California · Mountain biking

First Divide Trail

0.6 mi
round trip
45 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is First Divide 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.

The First Divide Trail is a short, easy mountain biking route in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Yuba River Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back that covers about 1.2 miles, with a low point of 3,274 feet and a high of 3,320 feet, so the one-way climb is about 45 feet. The Forest Service manages the land. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Downieville weather station show May highs around 72°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August average highs near 89°F. That station sits about 400 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. The Downie River, a canoeing spot, is about 1.5 miles away, and the Downie River Trail is about 2.3 miles off. Union Flat campground is about 3.5 miles away, and the Free For All Valley climbing area is about 9.3 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit First Divide Trail

    Best months: April–June and September–November. 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

      48° / 30°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      52° / 31°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      58° / 33°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      63° / 36°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      72° / 42°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 46°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 51°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 50°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 46°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      72° / 39°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 33°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      46° / 29°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Downieville, CA, 2.8 mi away at 2,915 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors