Muninnvagl
Campground
Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
California · Mountain biking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City
Switchback
- 1.0 mi
- round trip
- 106 ft
- climb
- Singletrack
- surface
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Switchback 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.
Switchback is a short, easy mountain biking route in the Truckee Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest, about a mile from the Forest Service's boundaries. The out-and-back ride covers roughly 2 miles, with a one-way climb of about 100 feet from a low point of 6,913 feet to a high of 7,029 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the Sagehen Creek weather station, about 11 miles away, show July highs near 80°F with lows around 37°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. The Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail and the Power Line Boulder climbing area both sit about 0.2 miles away. The Aster mountain biking route is about 0.6 miles off, and Milton Reservoir, a lake fishing spot, is about 2 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Donner Day Lodge
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Sunnyside-Tahoe CityLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions11 mi away
- West Shore Sports23 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Switchback
Best months: June–August. 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
40° / 15°
Feb
41° / 15°
Mar
48° / 19°
Apr
53° / 22°
May
62° / 28°
Jun
72° / 32°
Jul
80° / 37°
Aug
79° / 35°
Sep
73° / 31°
Oct
61° / 24°
Nov
49° / 20°
Dec
39° / 14°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sagehen Creek, CA, 11.2 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 700 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.
Keep exploring — more rides worth the drive
RIDE
Aster
~1 min drive
0.65-mile easy singletrack out-and-back with 224 ft gain in California.
RIDE
Razorback
~2 min drive
0.65-mile moderate singletrack with 277 ft gain in California
RIDE
Andesite West Osv
~5 min drive
3.46-mile trail at Donner Peak Trailhead with 1,052 ft elevation gain
RIDE
Lower Lola Montez Trail
~4 min drive
0.24-mile hard singletrack out and back in California with 302 ft gain.
RIDE
Claim Jumper
~1 min drive
0.39-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in California with 91 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Lower Lola Montez Trail
~2 min drive
0.26-mile out-and-back singletrack in California with 14 ft of elevation gain.
RIDE
Glacier Meadow Loop
~5 min drive
0.54-mile loop at Donner Peak Trailhead with 41 ft gain
RIDE
Claim Jumper Bike Route
~1 min drive
0.40-mile easy singletrack in California with 138 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Lower Lola Montez Trail
~4 min drive
0.11-mile out-and-back singletrack in California, 45 ft gain, rated moderate / IMBA Blue Square.
RIDE
Claim Jumper
~1 min drive
0.43-mile easy singletrack in California with 162 ft gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
