The Capital to Tahoe Trail is a spectacular single-track connection linking Nevada’s capital city to the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond. Completed in 2023 after an eight-year effort by Muscle Powered and partners, this blue-rated trail offers stunning views of Carson City, Washoe Valley, and Lake Tahoe as it climbs through varied terrain including U.S. Forest Service lands, a private parcel, and Nevada State Park property.
Starting from downtown Carson City, riders and hikers access the trail via the Lincoln Bypass Trail (4.4 miles) and Ash-to-Kings Trail (2.6 miles) before joining the Capital to Tahoe segment (9.8 miles) that ascends to the Tahoe Rim Trail near Marlette Lake. The trail features well-built switchbacks, a natural dirt surface with minimal technical sections, and an average gradient of 6% with maximum grades reaching 19%.
This non-motorized trail accommodates hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians, providing the first single-track connection from Carson City to the world-renowned trail systems of Lake Tahoe. From its terminus at the Tahoe Rim Trail, adventurers can continue north toward Canada or south toward Mexico via the Pacific Crest Trail.
The trail is best enjoyed as a point-to-point route, with many riders preferring the downhill direction from Tahoe to Carson City. Starting from Spooner Lake State Park offers an alternative to maximize downhill.
Length: 17 miles (one-way from downtown Carson City)
Elevation Gain: 3,438 feet
Difficulty: Blue (More Difficult).