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    The Flume Trail

    4.7 (40 reviews)

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    Monkey rock
    Mike Y.

    We went to the Monkey Rock (near Flume Trail or is part of the Flume Trail? I don't know). Start from the left side of Tunnel Creek Café, walk up the road, then along a dirt path (parallel to the Tahoe East Shore walking path), after around 12-15 minutes, it will fork off to two paths (left side is steeper but still easy, right side has one longer switchback), then the peak is on the top. Monkey Rock is off to the right side (if you are facing the Lake).

    We made it
    Merry K.

    Dog Owner Perspective Yes, this leads to Monkey Head Rock!!l PET FRIENDLY We did this trail twice. Once it was during Veteran Day holiday ( Nov) and the second time was July 4th weekend. What a different! I did not remember that it was strenuous. Apparently, the weather played a big part. It was really enjoyable back in Nov when the temperature was cooler. It was really hot and 1000X tougher in July. My Kokiatso was panting hard. We were hiking with new companies, so, I had to maintain a lady like image. But, whenever they did not see, I panted along with Kokiatso. Once you passed the "entrance fee box", watch out for a trail forks. To your left and really steep wass basically the short cut. If you take the right fork, get ready for slow and painful incline. We did the shortcut back in November and it was fine. We had 2 younger kids this July so, we went with the long way. It's about 1/2 a mile difference. Either way, once you see a very long log and rocks formation to you left, turn left and climb the hill (use google map if you have never been there). Kokiatso is off leashed trained, so, I was comfortable letting her walked on her own. Be prepared with water and feed it to your dog a little bit a time.

    Cory P.

    Flume Trail. Probably one of my most favorite hikes yet. It was very smokey when we started the hike, but the skies cleared up as we were making our way back. *Note* This review will also double as a brief instruction guide to Monkey Rock. As with many landmarks I believe a good portion of the experience is the adventure itself, followed by the reward of reaching that landmark! Certain landmarks shouldn't be geotagged, and that's my personal belief. Now, your starting point should be Tunnel Creek Cafe. The path itself is pretty linear; you'll pass a small shop where you can rent mountain bikes and eventually a self-pay toll to help maintain the hiking trail(s). I advise to just enjoy the views. Bikers will be occasionally passing by from both directions so just be weary of them. While looking out, the smoke was pretty heavy and Lake Tahoe looked more like an ocean without the mountain lines. Eventually the path will split. The most leftward path is known as "Death Hill". Don't let the name deter you; it is steep, but not too difficult. Take it from a guy that is out of shape. If hills aren't your thing, the right path is a more mellow choice. Both will eventually meet up to continue the trail. At this point, this is where the adventure really began for my room mate and I. We were only using Google images of Monkey Rock to see where it could be. I'll continue the guide, but in a nutshell, my room mate and I continued on the trail only to backtrack because we went too far. If Monkey Rock isn't your destination, continue onward on this trail for more spectacular views of the mountainsides that overlook the lake. Continuing with the guide, once Death Hill and the right path meet up, you will want to immediately venture off the path to the left. The instructions will become a bit vague, but use some Google Images to make the most sense of where Monkey Rock should be. You'll want to venture to a point where Monkey Rock will have a clearing that overlooks a cove/beach without any trees obstructing its view. You'll reach a couple of giant rock structures (I will provide pictures), and Monkey Rock should be to the right! Congratulations! You have found Monkey Rock! Take this time to enjoy Lake Tahoe. This should one of the clearest points since it overlooks the tree line. With our mission a success, we headed back down from where we came and we noticed that the skies had cleared up a bit! As I mentioned before, Flume Trail has become one of my most favorite hikes. The adventure of locating Monkey Rock was very rewarding. The views we experienced were breathtaking even with the smoke. The best part? There is the Tunnel Creek Cafe waiting for you at the bottom if you worked up an appetite or need some refreshments! Whether you're trying to find Monkey Rock yourself or wanting a beautiful adventure to experience, I highly recommend Flume Trail!

    Terri C.

    Looking to do some leaf peeping and get a hike in, my husband and I accomplished our mission possible today here at Incline Flume Trail. It's basically a flat trek that is very popular with mountain bikers as well as trail runners. There are narrow spots so be prepared to move to the side to let the bikers through. Gorgeous fall colors right now with the trees and you get views of Lake Tahoe, too. The trail goes for miles so you can just turn around whenever you've had your fill of nature. Leave no trace!

    Nobody around, even on a Saturday.
    Greg S.

    Epic. The tool would not let me post with a single word review so I am writing this filler. Nothing more to say than EPIC. See photos if that helps.

    Jessica C.

    I can't describe the high I got at the top of the trail. When I got to Monkey Rock, I felt liberation as the world shelters in place. Swinging above Tahoe has to be one of the best feelings to date. The incline to get to the top had me gasping for air and a water break a few times, but it was worth every step. Ended up saving a dog on the way down and finishing with a mimosa at the cafe. If you are in Tahoe and want to feed your soul with a hike that all walks of life and shape can do, take your time and embrace the beauty of this hike- you won't be sorry.

    Monkey Rock
    Heidy M.

    One of our favorite hikes in Tahoe. Parking is easy and metered, there is a great restaurant at the trail head but they do not sell water. They do have a fountain,though. Do not park in their lot, you will be towed. The trailhead is easy to find and the trail is clean and well maintained. There is a fee box about .5 miles in, bring cash and hold on to your receipt, rangers do randomly check. Two trails to the top and one is very steep, it's also a scramble and the first left up the mountain side. Definitely a great work out to the top. The other is more like switchbacks but both take about the same time, give or take. If you're going to see Monkey Rock, it's not clearly visible. From the steep trail, when you arrive to the dividers at the top, make a sharp left and take it to the end. Look to your right and then down. If you're taking the other trail, you'll come upon the dividers straight ahead , keep going straight and then same directions as above. The top is beautiful with views of the lake and the famous Monkey Rock. Bring a hat, water and wear sunscreen, there is no shade. Enjoy!

    East shore bike trail
    Lisa H.

    Start by going to Monkey Rock which is an approx 1 mile steep incline hike that will take 30 minutes one way. We went the 2nd week of August and got really lucky with the weather being in the 70s. Mid morning hike was kind of hot but still very pleasant. You will eventually run into trail forks: Left very steep short cut or if you have smaller children, take the right fork that will get you there 5-10 minutes later but less steep. Once you get to the top, you will find the monkey rock on the right side. On our return back down we did take the steep hill and it was very manageable. Instead of going all the way back to the parking lot to start the east shore bike trail to Hidden beach, you can find side trails that takes you there in 5-10 minutes. Enjoy the scenery and play in the water. For both hikes, we spent approx. 3 hours total.

    Early morning dog hike.  Not a single soul around, especially in the winter.
    Allie A.

    I'm not one of those turbo-charged mountain bikers willing to risk life and limb to do the entire Flume Trail. But I am one of those people who love the Flume Trail starting at THE END of the trail at the Incline Village side. If you come before or after the Tunnel Creek Cafe is open / closed, you're allowed to park in their lot (I asked the owner). Then start walking the trail from here, even if you go for just 30 minutes or so - what a great hike at sunset with the dog! The views are spectacular, it's dog friendly (at the start of the trail, doggie bags are even provided so NO EXCUSES; please pick up your dog's poop and for the love of god, don't just bag it and leave it on the side of the trail). The first 30 minutes or so is pretty easy and then it starts to climb. If you are hiking not biking the trail, I suggest coming very early or late in the day to avoid getting run over. One of my favorite things is grabbing a hot chocolate at the cafe on a mild Sunday winter morning and heading up the trail with my dog. It's why you live in Tahoe, people!

    Marlette Lake (7,823 ft)
    Tomomi S.

    We rode the Flume Trail starting from Spooner Lake (7,000 ft). Spooner Lake State Park is off Rt 28, which is off Rt 50 on Nevada side. You'll need to pay the park entrance fee, but you can park your car and use the facilities, go to Trail head store and so on. The park is quite nice. As other yelpers noted, first off there is about 4-5 miles grinding up hills to the Marlette Lake (7,823 ft). In the beginning it is a slow climb but from the mid point on, the climb was pretty steep. I totally felt the thin air as I am used to ride around the bay area. At Marlette lake you can rest or even fish there (NV fishing license required). Ride around the south side of the Marlette lake and you are off to the single trail, what everyone says the "scary" but beautiful scenery ride for about 4.5 miles. It was a really clear day so we were able to see the other side of Lake Tahoe. Very beautiful but it IS scary especially when you are passing fellow bikers on this skinny trail. Some up and downs on this section, but no grinding hills like the beginning of the trail. When you get to the Twin Lakes area, you can rest a little to get ready for the steep but enjoyable down hill. If you have some strength left, the trail up to the Twin Lakes is only couple miles. In about 3 miles you'll get to the end of the trail and out of the State park, suddenly to the residential area. Continue on down the paved road, and on the left side there is the Tunnel Creek shuttle pick up station where you can haul your bike and ride back to the Spooner Lake. I am not that experienced rider, but I was able to manage completing this trail with my husband who is very experienced with mountain biking. Some areas are technical, there are many spots where you need to be careful not to slip off the cliff or wipe out or slip off rocks and sand. If you are not too experienced rider I'd recommend to ride with someone who have more experiences. Or you can also hike this trail and find out if you want to ride or not. I really enjoyed this trail as it was challenging but there's this great reward of the scenic view of the Lake Tahoe. You can ride/hike backwards from the way we've rode this trail. Park off the street at the shuttle station on Rt 28 and end at the Spooner Lake. I am not sure about the shuttle service from Spooner Lake to the Creek Station though... I am not sure which way is better or easier, but this trail is worth trying at least once.

    Amazing views.
    Cassandra T.

    "This is beautiful..." I said, over... and over... and over again. If you got a penny for everytime I said the word "beautiful" while hiking this trail, you'd probably have at least $10. Pretty good if you ask me. HOW WE GOT THERE: We started the hike from Tunnel Creek Road in Incline Village. This is the opposite way that the bikers go. Set your Google maps GPS to Tunnel Creek Cafe. That's where the trail head is, and you can park your car along the freeway. THE TRAIL: For the first couple miles of the hike, you are actually going to be on Tunnel Creek Road, before you hit the actual Flume Trail. The trail is well-maintained, since this is a very popular mountain biking trail. There are some great vista spots on Tunnel Creek Road, but also constant incline, which may be difficult for your average out of shape joe. It will be a strenuous and great work out! We didn't even hike the whole flume trail; we went up slowly and steadily which took us about 3 and a half hours. We stopped at a random point (probably about 20-30 minutes after the start of the official Flume trail) and going back only took us about 1.5 hours. With that being said, watch out for super fast mountain bikers! I seriously admire their audacity, because there's definitely some sections of the trail that are super narrow, and just a wrong swivel of your tire can send you pummeling down the mountain. Just stand aside when you see/hear them coming in front of you, and everyone is always extremely cordial and grateful about it. If you're hiking the trail and not worried for your life, like I did, you can stop and enjoy the views. Oh my gosh... the views. are. breathtaking!! You can see the snow capped mountains in the distance, the beautiful and expansive Lake Tahoe with it's clear blue waters, and the dense, lush evergreens that will surround you. It was truly magical, and nothing on my camera captured the beauty that was on this trail. Bring water and some snacks for nourishment. This is hands down my favorite hiking trail of all time.

    Marlette Lake
    Drew P.

    This review is for the Marlette Lake hiking trail. I parked at the Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park - http://parks.nv.gov/parks/marlette-hobart-backcountry/. Parking was $10. Once there, you can do Spooner Lake or the Marlette Lake Trail or others. We did Marlette Lake hiking trail from the parking lot. It is about 5 miles each way. The trail itself is very smooth and well maintained, however be ready for some steady incline, nothing crazy but it definitely will work you out. It took us about 4 hours round trip with a steady pace, If you are a fast walker I would give it 3 hours. We made the mistake of not packing a lunch, pack a lunch and picnic when you get to the lake, you wont regret it. I posted some photos of the trail and the lake. Happy Hiking!

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    Ask the Community - The Flume Trail

    Review Highlights - The Flume Trail

    But you pass some awesome scenery along the climb, especially at the top when you get to Marlette lake.

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    Marlette lake trail

    Marlette lake trail

    5.0(6 reviews)
    9.0 km

    We hiked the Marlette Lake Trail from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake as a backpacking trip for my…read morefriend's bachelorette party! We added some extra distance at the end by hiking to the Marlette Peak Campground to stay for the night. From the parking lot to the campground was about 7 miles each way. The trail itself was well-maintained, moderate difficulty, and had everything you'd want in a good hike! Solid trail conditions. Beautiful mountain and lake views. Some sections of wildflowers. A good amount of sun but also some shaded parts. Gradual incline that never felt super steep, so the elevation gain felt manageable. We saw people hiking as well as mountain biking on this trail. There are several sections of aspen trees along this hike, so it's a great one to come back and do in the fall once the leaves turn yellow. The trailhead area has great facilities, the bathrooms were clean and there is ample parking. The park rangers I spoke to were friendly and helpful. There is a $10/car entry into this area but it's totally worth it, especially when you see how well they take care of it. I loved this hike and will continue to come back to Spooner for hikes in the future!

    There are a few ways to reach Marlette Lake, all of them totally worth it, especially this time of…read moreyear. This trail takes you around Spooner Lake and up to Marlette. It's a 9 mile out and back with fairly gradual elevation gain, up through the trees, until you reach the lake. A great little workout. Marlette sits along the Flume Trail, so you're likely to see a lot of mountain bikers. Fun fact: The Flume Trail got its name because Marlette and the tributaries that feed it were part of a log flume system to carry logs used to build our region all the way down from as far as Virginia City! Marlette has a short fishing season, but people say it's grand if you make the trip. Of course you need to hike in to have that experience. This is definitely a trail worth checking out in our area!

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    Marlette lake trail
    Marlette lake trail
    Marlette lake trail

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    Skunk Harbor - Dog Beach

    Skunk Harbor - Dog Beach

    4.4(38 reviews)
    5.9 km

    This spot on Tahoe has ahhhmazing breathtaking views, dog friendly beach access for everyone and is…read moretruly a hike to a hidden gem that you won't soon forget!! Skunk Harbor not only combines all of these wonderful attributes but also throws in a bit of history for you to check out too! Parking is FREE but limited, located at a turnoff along HWY 28 about a few miles north of the Spooner/HWY 50 junction - look for an old green pipe gate which is also the entrance to the trailhead (do NOT park in front of gate, you WILL be fined). After you park, grab your gear (keep in mind there are NO facilities - take out what you take in). Travel along the old dirt road on the other side of the green gate through the Tahoe forest. When you reach the fork in the road you have 2 choices: left fork leads to Prey Meadows which is blanketed with many varieties of wildflowers in the spring anddd right fork leads you to Skunk Harbor. Throughout your hike down to Skunk Harbor take in the breathtaking picture worthy views all around. Upon your arrival to the beach be sure to find the historical remants of an old railroad ramp used to supply timber to Virginia City after the Comstock Lode plus an abandoned stone house along the waters edge with historical markers from the 1920s that belonged to the wealthy family of George Newhall built as a summer house here for vacations and parties. Everything was brought in by boat, during the Roaring Twenties ~ WOW!! This is a MUST DO!! Hike is roughly 3 miles round trip, I always enjoy an adventure / hike with a reward at the end, Skunk Harbor not only has this throughout but pays off at the end. Be prepared for a bit of workout on the way back out as it is uphill and can be exposed depending on time and season/weather. So bring plenty of H20 and take your time but this hidden gem is worth it!!

    My favorite spot to hang out and enjoy Lake Tahoe's pristine waters. If you get there early enough…read moreand don't do in the dead of summer, you'll have a good shot of having it all to yourself. My last 3 trips have resulted in me being the only one down there for a solid couple hours. The trail and beach are dog friendly, so bring your companion along with you. It's a short hike in and out but beware, your going up and up on the way out. Nothing impossibly difficult, but it can wind you. Other than that, go out and enjoy it. Leave no trace, respect the historic building down there, and don't feed the wildlife. Oh, by the way, parking can be a pain. There's only room for maybe 6-7 cars if they cozy up with one another. So like I said above, getting here early is key.

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    Skunk Harbor - Dog Beach
    Skunk Harbor - Dog Beach - Little ways from the beach, hiked down the rocks, but look at that water!

    Little ways from the beach, hiked down the rocks, but look at that water!

    Skunk Harbor - Dog Beach - Beautiful day Snowshoe adventure

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    Beautiful day Snowshoe adventure

    Whale Beach Trail - Whale Beach

    Whale Beach Trail

    5.0(2 reviews)
    7.5 km

    There's something so special about hiking in the beautiful Lake Tahoe area. Maybe it's the tall…read moreTahoe Pines or the secluded beaches. Or maybe it's the views of the rocky coastline or rampant wildlife. Maybe it's the breathtaking trailheads and the smell of fresh pine that hits your nose. Whatever it is; I just love it. The Whale Beach Trail offers all of those lovable Tahoe accents that I love. I found this trail through the AllTrails app (Secret Cove Beach to Whale Cove Beach) and it was the perfect way to check out several secluded beaches along the way. The Secret Cove Beach to Whale Cove Beach Trail loop is a short 3 miles long, but it's a great way to hike down the beaches and relax along the way. You can take the shorter version of this trail which is just the Whale Beach Trail and it's about 1.5 miles long. I started at the parking lot above Chimney Beach. If you plan on starting here for the loop trail, get here before 8 am. Otherwise, parking will be full and you'll have to find a spot down the road. The trail starts off pretty easy along a single track sanded path through the beautiful pine woods. The trail begins to widen and open up to some wonderful views of the lake and gorgeous secluded beaches down below. The trail passes by several beach coves (Secret Cove, Secret Harbor {aka Boater's Beach}, Creek Beach, and Whale Beach) and ends at Whale Beach. Not a ton of elevation gain, but the ups and down of the path will give you a nice workout. Pair that with climbing to and from the beaches and you've got yourself a nice little moderate hike with plenty of exploration opportunities. Most people seem to use parts of these trails solely to get down to the beach. Because of this, the trail is relativity calm which leaves you with many opportunities to have the trail to yourself. It's mostly shaded with a few open spots to allow the sun to peek through. There are several restrooms along the trail and also near the beaches. Saw several birds and lizards all throughout the trail. It's super peaceful and gorgeous. A trail that I would come back to simply because it allows access to so many different beautiful beaches. Whale Beach itself is lovely and secluded with the clearest water and super soft sand. However, Sand Harbor Beach is by far the most beautiful of all the beach coves along this trail. It's also not nearly as crowded as Secret Cove which is a total relief. This was easily one of the most memorable Tahoe hikes that's I've done simply because the views are unparalleled. Such an amazing trail that you should check out sometime.

    Our family LOVED this trail! Parking was a little rough. We ended up facing south on SR-28 on the…read moreside of the road. There are stairs down, so you should try to find those. (Not that they are much better than the rocks down, but they're something. ) We zig-zagged down the trail taking the farthest-most route to Whale Beach. There were other turn-offs that would have taken us to Secret Cove/ Boaters Beach/ etc, but we kept straight. I wouldn't say the trail is super-well marked, though. It helps to know where you're going (we used the All Trails map). We took our puppy, and she was off-leash most of the time. There were other dogs at the beach, so they had fun playing. We were excited to see parta potties as we got closer, too! (No wash stations, so BYOHS). The climb back is ... a workout. We we're able to take one path down, and another loop back - not that you can quite tell from the map picture as apparently my watch wasn't actually tracking the whole time. But, still fun! All of the kids (3, 7, 8, and 9) made it there and back without having to be carried. We have hiked before, but I wouldn't say we're expert level. So, it's doable!

    Photos
    Whale Beach Trail - Whale Beach

    Whale Beach

    Whale Beach Trail - Found this little fella along the trail

    Found this little fella along the trail

    Whale Beach Trail - Hello there!

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    Hello there!

    The Flume Trail - bikerentals - Updated May 2026

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