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Tahoe Rim Trail: Section Big
Meadow Trailhead - Armstrong Pass
This section of the TRT is very
popular with mountain bikers. During my traversal
of this route on a weekday, I saw maybe a dozen,
and no other trail users. I think the reason for
this popularity is mostly the trail conditions.
This section is even more ridable than the next
section to the north. Both parts together are
labeled as the Kingsbury South - Big Meadows
section in the trail pamphlet, published by the
Tahoe Rim Trail Association. The highest point on
the entire section is part of the TRT:
section Armstrong Pass - Daggett Pass.
the elevation profile and map
for this section is included on page:
TRT: section Armstrong pass - Daggett Pass
From South. The Big Meadow Trailhead is
located inside a half loop of Ca89. Riding through
this short, narrow, paved stretch of road and
cutting off a small portion of the highway, just
may be the most interesting part of a road ride up
Luther Pass. But the major reason for this little road are the
two trailheads for the Tahoe Rim Trail here. Only
one of the sections can be used for a cycling
loop, the secton heading north to Armstrong Pass
and onward to Daggett
Pass, the next paved access point of the
TRT. The trail leaves in the opposite direction than
is intuitive, and climbs between wide stems and
huge glacially deposited boulders in the shade.
Periodically there are big rocks embedded on the
trail. Otherwise it is easily ridable. After a
fairly long initial workout with just one opening
in the forest presenting a view to the north, the
trail reaches a ridge and presents the first view
of Lake Tahoe. From this point the lake is quite a
distance to the north. For a short distance the
trail follows the ridgeline and crosses a high
meadow with a riot of wildflowers, in the
background: the main ridge of the Sierra
Mountains. This turns out to be the highest point
on this segment. From North. (described downwards) Even
though the trail now stays east of the ridgeline,
the views are still in a southerly direction, and
Carson Valley is still far away out of view. A (in
the majority of places) fast descent on a smooth
trail leads to the junction with a trail crossing
Armstrong Pass. Going left here goes back down to
the South Lake Tahoe area on a very popular trail.
Armstrong Pass contains various signs with numbers
and destinations, but is not marked with a name.
The trail between Armstrong Pass and South Lake
Tahoe seems to be a favorite part of the ride for
many.  A Dayride with this point as intermediate summit is on the page: Tahoe Rim Trail: Section Big Meadows Trailhead - Daggett Pass.  |
Approaches|
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