Singletrack trails, stunning views, and endless options: Tahoe’s Flume Trail is my definition of a perfect day at the lake.
Every May, just before the start of the summer season, I make sure to get in at least one long training run on the Flume Trail. Located high on a ridge above the east shore of Lake Tahoe, its mellow terrain and beautiful views make it a popular ride for the mountain bike set. Springtime, however, and this trail becomes all mine.
The Flume itself was a waterway built by loggers in the 1800′s and used to transport timber. Thus, the slope of the trail is fairly gentle, and to the runner it feels perfectly flat. Getting to the Flume Trail, however, definitely requires some ascending. There are a number of choices for exactly how to reach the Flume Trail, and I chose to start at the Spooner Summit trailhead of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
I arrived around 10:00 am with my usual Saturday running partner: my border collie, Cap. I didn’t feel the need for an early start, since the weather was still cool, and would likely be even cooler as I gained altitude.
We headed north on the Rim Trail for just a short ways before taking a left onto the Spooner Lake Trail towards Spooner State Park. The lake came into view as we skirted the southern shore, and I drank water for the sole purpose of lightening the load on my bulging hydration pack. Cap was dismayed at being constrained by the leash, but it’s required within the park boundaries, and I knew it was the section of trail where we were most likely to encounter other people.
Along the lake, the aspens were just beginning to leaf out. As we merged onto the North Canyon Trail and began to climb, our surroundings took on a decidedly more wintry feel. The trail, which is actually more of a road at this point, wound through skeleton willows and across burnished, grassy meadows, still wet with frost in the shadows.
After a mile or so on North Canyon, we reached the turn off for the Marlette Lake Trail. This is definitely the more preferable route to Marlette Lake, although North Canyon will get you to the same place. The Marlette trail is beautiful singletrack, with no mountain bikes allowed, while the alternate is basically a road. The only question was whether we would encounter much snow on the four mile climb. If we did, the road would make for much easier navigation. I hadn’t seen any signs of snow so far, so we happily jumped on the singletrack. Cap was especially pleased, as this was where I let him off the leash, and he bounded up the trail in eager exploration.
The climb was pleasant but steady, as we gained about 1,200′ in 4 miles before descending down to Marlette Lake at 7,800′. We followed the forested trail along a creek serving as an inlet to the lake. It was too early for both mosquitoes and wildflowers, but Cap was glad the creek was still flowing and he drank fervently from the icy flow.
Upon arriving at Marlette Lake, I often find it’s a wonderful time for a swim. It’s an activity best reserved for August, however, and this day we took a left to follow the road along the east shore of the lake.
We’d only encountered a few small patches of snow so far, and I was surprised. I’d run this 1.5 mile stretch along Marlette Lake in full snow-cover many times, but today it was completely snow-free. Looking up at the mountains above, they, too looked quite clear, and I began to wonder what the conditions might be like on the Tahoe Rim Trail.
After almost 7 miles of running, we finally saw some other people on the trail. It just happened to be my friends and fellow runners, Sarah and Camille. They were running essentially the same route that I was, in reverse. The only difference was that I planned to run out and back, and they had set up a car shuttle for the one-way trip. We shared news of the trail conditions and let the dogs chase each other for a few minutes, before moving off in our respective directions.
After a little rock climbing maneuver to skirt the edge of the lake, Cap and I finally found ourselves on the Flume Trail. After descending a couple of switchbacks, we burst out into the blinding sun of the west-facing slopes above Tahoe.
Flat, easy running along a precipitous drop-off lead us for four miles of the best views in Tahoe. It felt like a completely different season on this side of the ridge, and I reveled in the sun’s warm caress and the sight of the first wildflowers erupting from cracks in the granite. We had the place all to ourselves, and I knew this marked the threshold to a summer full of running in the mountains.
Upon arriving at the junction with Tunnel Creek Road, there are several options. My initial plan had been to turn around and head back to Spooner for about 25 miles of running. After observing the lack of snow however, I decided that Cap and I should take this opportunity to check out trail conditions up on the Tahoe Rim Trail. We took a right at Tunnel Creek for about a half a mile to the Rim Trail, where we headed south.
Once on the Rim Trail, we began a steady climb towards the summit of Marlette Peak. There hadn’t been any water since Marlette Lake, so I shared mine with Cap. I could see my two liters were probably not going to be enough for us.
When we began to encounter snow after less than two miles, I knew we were in for an adventure. Eventually we finally found ourselves on terrain of solid snow, and I decided to forget about the trail and just hike straight up. Fortunately, I had a map, and I spent the next hour or so alternately hiking and comparing the map to our surroundings. The snow also had the added benefit of providing an ample water source, and I kept scooping clean snow into my bladder to mix with the remaining water.
I finally spotted Marlette Peak, and we made our way across the intervening ridge until we hit the trail. Our navigational adventure had definitely made the day longer than planned, but ultimately more fun. Tired, happy, and with our thirst for adventure satiated, we scampered down to the lake to rejoin the Marlette Lake trail and make the return trip to Spooner.
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Trailheads
Spooner Summit trailhead is located on Highway 50, 1/2 mile east of Lake Tahoe. Another place to begin the run is Spooner Lake State Park. For a $6 entrance fee, you’ll find bathrooms, running water, maps and a bike shop with gear, snacks and information. It is located on highway 28, 1/2 mile north of the junction with highway 50.
Map & Elevation Profile (new window)
Options
13.5 miles:
Start from Spooner Lake State Park. Run one-way on the Marlette Lake Trail and Flume Trail. Turn left at Tunnel Creek Road and run down to highway 28 where you can take a shuttle back to the park. Check here for current shuttle schedule and prices. Dufficulty: Moderate. The only climbing comes on the initial 4 mile climb.
22 or 25 miles:
Begin at either the State Park (for 22 miles) or the Spooner Summit trailhead (for 25 miles). Run out on the Marlette Lake Trail and Flume Trail to Tunnel Creek Road, and back on the same route. Difficulty: Hard. The climbing is the same as the 13.5 mile option. This route is just longer.
23-26 miles:
Begin at either trailhead. Run out on the Marlette Lake trail and Flume Trail to Tunnel Creek Road. Turn right on Tunnel Creek Road for .6 miles until you reach the junction with the Tahoe Rim Trail. Head south on the Tahoe Rim Trail for 5 miles until you reach the junction with Hobart Road. Here, you can either turn right on Hobart Road to return via the Marlette Lake Trail, or continue on the Tahoe Rim Trail to run over Snow Valley Peak and return to your trailhead. Difficulty: Extreme. If you follow the Rim Trail over both Marlette Peak and Snow Valley Peak, you’re in for a superb adventure!
Recommended Gear
Hydration:
This is probably the most important gear consideration. Runners should carry a minimum of 2 liters of water for the 13.5 mile route. For the 22 mile out-and-back, you can carry a filter (or your preferred water treatment) and refill water at Marlette Lake. If you’re heading up to the Rim Trail, be aware that there is no water available. Runners should carry at least 3 liters of water for this route, especially in the warm summer months.
Shoes:
You can get away with road shoes for the Marlette and Flume trails if you prefer, but trail shoes would not go amiss. The Rim Trail has some rocky, technical sections, and you’ll be happier in trail shoes.
Sun Protection:
The high-altitude sun is strong! Don’t forget sunscreen and your hat!
Clothing:
Even when it’s warm enough for shorts, I always take a windbreaker and dry shirt. It gets windy up on the ridge, and you never know when the weather might roll in.
Post Run
Don’t forget to ice down with a dip in the big lake! Sand Harbor and Hidden Beach, both on highway 28, offer easy options to reward yourself with a well-earned swim. The perfect end to the perfect run.
More Information
Current trail conditions, maps, and road information are available here.
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