Building Trails is hard work! Our volunteers and staff have put over 50 days into Meeks Ridge with over 200 volunteers, for a total of over 1050 hours, to build the first 2 miles of trail. Construction will resume in spring 2024, keep an eye on our events calendar for opportunities to volunteer!
Project Overview
- Location: West Shore, Meeks Bay
- Distance: 4-5 miles, ~1400ft elevation
- Key Connections: Meeks Bay to Lost Lake, uphill access for Lost Lake and General Creek trail.
- Project Donors: Tahoe Fund
- Crew Leaders: Sandor Lengyel, Jeff Coulter
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
TAMBA is leading the reconstruction of a historical trail on the West Shore. The Meeks Ridge Trail will connect Meeks Bay to Lost Lake trail on the West shore of Lake Tahoe. This historical trail faded away from lack of maintenance. The new trail will meet modern erosion control and sustainability standards and close a decades-old connection gap on the West Shore. TAMBA is working with our partners in the United States Forest Service- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Fund to rebuild and reopen this route.
For hikers and mountain bikers, this route will create a new 12-mile loop on the West Shore.
This is another legacy trail project. Few people (even longtime Tahoe locals) have ever seen the views along this route. This trail will feature stunning views of Desolation wilderness, big granite, and some rare pockets of old-growth trees. For the advanced rider, the descent to General Creek features a rugged backcountry trail and some big granite slab riding.
2023 marks the second year of construction on this multi-year project. TAMBA volunteers and TAMBA’s pro trail crew completed a mile of trail in 2022 and made the connection to Meeks Ridge. In 2023, TAMBA volunteers pushed west toward Lost Lake, building another mile of trail, bringing our total to just over 2 miles of completed trail. With generous funding from the Tahoe Fund, TAMBA volunteers will be augmented by professional trail crews from the Great Basin Institute and American Conservation Experience in 2024 to finish the remaining trail.
October 2023 update
We are halfway! Thanks to a busy schedule of trail work days and fantastic volunteer turnout throughout the summer, nearly 2 miles of trail were completed this season.
TAMBA volunteer and pro crews completed a more technical section of the trail, which slowed the pace of progress somewhat. They completed this complex rock work in a difficult gully crossing and started clearing the next section, leading to easier building and more volunteer days in 2024.
Trail work supervisor Tiny Tiger is looking forward to continuing next season!
Help Us Rebuild The Meeks Ridge Trail on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore
The Tahoe Fund and the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) completed a $100,000 matching campaign to rebuild the Meeks Ridge Trail. This 4.5 mile multi-use trail will provide a 10+ mile loop option for hikers and mountain bikers on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore.
The trail, which begins just north of Meeks Bay Resort, starts near lake level and then climbs to the top of Meeks Ridge where it will connect with the Lost Lake Trail. From there, users can pick up the General Creek Trail as part of the 10-12 mile loop. The loop will end by the Highway 89 bike path that connects directly to Sugar Pine Point and Meeks Bay Campground.
While volunteers are working diligently to clear and build the lower half of the trail, a paid crew will be key to completing the final 2-3 miles of the trail at higher elevations. The funds raised through the Tahoe Fund campaign will help cover the cost of the paid crew.
With panoramic views of Meeks Bay, Meeks Meadow, and Desolation Wilderness, naming rights at four vista points along the trail were available for a $10,000 donation each. The vista points, identified on this map, will feature a bench and custom plaque with the name of the donor.
The new Meeks Ridge Trail will create access to a world-class loop with unbelievable views, without requiring people to get in their cars. And now your donation will be doubled to help make it happen!
To contribute to the matching campaign or secure a Vista point, please click the “Donate Now” button below or email info@tahoefund.org
