4.1 miles
Distance
192 ft
Climb
-1,572 ft
Descent
00:38:06
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Christmas Valley Trail

Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Meiss Country
    Meyers, California
  • Ref Number
    #18E05
  • AKA
    Lake Valley Trail, Meiss Meadow/Round Lake Trail
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (3 votes)
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    May-November
  • Alpine Trail
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
  • TTFs on Trail
    Log Ride, Rock Garden
  • Global Ranking
    #4668 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #25432 in Trail Running
    • #21103 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Land Owner
    USFS

This is a quintessential Tahoe trail--rocky, periodically technical, and remote. The trail gets its name from the adjacent residential community and parallels a branch of the Upper Truckee River through mature pine forest except for a middle burn section. As a downhill trail it is fast, but punctuated with frequent stairs, tight turns, and rock gardens. For the more adventurous, the climb is a consistent but manageable slope with relentless small rock features. Those who conquer the length of trail are rewarded by two sublime alpine lakes. The first is shy of the Tahoe Rim Trail junction off a westward spur to Dardanelles Lake. The second is Round Lake another 0.7 miles south on the TRT.

To ride this trail as a loop, continue on South Upper Truckee up the steep switchbacks to SR-89. Cross SR-89 and continue on the forest access road 1.1 miles to the Big Meadow trailhead.

Access Info

The lower trailhead is off South Upper Truckee Rd just before the road climbs very steeply to SR-89. The trail terminates into the Tahoe Rim Trail near Round Lake. To access the upper end of the trail, park at the TRT Big Meadow Trailhead and follow the TRT 2.2 miles south through Big Meadow. At the bottom of the only switchback descent, the CVT takes off to the north (right turn).

Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Christmas Valley Trail multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,378 ft
  • Altitude min
    6,545 ft
  • Altitude max
    7,938 ft
  • Altitude start
    7,938 ft
  • Altitude end
    6,558 ft
  • Grade
    -6.4%
  • Grade max
    -46.6%
  • Grade min
    33%
  • Distance climb
    2,851 ft
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    2,976 ft
  • Avg time
    00:38:06
  • Avg reverse time
    01:15:57
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Aug 25, 2023
Ideal
Avg: 4.8 (25 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to christmas-valley-trail trailhead (38.760190, -120.003400)
      update trails status or condition

      Christmas Valley... Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Aug 25, 2023 @ 10:47pm
      Aug 25, 2023
      Aug 14, 2023 @ 8:23pm
      Aug 14, 2023
      several large trees across the trail. significant snow patches above 7250'
      Jul 9, 2023 @ 1:00pm
      Jul 9, 2023
      Perfect conditions. No snow cover. No trees down.
      Jun 29, 2023 @ 11:40pm
      Jun 29, 2023
      Trail is dry until first significant snow patch about 3.06 miles up 7600 ft. Still small debris on the trail.
      Oct 13, 2022 @ 7:07pm
      Oct 13, 2022
      Dry and perfect. No issues the whole way down.
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 4 rides
      • 11 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 169 rides
      • 14 miles avg distance
      All
      • 1,159 rides
      • Last: Oct 1, 2023

      Photos

      more »
      16 |
      Sep 4, 2023 @ 9:03am
      Sep 4, 2023
      98 |
      Apr 11, 2023 @ 2:47pm
      Apr 11, 2023
      406 |
      Mar 20, 2017 @ 11:23pm
      Mar 20, 2017
      367 |
      Mar 20, 2017 @ 11:23pm
      Mar 20, 2017

      7 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Decending a BRUTAL climb - Toad's Wild Ride to...
      13:16 | 35 | Aug 4, 2023 , Meyers
      youtuber IF YOU HAVE ONE RIDE IN TAHOE
      10:36 | 218 | Jul 11, 2022 , Meyers
      youtuber Christmas Valley (Mountain Biking) South Lake...
      20:18 | 181 | Aug 5, 2022 , Meyers
      Christmas Valley Trail / Lake Tahoe, CA / MTB
      13:28 | 27 | Aug 29, 2023 , Meyers
      • By TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS & contributors
      • #24365 - 10,754 views
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