California · Mountain biking

Butcher Ranch Trail

2.5 mi
round trip
1,279 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Butcher Ranch Trail 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.

Butcher Ranch Trail is a mountain biking route in the Yuba River Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back that covers about 5 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 1,280 feet from a low point of about 5,013 feet to a high of about 6,305 feet. It is rated easy. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Bowman Dam weather station, which sits about 920 feet lower than the trail's high point, show July highs around 82°F with lows near 54°F, while winter highs there stay in the mid-40s. Several other routes and destinations lie within a short drive. The Third Divide Trail and Second Divide Trail are both about 1.5 miles away, and Pauley Creek offers canoeing at a similar distance. For an overnight stay, Union Flat campground is about 3.9 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Butcher Ranch Trail

    Best months: April–October. 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

      46° / 29°

    2. Feb

      47° / 28°

    3. Mar

      49° / 30°

    4. Apr

      55° / 33°

    5. May

      64° / 40°

    6. Jun

      73° / 47°

    7. Jul

      82° / 54°

    8. Aug

      81° / 54°

    9. Sep

      77° / 51°

    10. Oct

      66° / 42°

    11. Nov

      54° / 34°

    12. Dec

      45° / 29°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bowman Dam, CA, 12.2 mi away at 5,385 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors