Onion Creek Campground
Campground
Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
California · Mountain biking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City
Switchback
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 39 ft
- climb
- Singletrack
- surface
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- 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 ride in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Truckee Ranger District's Royal Gorge area, managed by a non-governmental organization. The out-and-back route covers about 0.4 miles with a low of about 6,895 feet and a high of about 6,948 feet, so the climb is just 39 feet of elevation gain. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station run to a high of about 82°F and a low of about 44°F, and the station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures up top run cooler. Several other trails lie close by. Claim Jumper is about 0.2 miles away and Bogus Basin about 0.3 miles. Power Line Boulder, a climbing area, is about 0.9 miles off. For an overnight, Hampshire Rocks Campground is about 6.6 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Donner Ski Ranch
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 miIf it rains Watson Cabin
Museum
On your way back · 15 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Sunnyside-Tahoe CityLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions10 mi away
- West Shore Sports22 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Switchback
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.
Jan
41° / 17°
11 wet
Feb
43° / 18°
10 wet
Mar
48° / 22°
10 wet
Apr
53° / 26°
7 wet
May
63° / 33°
6 wet
Jun
73° / 38°
3 wet
Jul
82° / 44°
2 wet
Aug
81° / 42°
2 wet
Sep
74° / 36°
2 wet
Oct
63° / 29°
4 wet
Nov
49° / 23°
7 wet
Dec
39° / 17°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Donner Mem Sp, CA, 8 mi away at 5,937 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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
Claim Jumper
Next door
0.39-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in California with 91 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Razorback
~2 min drive
0.22-mile out-and-back singletrack in California with 130 ft elevation gain
RIDE
Lower Lola Montez Trail
~5 min drive
0.24-mile hard singletrack out and back in California with 302 ft gain.
RIDE
Glacier Meadow Loop
~6 min drive
0.54-mile loop at Donner Peak Trailhead with 41 ft gain
RIDE
Bogus Basin
Next door
0.40-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in California with 80 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Lower Lola Montez Trail
~4 min drive
0.26-mile out-and-back singletrack in California with 14 ft of elevation gain.
RIDE
Andesite West Osv
~6 min drive
3.46-mile trail at Donner Peak Trailhead with 1,052 ft elevation gain
RIDE
Tiny Tim
Next door
0.10-mile easy singletrack in California with 44 ft of elevation gain.
RIDE
Lower Lola Montez Trail
~5 min drive
0.11-mile out-and-back singletrack in California, 45 ft gain, rated moderate / IMBA Blue Square.
RIDE
Summit Lake
~7 min drive
1.49-mile trail in California at Donner Peak Trailhead, 402 ft elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
