California · Mountain biking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Bogus Basin

0.2 mi
round trip
42 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Bogus Basin open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.

  • Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts

    Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bogus Basin is a short, easy mountain biking ride in California's Tahoe National Forest, set within the Truckee Ranger District and the Royal Gorge. The route is an out-and-back of about half a mile, with a low point of 7,157 feet and a high of 7,225 feet, and it rises by about 40 feet on the way up. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 82°F in July with only about two wet days a month, and the station sits roughly 1,300 feet lower than the high point, so expect cooler temperatures up top. The Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail lies just 0.1 mile away, and the Nose Dive mountain biking route is about 0.2 mile off. Climbers can head to Power Line Boulder, about a mile away, and Milton Reservoir offers lake fishing at about 1.3 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Onion Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Donner Ski Ranch

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rains

    Watson Cabin

    Museum

    On your way back · 15 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Bogus Basin

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 17°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 18°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 22°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 26°

      7 wet

    5. May

      63° / 33°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 38°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 44°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 42°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 36°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 29°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 23°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      39° / 17°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Donner Mem Sp, CA, 7.2 mi away at 5,937 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors