the parking area.