2.8 miles
Distance
1,149 ft
Climb
-84 ft
Descent
00:52:48
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Monument Pass Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Monument Pass Trail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Freel High Country
    South Lake Tahoe, California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    May-November
  • Alpine Trail
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Global Ranking
    #53476 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #57343 in Trail Running
    • #25990 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 75 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Land Owner
    USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

New in 2014, this trail climbs over 1,000 vertical feet in about 3 miles to connect the top of Cold Creek Trail/High Meadow Rd. to Monument Pass and the TRT. The lower half is really fun and flowy, a good climb or descent. The top half is sandy with several rock stair sequences and tight, steep switchbacks. The trail is a difficult option to get up to the TRT, but a better choice to ride down. The Monument Pass Trail passes through many old growth Jupiter trees, Mountain Mahogany, and some cool rock outcroppings. Ride as an out and back or as a loop south to Star Lake or north to Van Sickle Trail.

Access Info

The upper trailhead departs the TRT west traversing the side of Monument Peak before descending to High Meadow.

The lower trailhead: from the end of the Cold Creek Trail turn left (away from the creek) and ride the remnants of High Meadow Rd. under the power lines for a few hundred feet before the trail begins traveling east.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Monument Pass Trail multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    1,064 ft
  • Altitude min
    7,754 ft
  • Altitude max
    8,818 ft
  • Altitude start
    7,754 ft
  • Altitude end
    8,818 ft
  • Grade
    7.288%
  • Grade max
    -10.404%
  • Grade min
    38.148%
  • Distance climb
    2 miles
  • Distance down
    1,577 ft
  • Distance flat
    2,019 ft
  • Avg time
    00:52:48
  • Avg reverse time
    00:22:16
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jul 16, 2023
Dry
Avg: 3.85 (6 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 monument-pass-trail trailhead (38.901960, -119.905170)
      update trails status or condition

      Monument Pass Trail Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jul 16, 2023 @ 9:41am
      Jul 16, 2023
      		 Clear of snow with a tree down near the top.
      Jul 4, 2023 @ 1:46am
      Jul 4, 2023
      		 Sections of TRT right before Monument Peak were covered with snow with steep downslope making crossing somewhat treacherous
      Jun 20, 2023 @ 8:22am
      Jun 20, 2023
      		 Pretty clear till 8,450’. Turned around at a set of deeper snow banks.
      Sep 18, 2022 @ 1:45pm
      Sep 18, 2022
      May 22, 2022 @ 8:48pm
      May 22, 2022
      		 Couple small snow patches uphigh. 99% clear
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 2 rides
      • 25 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 47 rides
      • 21 miles avg distance
      All
      • 483 rides
      • Last: Sep 8, 2023

      Photos

      more »
      207 |
      Aug 1, 2019 @ 4:13pm
      Aug 1, 2019
      462 |
      Mar 20, 2017 @ 10:57pm
      Mar 20, 2017
      454 |
      Mar 20, 2017 @ 10:56pm
      Mar 20, 2017
      429 |
      Mar 20, 2017 @ 10:56pm
      Mar 20, 2017

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Markleeville to Downieville: Complete193 miles
      Monument Pass via Powerline and Cold Creek13 miles
      Route "C" Tahoe Rim Trail-Monument Pass-Cold Creek Trail22 miles
      Saddle TRT loop18 miles

      5 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Star Lake and Freal Peak Adventure Day (South...
      13:06 | 453 | Aug 13, 2018 , South Lake Tahoe
      Monument Pass / Lake Tahoe / MTB / 4K
      10:41 | 129 | Nov 29, 2021 , South Lake Tahoe
      Lake Tahoe - Monument, Cold Creek and TRT High...
      13:22 | 325 | Sep 15, 2019 , South Lake Tahoe

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