First Divide Trail
- 2.6 mi
- round trip
- 396 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.
First Divide 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 total elevation gain of about 400 feet, and it is rated easy. The route starts at a low point of about 2,965 feet and climbs to a high of about 3,305 feet. The most comfortable months for a ride are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Downieville weather station show May highs around 72°F and October highs around 72°F, with July and August highs near 89°F. The Downie River paddling route is about 1.3 miles away, and the Oxford MC Trail and Downie River Trail are both within about 2.3 miles. Union Flat campground is about 3.6 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions41 mi away
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.
Jan
48° / 30°
12 wet · 2 snow
Feb
52° / 31°
11 wet · 2 snow
Mar
58° / 33°
11 wet · 2 snow
Apr
63° / 36°
9 wet · 1 snow
May
72° / 42°
7 wet
Jun
81° / 46°
3 wet
Jul
89° / 51°
1 wet
Aug
89° / 50°
1 wet
Sep
83° / 46°
2 wet
Oct
72° / 39°
5 wet
Nov
56° / 33°
9 wet · 1 snow
Dec
46° / 29°
12 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Downieville, CA, 2.4 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

