Photo by: Janet Fullwood - Sac Bee
Something’s different here – and no, it’s not Halloween in August. All those people in crash gear that makes them look like so many Darth Vaders are here to experience some of the most diverse lift-assisted mountain biking in the West.
Northstar’s mountain bike park has expanded rapidly over the past three years to increasingly attract riders from Southern California and out of state as well as enthusiasts within day-trip distance.
From jump parks and black-diamond, expert-only trails like Boondocks to smooth cruiser runs like the new Easy Rider, the park accommodates riders at all levels.
“We have over 100 miles of trail on the mountain and killer access to thousands of miles of trails in every direction for cross-country biking,” says park manager Kyle Crezee. “People are riding here from Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Truckee. The Tahoe Rim Trail is multi-use in this section, too.”
But you don’t have to have wheels to enjoy the terrain or the views at Northstar – and you don’t have to have money, either.
Mountain biking aside, Northstar is a hiker’s heaven made all the more attractive because riding the lifts in summer is – get this – free.
“We see people riding the lifts who don’t ski or snowboard and have never been on one before. Watching their faces, you can tell it’s a thrill,” Crezee says.
Northstar operates three lifts in the summer: the Gondola Express to mid-mountain and the Zephyr Express and Vista Express from mid-mountain to points higher up. Most trails are designated hiker-only or biker-only, though a few, like the broad Village Run from mid-mountain to the base area, are shared.
A popular route for hikers includes a trip up the Gondola and Zephyr lifts to the Crossover trail, which traverses without much elevation change to the Sunset Loop. That trail, also rated easy, climbs gently up the shoulder of Mount Pluto for great views of the Sierra crest and Lake Tahoe. Hikers can walk down from the summit or download on the Vista chair to mid-mountain, where food service is available on weekends. Full article
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