Completed in 2023 after an eight-year collaborative effort, the Capital to Tahoe Trail represents a landmark achievement in regional trail connectivity. The approximately 10-mile singletrack spans from Carson City's Ash to Kings Canyon trail system to the Tahoe Rim Trail near Spooner Lake State Park, climbing to a peak elevation of 8,382 feet as it crosses U.S. Forest Service lands, Nevada State Park property, and a private parcel. This blue-rated trail features flowing turns, sweeping views of Carson City and Washoe Valley, and serves as the only non-motorized singletrack connection between Nevada's capital and the Lake Tahoe Basin. Built through the partnership of nonprofit Muscle Powered, Carson City, Nevada State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and a private landowner—with over 1,600 volunteer hours contributed to construction—the trail gained national recognition with a 2024 Coalition for Recreational Trails Achievement Award in the community linkage category.
Most riders tackle the trail as a point-to-point shuttle from Tahoe down to Carson City, making it ideal for experienced mountain bikers seeking a substantial 22- to 25-mile ride when combined with access trails. The remote, long nature of the trail demands proper preparation with the ten essentials and awareness of changing weather conditions, but rewards riders with spectacular alpine scenery, wildflower-studded hillsides in season, and the unique silence of a true backcountry experience just miles from the state capital. The trail connects directly to the Tahoe Rim Trail, opening up additional riding possibilities in the Lake Tahoe Basin and access to more than 60 miles of paths spanning 13,000 acres of spectacular non-motorized primitive wilderness.
