It didn’t take long for mountain bikers to discover the new Angora trail. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

Hiking Angora Ridge just got better thanks to a bunch of mountain bikers and the U.S. Forest Service.

No longer do people have to contend with vehicles or be on pavement to reach Angora Lakes.

The nonprofit Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association partnered with the federal land owner to build a trail that basically parallels the road. One of the best parts is the road is not visible much of the time.

I was there after the Angora gate was closed for the season, so I’m not sure what the sound of vehicles will be like in summer.

And while this was built as a single-track mountain bike route, plenty of hikers (some with dogs) were out earlier this month checking out the trail that was completed this year. People seemed giddy about the new trail.

It goes from where Tahoe Mountain Road intersects with Angora Lakes Road and comes out near the fire lookout. That’s as far as we went that day.

It doesn’t take long before Fallen Leaf Lake comes into view. Be sure to turn around to see Lake Tahoe as well.

Fallen Leaf Lake with Lake Tahoe in the background. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Mount Tallac becomes quite a presence as well.

This is what makes this trail so much more scenic than being on the road – the views are stunning most of the way. You don’t have to wait to hit the ridge to get them, which is the case with the road.

Seeing the houses on Tahoe Mountain is something I’ve never noticed from the road.

Being on foot gave me a chance to survey the route to see if I’d want to come back on my bike. Seeing people pushing their bikes oddly made me want to try it. I didn’t want to be the only one possibly not pedaling. It didn’t look technical, just steep (for a bike, not on foot) in places. Families were out – on bikes and walking.

The cyclists can be coming down pretty fast, but all were courteous as we scampered to get out of their way.

It took about 2,000 hours of volunteer labor and thousands of dollars in private donations to make the nearly 5 miles of trail in this area a reality. There is also a connector from the Angora burn area.

More trails are on the drawing board, including extending the Angora trail north to connect with Fallen Leaf Lake.

It’s possible within five years there will be a single track trail to Emerald Bay.

The ultimate goal is to have a mountain bike trail that goes around the lake. Yes, there is the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, but that is for hikers and much of it is off-limits to bikes.

The Angora trail is attracting families. Photo/Kathryn Reed

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Getting there:

From South Lake Tahoe, at the Y go on Lake Tahoe Boulevard toward South Tahoe High School or the burn area. Turn right on Tahoe Mountain Road. Go right at the T intersection. Go left at the next T. The road curves a bit. Go slow. Additional parking has been created near Angora Lakes Road. The trail starts to the right of the Angora gate/road. There is no trailhead sign.