Biking The Tahoe East Shore Trail- A Spectacular, Family-friendly Ride

ByAmanda Luhn Updated on

Everything You Need To Know About Biking the Tahoe East Shore Trail

If you are looking for a fantastic greenway bike ride for the family in the Reno/Tahoe area, then look no further than the Tahoe East Shore Trail.

Just 50 minutes from Reno, the fully paved East Short Trail offers sweeping views of Lake Tahoe, short paths down to the shoreline to explore, and informational displays along the way.

It’s a great family outing that shows off Lake Tahoe beyond the car window. Here are all the details!

A paved pathway lined with railings stretches along a rocky shoreline, bordered by pine trees on the left and clear blue lake water on the right, beneath a bright, clear sky.
The bridges connecting some of the sections are spectacular.

Overview

  • 3 mile long greenway for walkers, runners, and bikers
  • 10 feet wide and fully paved
  • Mostly 1-3% grade except for one short hill near Incline Village with a 5-6% grade
  • Can get crowded on weekends especially during the summer
  • Located on Lake Tahoe’s eastern shore (Nevada side of the lake)
  • The main trailheads with parking areas are located at either end of the trail- Incline Village and Sand Harbor State Park. Both of these parking areas cost money.

East Shore Trail Parking

I drove from the Peppermill Resort in downtown Reno to Incline Village on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. (It takes about 50 minutes.)

The parking lots along the road near the trailhead in Incline Village are run by the state and they are expensive- $5 an hour for the afternoon hours in the fall and $7 during peak season.

Pay at the meters (credit/debit card only) or by text per the posted signs.

Tip: You can rent bicycles in Incline Village at Flume Trail Bikes where you can park for free if you are renting from them. Their lot is small, however, so it might fill up.

I found parking at the bike rental place no problem even on a busy Sunday in early October.

Bike Rental

My rental bike from Flume Trail Bikes was a nice little Kona Greenway bike that didn’t squeak and the brakes worked perfectly. The bike shop people were friendly and speedy even though they were super busy.

Reservations aren’t needed for the Greenway bikes- they have plenty. If you want to rent a mountain bike or an E-bike, you should make a reservation as they are in high demand, especially on weekends.

Flume Trail Bikes also rents mountain bikes and does shuttles for some of the most popular trails. It is definitely on my list to come back and do some of them- they looked spectacular.

Pro Tip: The Tunnel Creek Cafe is right next to Flume Trail Bikes so you can eat before or after your ride. There are other choices in Incline Village a bit farther away too.

  • Several tents and a small building with "Bike Rentals" signs are set up in a wooded area. People stand near bikes and around the tents under tall pine trees, with clear blue sky above.
    Flume Trail Bikes rents greenway and mountain bikes as well as electric bikes.
  • A small cafe, "Tunnel Creek Station Cafe," sits beside a road lined with parked cars. Tall pine trees and murals, including a blue bicycle and "Flume Trail" sign, decorate the wooden buildings under a clear blue sky.
    Tunnel Creek Station Cafe is right next to Flume Trail Bikes
  • A paved sidewalk runs beside a road lined with parked cars and tall pine trees. A wooden sign with a metal bicycle sculpture reads “Tunnel Creek Cafe” and points to the Flume Trail. The sky is clear and blue.
    You can see the sign for Flume Trail Bikes from the start of the trail and the paid parking area.

Description of Tahoe East Shore Trail

Starting out from the trailhead in Incline Village, you’ll bike alongside the road for just a short bit but know that the trail quickly leaves the road making for a really peaceful ride.

You hit the one major hill pretty quickly although it wasn’t anything too hard, even for this out-of-shape cyclist.

My watch said 5-6% grade uphill for about 0.2 miles. It’s about a 250 elevation gain at the beginning of the trail and then you descend about the same amount.

There are some fabulous vantage points from the trail with helpful benches if you want to sit and take it all in.

You’ll eventually pass through an underpass tunnel which brings you to my favorite stretch of the trail.

I loved biking across the long bridges (that must be part of the reason this trail cost millions of dollars to build!) And man, was it worth it. I could not take enough pictures.

As you ride along, you’ll see small signs indicating little beaches and coves down below the trail, and I only wish I had enough time to explore them all.

Most of these spots have bike racks where you can park your bike. No one seemed to lock up their rental bikes, but you can request a lock from your bike rental provider although I don’t think you necessarily need one.

FYI- Hidden Beach South had the easiest access to the shoreline and its wide sandy beach, while Emerald Cove and Sunset Cove have short trails to boulder-filled coves overlooking the lake.

Tip: Restrooms can be found on the path at Hidden Cove and at Sand Harbor State Park.

  • Trailhead sign for Emerald Cove on East Shore Tahoe Trail among pine trees. The sign shows symbols for no dogs, no bikes, and no fires. Sunlight casts shadows on the rocky, forested landscape with blue sky and lake visible in the background.
    Emerald Cove sign indicating a short trail to the shoreline
  • Large, smooth gray boulders sit at the edge of a clear blue lake. Calm water stretches to distant mountains under a bright blue sky with a few clouds.
    Large Boulders In Emerald Cove
  • Large granite boulders line the shore of a clear blue lake, with pine trees in the foreground and distant mountains under a hazy sky in the background.
    East Short Trail Paths To Coves and Beaches

Interesting informational signs are also scattered along the trail. Ranging from historical tidbits to information about the flora and fauna, I love a good sign and these added to the whole experience.

  • A paved path and road run through a forested area with pine trees under a clear blue sky. Several people are walking along the path, and sunlight creates a lens flare in the upper left corner.
    Mile 0.0 on the East Shore Trail, at the trailhead by Incline Village
  • A paved trail runs uphill beside a wooden fence and tall pine trees under a bright sun, with a group of people walking ahead and blue sky above.
    The biggest hill is right by the start but it isn’t too bad.
  • A scenic lakeside view with a sign titled "Tahoe's Earth History" in the foreground, surrounded by pine trees, rocky terrain, and Lake Tahoe visible under a clear blue sky with sunlight shining down.
    There were lots of interesting signs along the way
  • A paved path winds along a hillside with tall pine trees and bushes, overlooking a sparkling blue lake under a clear sky with sunlight streaming down. Mountains rise in the distance.
    And just spectacular views everywhere you looked
  • A tunnel decorated with colorful murals opens to a view of trees, a stone wall, and a large blue lake with mountains in the background under a bright sky.
    A pretty underground tunnel takes you from one side of the highway to the other.
  • A paved trail with railings curves along a rocky lakeshore, bordered by pine trees on the left and clear blue water on the right under a bright, sunny sky. Mountains are visible in the distance.
    The bridges connecting some of the sections are spectacular.
  • A paved lakeside path runs alongside clear blue water with pine trees, hills, and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky. Informational signs are visible near the path.
    Sand Harbor State Park is on the peninsula in the distance.
  • A paved path with a railing runs alongside a blue lake, bordered by trees and shrubs, under a clear sky with distant mountains.
    More fabulous views from these bridge sections.
  • Clear turquoise water with large rocks visible beneath the surface, bordered by rocky shoreline and green shrubs, under bright sunlight.
    The waters of Lake Tahoe are so clear! I would love to come back here with a paddleboard.
  • A paved path runs alongside a wooden fence overlooking a bright blue lake, with mountains and a clear sky in the background. Sparse trees and dry bushes line the trail.
    I loved this whole trail.

Sand Harbor State Park

After 2.5 miles, you’ll end up at the entrance to Sand Harbor State Park, a large state park with a cafe, multiple beaches, a place to rent paddleboards and kayaks during the season, and a little nature trail to explore.

People paddleboard and kayak on a clear blue lake with large rocks and mountains in the distance, under a bright sky. Green leaves frame the foreground.
Kayak at Sand Harbor State Park

It would be a great place to bring a picnic and let the kids explore. In fact, there were plenty of families doing just that on this brilliantly sunny day in early October.

It costs $2 per person (cash only) for a day use pass for the park if you enter on a bike (or $10 per vehicle if you park and start the trail on this end).

There was no one at the gate when I was there in October, so I just pedaled through and back out again and did not use any of the facilities.

Note– From May 15 through September 30, you must have a day-use reservation to enter Sand Harbor State Park from 8:00am – 10:30am. Reservations can be made 11 months in advance. After 10:30am, the park will open to first-come, first-served as long as the park has not yet reached capacity. (Entering the park via the East Shore Trail does not require reservations.)

  • A paved path through tall pine trees with a black metal fence on both sides, bike racks on the left, and several signs, including one that prohibits bicycles and skateboards. Buildings are visible in the background.
    The entrance to the park from the East Shore Trail.
  • A sandy lakeside beach with scattered red buoys, a white lifeguard chair, clear blue water, pine trees, and distant mountains under a bright blue sky. Part of a wooden roof is visible in the upper left corner.
    There were several stretches of nice sandy beaches in Sand Harbor State Park.
  • A clear blue lake with large smooth rocks and boulders along the shore, some partially submerged in the water. Two tall pine trees stand on the right, under a bright blue sky. Distant mountains are visible across the lake.
    Lots of people were jumping off rocks and kids were splashing about in the shallow areas by the shore.
  • Informational sign for Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe State Park, showing a map with highlighted areas: Natural Amphitheater and Stage, Diver’s Cove, and Sand Point Dunes Boardwalk Trail, plus welcome text and trail details.
    The map of the park shows how much can be found here, from a performing stage to a nature trail.
  • A rustic, wooden building sits among tall pine trees with mountains in the background. A few people and parked cars are visible on a sunny day, and a person walks toward the entrance.
    The cafe and restrooms in Sand Harbor State Park.

Bonus Adventure

If you would like to ride a bit more, you can explore Incline Village along Lakeshore Blvd which intersects with Hwy 28/ Tahoe Blvd right at the trailhead for Tahoe East Shore Trail.

There is bike path/ bike lane along Lakeshore Blvd through this mixture of old-school Tahoe and veeeerrrry expensive homes in Incline Village. Lined with trees and gorgeous gilmpses at the lifestyles of the uber-rich, it was a fun detour.

You basically ride another 3 miles to the end of the road and come back. Or just ride as far as you want and then turn around. It was mildly up and down but nothing difficult. 

Brief History Of The East Shore Trail

The trail has been talked about since the 1980s but was not finished until 2019 because building it required some expensive engineering feats including an 810 foot long bridge.

It ended up costing over 20 million dollars for the trail and over $40 million dollars total as the construction was combined with parking and road improvements as well as storm water and runoff improvements.

The trail has proven very popular and has increased the safety of the highway for cars and runoff that was tarnishing Lake Tahoe’s clear water.

There are plans to expand the tail to Spooner Summit, making an 11 mile long Greenway. I can only wait for the day- I will be there ready to go!

Riding the Tahoe East Shore Trail was one of those days where you just had a smile on your face the whole time. Perfect weather, perfect easy day out, and beyond perfect views of Lake Tahoe.

I can’t wait to go back and do this again, maybe in the summer when the kids and I can rent paddleboards and get to explore even more. There were so many little hidden beaches and coves and that crystal blue water was calling to me!

Happy Trails! – Amanda

Amanda co-founded Simply Awesome Trips with her best friend because they were always sharing their written itineraries with each other. A devout researcher who enjoys finding quirky facts about a place as well as a fantastic bike trail, Amanda loves to share what she's found with others and will talk your ear off about her favorite places.

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