Name: Cold Creek Trail #18E06
Rating: 4.6

Conditions

All Clear 47 days ago

History

Getting forecast...

“Flowy singletrack on granite and silt covered granite. Expert sections at the top. ”

— Bryce Knudson

Driving Directions GPX File

Dogs Unknown

Features -none-

Description

Use High Meadows Road (FSR 12N21) and the High Meadows Jeep Road to reach the start of this singletrack. It starts at the top of this path in a beautiful mountain meadow. The trail is on the left shortly after crossing a small creek (Cold Creek). This is a very picturesque scene and I suggest you stop to take in the view. The trail then follows the creek down the valley.

The beginning of this path is nice and easy flowy singletrack through the trees, but quickly becomes more difficult. The top sections are expert, and in some cases require a capable trail or downhill bike and rider. As a cross-country rider or intermediate rider, multiple upper sections will require some walking.

The trail mellows out about 1/3 way down and its flowy singletrack spotted with some large rocks/medium sized drops and banked corners. Great intermediate riding. A couple of small jumps also spot this section of trail. Halfway down is a cut over to High Meadows Jeep Road, don't go here or you'll miss out on a great section of trail.

The trail splits at the bottom to Power Line Trail #18E33 to the right and left back to High Meadows Road (FSR 12N21).

Watch out for walkers or riders coming up. There can be lots of people with dogs, so be aware.

This trail can also be ridden up and is a little more enjoyable but longer than taking High Meadow Road.

Contacts

Local Club: Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association

Aug 10, 2018: Lily Lake Trail Construction

Jun 4, 2018: Major Trail Day Schedule

May 28, 2018: Angora Ridge Gets Trail Signs

Land Manager: USFS - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Office

Aug 1, 2018: NIFC mobilizes Australian and New Zealand firefighters to help with Western wildfires

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.6 from 10 votes

#5

in Lake Tahoe

#703

Overall

4.6 from 10 votes

5 Star		60%
4 Star		40%
3 Star		0%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Rankings

206 Views Last Month

4,514 Since Jul 23, 2013

Intermediate/Difficult

		0%
		13%
		13%
		38%
		38%
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Photos

Star Lake and Cold Creek Trails

Amazing rock section on the Cold Creek Trail. T…

Amazing meadow at the top of cold creek trail

The bridge over Cold Creek.

Cold Creek (Facing South, up the mountain)

5 Comments

Note: From the top of Cold Creek Trail at the High Meadow, you can continue climbing on an unmarked trail that leads up to the T.R.T. (Tahoe Rim Trail) near Monument Pass. From there you can loop over to Star Lake, Freely Pass or over to Saxton Trail (Mr. Toads). This unmarked trail provides a great way to get additional miles on the spectacular T.R.T.! Aug 17, 2014

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Steve Schweigerdt

This is a pretty trail, but my best ride ever is going up Cold Creek, taking High Mtn Rd over to Star Lake Trail, then going over to Armstrong Trail. See the map mountainbiketahoe.org/wp-co… Feb 24, 2015

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Conor Barry

The downhill on Cold Creek is one of my favorites in the Tahoe area. The top is pretty techy with some rock gardens. The lower part of the trail is fast and flowy with some rocks to jump off of here and there. If you're feeling up to it, from the top of cold creek, you can climb to star lake on the new star lake connector trail. The climb is the perfect bablance of tech and steep and the way back down is just insanely fun. Not to mention the view at star lake is pretty stellar. Or you can connect to the Tahoe Rim Trail from here and explore a bunch of different descnet options. Feb 11, 2016

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Mickey Fimbres

I did this as an out, and back having started lower down on Rail Road grade. This is a great trail that is well tended by trail workers, Thanks to those for the great work. There's a couple of features, and jumps along with the rocks, and bermmed corners. Add in some small creek crossings, and this was super fun. Jul 26, 2017

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Micah Franz

I rode up the jeep trail to the top of cold creek on April 26th. There was a lot of snow at the meadow, but I walked my bike about half a mile and found mostly clear trail. After the huge technical rock drop at the top it was pretty clear but watch your speed there are a couple of icy corners still. Overall the trail was dry enough to ride without doing harm! Amazing ride! Apr 28, 2018

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3.1 Miles 5.0 Kilometers Singletrack	1' 0 m Ascent -1,193' -364 m Descent
7% Avg Grade (4°) 23% Max Grade (13°)	7,761' 2,366 m High 6,569' 2,002 m Low

Cold Creek Trail #18E06

3.1 Miles 5.0 Kilometers

Singletrack

1' 0 m

-1,193' -364 m

7%

23%

7,761' 2,366 m

6,569' 2,002 m

Shared By Bryce Knudson

Conditions