California · Mountain biking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Sterling's Canyon Road

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

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 21 h ago

Is Sterling's Canyon Road 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.

Sterling's Canyon Road is a short, easy out-and-back mountain biking route in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Truckee Ranger District and the Royal Gorge area. The climb is gentle, with a high point of 6,872 feet and a low point of 6,776 feet, and the round trip covers about 1.6 miles with an elevation gain of 118 feet. The land is managed by a non-governmental organization. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station run to a high of 82°F and a low of 44°F, and the station sits about 935 feet lower, so temperatures on this route run cooler. June and September are also mild, with highs around 73°F and 74°F. The route starts close to the Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail and the Reindeer trail, both about 0.1 mile away. Power Line Boulder offers climbing about 1.5 miles off, and Palisade Creek, a canoeing spot, is roughly 2.2 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Onion Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Donner Ski Ranch

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 4 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 Sterling's Canyon Road

    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, 8.5 mi away at 5,937 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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors