Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Christmas Valley Trail
Tahoe Area Mountain Biking AssociationSponsor
USFSLand Manager
Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
- Horse
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Riding AreaMeiss Country
Meyers, California -
Ref Number#18E05
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AKALake Valley Trail, Meiss Meadow/Round Lake Trail
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Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (2 votes)
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Hiking SAC ScaleT2 Mountain Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC, Fat
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DirectionBoth DirectionsPopular direction shown
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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SeasonMay-November
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Alpine TrailYes
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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TTFs on TrailLog Ride, Rock Garden
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Global Ranking
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Local Popularity90 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 50 in Trail Running
- 40 in Hiking
- 5 in Horseback
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Land ManagerUSFS
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
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Altitude change-1,378 ft
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Altitude min6,545 ft
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Altitude max7,938 ft
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Altitude start7,938 ft
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Altitude end6,558 ft
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Grade-6.4%
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Grade max-46.6%
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Grade min33%
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Distance climb2,851 ft
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Distance down3 miles
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Distance flat2,976 ft
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Avg time00:34:14
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Avg reverse time01:20:24
- view trail stats
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Inadequate
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
- mountain biking recent
- mountain biking (>6 month)
- hiking (1 year)
- moto (1 year)
- Downhill Ski
- Backcountry Ski
- Nordic Ski
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SaveChristmas Valley... Trail Reports
Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 10 rides
- 11 miles avg distance
6 Months
- 145 rides
- 17 miles avg distance
All
- 870 rides
- Last: Aug 12, 2022
Photos
Routes with this trail
7 Reviews & Comments





Videos
Nearby Trails
- Scotts Lake Trail 2 miles
- Tahoe Rim Trail (big Meadow) 2 miles
- Tahoe Rim Trail (luther Stairs) 3 miles
- Scotts Lake Road (upper) 3 miles
- South Upper Truckee Road 3 miles
- embed Christmas Valley Trail trail on your website
- By TheAngryTomato
TRAILFORKS & contributors
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We found a killer private roadside spot at the Luther Pass campground area so we started and finished our ride there. But the parking lot at the bottom of Christmas Valley is where most will start / finish the ride.