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Thunder Mountain Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult Difficult
 5.0 (10)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. Kirkwood
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“Jaw dropping scenery and great variety of riding. ”

Alec Ferguson
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Map Key

11.1

Miles

17.9

KM

75%

Singletrack

9,229' 2,813 m

High

7,224' 2,202 m

Low

2,073' 632 m

Up

2,071' 631 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Views

Overview

One of my favorite rides in the Sierras, this loop has it all -- lung busting climbs, scenery, and fast flowy singletrack through cool rock features.

Description

Tough but fun climb to the turret of Thunder Mountain Loop Trail #17E22 with incredible narrow singletrack above the cliffs on the other side. Glide past a cave across alpine meadows, then fast flowy singletrack with some nice rock gardens down Silver Lake - Horse Canyon Trail #17E21. Dirt road back is a meh but ends quickly with a last bit of singletrack and views over Caples Creek Canyon.

Contacts

Local Club: Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA)

Jan 30, 2024: TAMBA Trail Legends: Fish Family

Dec 11, 2023: TAMBA Trail Legends: John Clausen

Nov 9, 2023: Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series: Michelle Parker’s ‘A Shift in Perspective’

Land Manager: USFS - Eldorado National Forest Office

Shared By:

Alec Ferguson with improvements by Peter Monks
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 10 votes

#1

in Kirkwood

#795

Overall
  5.0 from 10 votes
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Kirkwood

#121

in California

#795

Overall
23 Views Last Month
2,597 Since Jul 28, 2020
Difficult Difficult
0%
0%
0%
22%
67%
11%
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Photos

Fun trail with great views.
Oct 12, 2020 near South L…, CA
Alpine scenery
Nov 9, 2019 near South L…, CA
Views into Kirkwood
Nov 9, 2019 near South L…, CA
Off the backside, clinging to the face.
Nov 9, 2019 near South L…, CA
Pretty nice views.
Oct 12, 2020 near South L…, CA
Ride the ridge
Nov 9, 2019 near South L…, CA

5 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 80 days ago
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Check-Ins

Aug 25, 2023
Lorenzo Fernandez-Kopec
11.8mi — 3h 14m
Aug 15, 2022
Scott Sumners
Some of the most diverse terrain around! Beautiful scenery, big climb, technical descent. Little extra climb up to the summit is totally worth it 12mi — 2h 50m
Jul 30, 2022
Kikinda Pantz
Fun, dusty trail. Couldn't find the connector from the horse canyon th to the fireroad. Couldn't find fireroad from Martin meadows to thunder mt th — 3h 00m
Jul 19, 2021
CJ Crandall
Steep climbs at high elevation. Fun DH through Horse Canyon. 11.6mi — 2h 00m
Jun 19, 2021
James Bishop
Rode from Kirkwood Village. Climbs are sustained which makes them tough but the views are amazing. Singletrack trails at the bottom to avoid hwy 88! 17mi
Jun 1, 2021
Armando Enriquez
Oct 6, 2020
steven le
Out and back 8.3mi — 2h 48m
Aug 8, 2020
Brad Anderson
11.1mi — 3h 00m

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