| Lake Tahoe & the High Sierras 6-Day Road Cycling Adventure Tour |
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This week-long adventure tour features 338 miles of riding over five full days of activity and
11 major climbs with 22,105 feet of elevation gain on those climbs! All of this occurs around
some of the loveliest alpine lakes, forests, and mountains of the world! In addition, this tour travels
through key historical sites of the Old West. Due to the climbing involved at elevation, a high level of
fitness is required for this tour. This tour also includes seven nights of inn stays, with five nights in
the Lake Tahoe region and two nights in San Francisco, two meals per full day, rider support, and
round-trip transportation from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. Importantly, our adventure tour offers
one to two additional nights of inn stays versus comparable tours, yet is more affordable.
Dates Price
6/9–6/15 7/21–7/27 $1795 (vs. $1890 or more)
8/25–8/31 9/15–9/21
10/20–10/26
Day 1, Saturday
We begin the adventure with our evening Reception and Orientation at our Home Office in San
Anselmo, CA. Your place of stay for Nights 1 and 7 will be in the neighboring town of San Rafael,
which was the location of the 20th of the 21 Spanish Missions in California. In more recent times,
director George Lucas filmed the street cruising scenes in downtown San Rafael for his 1973 pop
cinema classic American Graffiti.
Day 2, Sunday – South Lake Tahoe, CA
By mid-morning, we begin our drive from San Francisco into the Sierras to South Lake Tahoe (elev.
6,254 ft.). After checking in, we do a short ride around South Lake Tahoe to test our equipment and
become familiar with riding at elevation. The 24 mile ride is out-and-back and flat-to-rolling, which
includes a loop around Washoe Meadows State Park. In the evening, you may want to take a short
stroll across the stateline to Nevada. This is a unique location in that a number of casinos there offer
the gaming excitement of Las Vegas, yet are situated by one of the largest and deepest alpine lakes in
the world.
24 miles of riding
Day 3, Monday – South Lake Tahoe, CA to Truckee, CA
Today, we ride along the southern and western shores of Lake Tahoe. We encounter our first climb
of the day which travels to the top of the Emerald Bay overlook, Inspiration Point, and towards
Desolation Wilderness in the Eldorado National Forest. We continue to Tahoe City, which is on the
northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. From Tahoe City, we ride away from the shoreline towards the old
railroad and lumber town of Truckee. Along the way to Truckee, we veer west for a short out-and-
back climb to the base of Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. As we approach
Truckee, we ride west for our last climb of the day – an out-and-back endeavor that travels by
Donner Lake and towards Donner Summit. This evening, we stay in Truckee (elev. 5,820 ft.), an Old
West town that is noted for it 1800-period buildings.
67 miles of riding, and 2 significant climbs with 2,000 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Day 4, Tuesday – Truckee, CA to Carson City, NV
We begin the day by riding from Truckee over the Brockway Summit (elev. 7,199 ft.) and then
descending down to Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Shortly thereafter, we ride over
the stateline into Nevada along Crystal Bay. As we enter Incline Village (elev. 6,269 ft.), we begin our
ascent up to the Mt. Rose Summit (elev. 8,900 ft.) – the highest point on our tour. After the summit,
we have a somewhat curvy descent into the Washoe Valley (elev. 4,594 ft.), which is the lowest point
on our tour. To the northeast lies the city of Reno, which is the present home of professional cyclist
Bobby Julich. Bobby Julich won a Bronze medal in the Men's ITT at the 2004 Olympic Games and
finished 3rd Overall at the controversial 1998 Tour de France, which was won by the late, great
Marco Pantani! As we approach the Virginia Range, we face our last major climb of the day to the
Geiger Summit (elev. 6799 ft.). Shortly after the summit, we have a minor descent into the historic
silver mining town and heart of the Comstock Lode - Virginia City, NV. Here, we will definitely do
some sight-seeing. Virginia City, in fact, is where Mark Twain once worked as a news writer. As we
leave Virginia City and descend into the Carson Valley, we ride by two ghost towns – Gold Hill and
Silver City. Finally, we reach our destination for the evening, Carson City, which is the state capital
of the Silver State.
72 miles of riding, and 3 significant climbs with 6,215 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Day 5, Wednesday – Carson City, NV to Markleeville, CA
Today, we ride from Carson City back to the California side of the stateline. As we travel by the
towns of Minden and Gardnerville, we ride on the same roads that were once used by a young Greg
Lemond, the first American champion of the Tour de France. We cross the stateline at Topaz Lake.
Shortly thereafter, we climb up and over Monitor Pass (elev. 8,314 ft.) and descend to Markleeville,
where we will stay for the evening. If time permit, we will try to visit and relax at Grover Hot Springs
State Park.
67 miles of riding, and 1 significant climb with 3,314 ft. of elevation gain
Day 6, Thursday – Markleeville, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA
On our final full day of riding, we hit many of the passes that are featured in the one-day Tour of the
California Alps. We begin the day by performing an out-and-back climb from Markleeville (elev.
5,501 ft.) to Ebbetts Pass (elev. 8,730 ft.). After riding pass Markleeville, we climb up to Picketts
Junction (elev. 7,079 ft.) and Hope Valley. From Picketts Junction, we conduct another out-and-back
climb to Carson Pass (elev. 8,573 ft.). From Picketts Junction, our final climb of the day is up to
Luther Pass (elev. 7,740 ft.). From Luther Pass, we descend down to Meyers and return to South
Lake Tahoe for the evening.
84 miles of riding, and 3 significant climbs with 6,962 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Day 7, Friday – Kingsbury Grade (optional)
Before driving back to San Francisco, we may do an optional out-and-back ride from South Lake
Tahoe up the Kingsbury Grade to Daggett Pass (elev. 7,334 ft.) and the Carson Valley. If time
permits, we may also take a short hike from Inspiration Point to the shores of Emerald Bay before
returning to the San Francisco Bay Area.
24 miles of riding, and 2 significant climbs with 3,614 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
11 major climbs with 22,105 feet of elevation gain on those climbs! All of this occurs around
some of the loveliest alpine lakes, forests, and mountains of the world! In addition, this tour travels
through key historical sites of the Old West. Due to the climbing involved at elevation, a high level of
fitness is required for this tour. This tour also includes seven nights of inn stays, with five nights in
the Lake Tahoe region and two nights in San Francisco, two meals per full day, rider support, and
round-trip transportation from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. Importantly, our adventure tour offers
one to two additional nights of inn stays versus comparable tours, yet is more affordable.
Dates Price
6/9–6/15 7/21–7/27 $1795 (vs. $1890 or more)
8/25–8/31 9/15–9/21
10/20–10/26
Day 1, Saturday
We begin the adventure with our evening Reception and Orientation at our Home Office in San
Anselmo, CA. Your place of stay for Nights 1 and 7 will be in the neighboring town of San Rafael,
which was the location of the 20th of the 21 Spanish Missions in California. In more recent times,
director George Lucas filmed the street cruising scenes in downtown San Rafael for his 1973 pop
cinema classic American Graffiti.
Day 2, Sunday – South Lake Tahoe, CA
By mid-morning, we begin our drive from San Francisco into the Sierras to South Lake Tahoe (elev.
6,254 ft.). After checking in, we do a short ride around South Lake Tahoe to test our equipment and
become familiar with riding at elevation. The 24 mile ride is out-and-back and flat-to-rolling, which
includes a loop around Washoe Meadows State Park. In the evening, you may want to take a short
stroll across the stateline to Nevada. This is a unique location in that a number of casinos there offer
the gaming excitement of Las Vegas, yet are situated by one of the largest and deepest alpine lakes in
the world.
24 miles of riding
Day 3, Monday – South Lake Tahoe, CA to Truckee, CA
Today, we ride along the southern and western shores of Lake Tahoe. We encounter our first climb
of the day which travels to the top of the Emerald Bay overlook, Inspiration Point, and towards
Desolation Wilderness in the Eldorado National Forest. We continue to Tahoe City, which is on the
northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. From Tahoe City, we ride away from the shoreline towards the old
railroad and lumber town of Truckee. Along the way to Truckee, we veer west for a short out-and-
back climb to the base of Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. As we approach
Truckee, we ride west for our last climb of the day – an out-and-back endeavor that travels by
Donner Lake and towards Donner Summit. This evening, we stay in Truckee (elev. 5,820 ft.), an Old
West town that is noted for it 1800-period buildings.
67 miles of riding, and 2 significant climbs with 2,000 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Day 4, Tuesday – Truckee, CA to Carson City, NV
We begin the day by riding from Truckee over the Brockway Summit (elev. 7,199 ft.) and then
descending down to Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Shortly thereafter, we ride over
the stateline into Nevada along Crystal Bay. As we enter Incline Village (elev. 6,269 ft.), we begin our
ascent up to the Mt. Rose Summit (elev. 8,900 ft.) – the highest point on our tour. After the summit,
we have a somewhat curvy descent into the Washoe Valley (elev. 4,594 ft.), which is the lowest point
on our tour. To the northeast lies the city of Reno, which is the present home of professional cyclist
Bobby Julich. Bobby Julich won a Bronze medal in the Men's ITT at the 2004 Olympic Games and
finished 3rd Overall at the controversial 1998 Tour de France, which was won by the late, great
Marco Pantani! As we approach the Virginia Range, we face our last major climb of the day to the
Geiger Summit (elev. 6799 ft.). Shortly after the summit, we have a minor descent into the historic
silver mining town and heart of the Comstock Lode - Virginia City, NV. Here, we will definitely do
some sight-seeing. Virginia City, in fact, is where Mark Twain once worked as a news writer. As we
leave Virginia City and descend into the Carson Valley, we ride by two ghost towns – Gold Hill and
Silver City. Finally, we reach our destination for the evening, Carson City, which is the state capital
of the Silver State.
72 miles of riding, and 3 significant climbs with 6,215 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Day 5, Wednesday – Carson City, NV to Markleeville, CA
Today, we ride from Carson City back to the California side of the stateline. As we travel by the
towns of Minden and Gardnerville, we ride on the same roads that were once used by a young Greg
Lemond, the first American champion of the Tour de France. We cross the stateline at Topaz Lake.
Shortly thereafter, we climb up and over Monitor Pass (elev. 8,314 ft.) and descend to Markleeville,
where we will stay for the evening. If time permit, we will try to visit and relax at Grover Hot Springs
State Park.
67 miles of riding, and 1 significant climb with 3,314 ft. of elevation gain
Day 6, Thursday – Markleeville, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA
On our final full day of riding, we hit many of the passes that are featured in the one-day Tour of the
California Alps. We begin the day by performing an out-and-back climb from Markleeville (elev.
5,501 ft.) to Ebbetts Pass (elev. 8,730 ft.). After riding pass Markleeville, we climb up to Picketts
Junction (elev. 7,079 ft.) and Hope Valley. From Picketts Junction, we conduct another out-and-back
climb to Carson Pass (elev. 8,573 ft.). From Picketts Junction, our final climb of the day is up to
Luther Pass (elev. 7,740 ft.). From Luther Pass, we descend down to Meyers and return to South
Lake Tahoe for the evening.
84 miles of riding, and 3 significant climbs with 6,962 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Day 7, Friday – Kingsbury Grade (optional)
Before driving back to San Francisco, we may do an optional out-and-back ride from South Lake
Tahoe up the Kingsbury Grade to Daggett Pass (elev. 7,334 ft.) and the Carson Valley. If time
permits, we may also take a short hike from Inspiration Point to the shores of Emerald Bay before
returning to the San Francisco Bay Area.
24 miles of riding, and 2 significant climbs with 3,614 ft. of elevation gain on those climbs
Click on the link above to use
Yahoo! Maps, and view the
layout of some of the major
destinations on this adventure
tour. Enter locations such as
South Lake Tahoe, CA;
Truckee, CA; Virginia City, NV;
Carson City, NV; and
Markleeville, CA in the City,
State text box of the map
window.
Yahoo! Maps, and view the
layout of some of the major
destinations on this adventure
tour. Enter locations such as
South Lake Tahoe, CA;
Truckee, CA; Virginia City, NV;
Carson City, NV; and
Markleeville, CA in the City,
State text box of the map
window.
Complimentary Livestrong bracelets are available to the first tour guests on our 2007
tours while supply lasts! You may reserve this Wild West Cycling adventure tour by clicking
on the Dates and Tour buttons on the right and placing your choices into your online shopping
cart. Or you may reserve any of our adventure tours via the Internet, telephone, or regular
mail by visiting our Reservations Center. A $400 deposit is required per guest per tour, and
any balance is due 30 days before the start of your tour. To learn more about all of the amenities
that are included with our tours, please visit our Guest Services Center. We look forward to
riding with you in the High Sierras
Please view our Terms of Service page if you have any questions concerning our cancellation and refund policies.
tours while supply lasts! You may reserve this Wild West Cycling adventure tour by clicking
on the Dates and Tour buttons on the right and placing your choices into your online shopping
cart. Or you may reserve any of our adventure tours via the Internet, telephone, or regular
mail by visiting our Reservations Center. A $400 deposit is required per guest per tour, and
any balance is due 30 days before the start of your tour. To learn more about all of the amenities
that are included with our tours, please visit our Guest Services Center. We look forward to
riding with you in the High Sierras
Please view our Terms of Service page if you have any questions concerning our cancellation and refund policies.