Lake Tahoe 2024 | A Weekend Ride Around The Lake

Overview

This weekend finally checked off a ride I had wanted to do for a long time: cycling around Lake Tahoe.

• Day 1: about 70 miles around the lake
• Day 2: pack up and drive home

The altitude made the ride noticeably harder, but the weather was comfortable, not too hot, and the scenery paid back every effort.

Day 1 | 70 Miles Around Lake Tahoe

Day 1 was the main ride. The high-elevation sections pushed the heart rate up quickly, but the temperature was friendly and the whole day felt manageable.

We rode with the cycling group and stayed in an Airbnb at Kings Beach that night. Most people finished smoothly. Along the way we stopped for a McDonald's refuel in South Tahoe, reached the high point near Emerald Bay, and took the required photos.

Day 2 | Return Day

The second day was mostly packing and driving back. The weekend was compact, but checking off the Lake Tahoe loop made it feel very worthwhile.

Takeaways

Lake Tahoe works well as a weekend ride goal:

1. The scenery is reliably strong.
2. Pace conservatively at altitude.
3. Plan supply stops ahead of time.

If I ride it again, I would add one extra day for an easy recovery ride.