more stats
4.0 miles
Distance
336 ft
Climb
-946 ft
Descent
00:37:36
Avg time
-610 ft
Altitude change
7,082 ft
Altitude min
7,987 ft
Altitude max
7,692 ft
Altitude start
7,083 ft
Altitude end
-2.9%
Grade
-27.3%
Grade max
17.9%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
2,497 ft
Distance flat
00:37:36
Avg time

Twisted Pines Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Cave Lake State Park
    Ely, Nevada
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    70 in Mountain Biking heatmap [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 75 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #64232 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #215418 in Trail Running
    • #117659 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #325 in Mountain Biking · Nevada [+]
    • #1,182 in Trail Running
    • #573 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Apr - Nov
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Land Owner
    NV State Parks

Primarily used as the downhill portion of a larger Cave Lake loop, however some users will use it as an out-and-back. It is fast and flowy, but watch for sudden corners. Toward the top there are a couple technical sections, but overall this is a smooth ride. Be prepared for excellent views along the way.

Access Info

State Park entrance fee. Free parking at the two large pullouts on the right; at and before Elk Flat Campground road on the left.

Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 8 rides
  • 9 miles avg distance
All
  • 32 rides
  • Last: Oct 1, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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March
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December
update trails status or condition

Twisted Pines Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Mar 26, 2026 @ 8:44am (America/Los_Angeles)
Mar 26, 2026
Mar 26, 2026 @ 8:41am (America/Los_Angeles)
Mar 26, 2026
 test
May 25, 2024 @ 9:35am
May 25, 2024
Nov 15, 2023 @ 7:24pm
Nov 15, 2023
 Good to ride but conditions can change fast
Nov 1, 2023 @ 11:03pm
Nov 1, 2023
Rejected
more »
Status:
on Mar 26, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.41 (6 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to twisted-pines trailhead (39.181430, -114.694750)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

      Photos

      17 more »
      mtb
      149 |
      Dec 10, 2023 @ 1:04pm
      Dec 10, 2023
      mtb
      180 |
      May 5, 2022 @ 4:46pm
      May 5, 2022
      mtb
      174 |
      May 5, 2022 @ 4:45pm
      May 5, 2022
      mtb
      183 |
      May 5, 2022 @ 4:44pm
      May 5, 2022
      Views 1

      Videos

      3 more »
      Twisted Pines with Emma Watt
      mtb
      14:52 | 217 | Sep 28, 2023 , Ely
      Twisted Pines top to bottom. Ely, NV.
      mtb
      16:33 | 338 | Apr 8, 2022 , Ely
      Views & Flow for Days! Mountain Biking...
      mtb
      16:04 | 534 | Jun 26, 2019 , Ely

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      45
      High Roller
      ★ 5.0 • 10 miles • 1,592 ft • 4 •
      Start at Steptoe Creek Trailhead and ride the route clockwise for best results, but can be ridden in...
      35
      Tour de Cave Lake
      ★ 1.0 • 11 miles • 1,575 ft • 4 •
      A full tour of the Cave Lake area. There's some steep climbing, fast descents, awesome views, and a little...
      4.9 ★★★★★
      6 Ratings
      5 ★ 83%
      4 ★ 17%
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      7 Reviews & Comments

      sarahredpeterson
      This trail is SICK. Looped in High Roller. Nice climbs, fast descents. 10/10 recommend
      fatbottomgirl
      We'd give this awesome trail 6 stars, if we could!! It is very well -designed. It is a nice, rolling climb and one terrific downhill. We rode it almost to the junction with the High Roller trail where we hit snow at about 8000'. One of our favorite trails!
      2tall2old 2tall2old
      Rode as an out and back, adding High Roller counterclockwise in. Climbs very well and descent is super fun. A few small rocky sections. Fairly narrow for much of the ride. Spectacular views!

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      Nearby Trails

      Cave Lake State Park

      • By natenbake & contributors
      • #4350 - 3,066 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Twisted Pines located?
      Twisted Pines is located in Cave Lake State Park, Ely, Nevada, United States. It is part of the Cave Lake State Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.18143, -114.69475.
      ▼ How hard is Twisted Pines?
      Twisted Pines is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 2.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Twisted Pines?
      Twisted Pines has 336 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 946 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 7,082 ft to 7,987 ft.
      ▼ Is Twisted Pines a point to point trail?
      Twisted Pines is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Twisted Pines?
      Twisted Pines is 4.0 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Twisted Pines?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Twisted Pines. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Twisted Pines?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Twisted Pines are:
      • September (6 activities)
      • May (3 activities)
      • April (2 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Twisted Pines? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Twisted Pines are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Twisted Pines?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 38 minutes to ride Twisted Pines. The trail is 4.0 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Twisted Pines?
      Twisted Pines is a very popular trail. There have been 207 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 240 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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