Here is a good place to snack and fuel up for your return. You will come to a trail junction (10.3 mi from start). The ride traverses the Carson Range 1,800’ above the Lake. While the trail may be two feet wide in sections, its riding thread is much narrower, one foot, as the sides are soft decomposed granite (sand) that can cause you to lose control. The views are spectacular and its best to stop and enjoy them, particularly on the narrow sections, because your body follows your head and you can easily veer off track when gazing at the Lake. Stay focused on the ride as it narrows and crosses avalanche chutes. Initially, a short rocky section, but after that the ride is on smooth single track. Continue along the western side of the Lake and when you come to the Dam (6 mi from start) turn left onto the single track as this is the trailhead for the Flume Trail. In the fall, you can see thousands of them lined up to spawn at the creek. Each year, the fish eggs are harvested and taken to fisheries to be raised and then repopulate other regions where they were once native. Marlette Lake is a genetic pool for the native Lahanton Cutthroat Trout. You will head out on a double track road and begin climbing through North Canyon, 4 miles, on your way to Marlette Lake – a beautiful high alpine lake perfect for a picnic and photography. Begin your ride at the park where you will find water, basic snacks and a bike shop with rentals. The vistas are unparalleled and you will see them from different perspectives as this is an Out and Back ride. The Flume Trail Mountain Bike Ride Out & Back: This ride has been voted one of the Top Ten Mountain Bike Rides in the U.S. There are restrooms, picnic areas, and a bike rental shop at the park. Caution: stop riding to look at the vistas.Īt the junction of US Hwy 50 and NSR 28 is a large parking area you can use or you can drive into the State Park and pay a fee. Not for riders who are fearful of heights as you ride on the edge 1,800’ above the Lake. The Flume itself is narrow in sections with soft sandy spots, and two hike-a-bike locations. Steep sustained climbs with long high speed descents in North Canyon and to Marlette Lake.
There was shade and history along the Flume Trail, several thru-hikers and small streams along the PCT, and a heated descent on the Bob’s Hat.The Flume Trail Mountain Bike Ride Out & Back Ride Details Today we went up the Flume Trail to the PCT, took that back to the Bob’s Hat Trail, and followed Bob’s Hat back down to the trailhead.
On our previous trips to Castle Crags, we did a 3 rd/4 th Class climb to the top of Castle Dome (4,966 ft / 1,514 m) and an out-and-back hike on the PCT past Burstarse Falls to Sabin’s Point. But we were back in town – “rehydrating” – before it got too hot. That said, there was plenty of shade and even a few, still flowing, water courses to keep the heat at bay – at least in the morning. We got another early start but noticed that the heat built sooner and higher down here than it had up at Boulder Peak. Specifically, a loop formed from the Flume and Bob’s Hat Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in Castle Crags State Park. After going high for our first hike in the Mount Shasta area, we decided to go some 4,000 feet (1,220 m) lower for our second.