Ash Canyon to Kings Canyon Trail

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Jeff Moser

Carson officials, volunteers carving trail system in mountains west of city
By Teri Vance (Story originally appearing in the Nevada Appeal)

In the super-abridged version of the story, Jeff Potter complained to city supervisors in 2006 that more mountain bike trails were needed in the area.

Their response: Then do it.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple. There was the master plan to consult. Permits needed to be acquired. Plans needed to be drawn up.

But after years of working with Carson City’s open-space manager, Juan Guzman, to negotiate with city, state and federal agencies as well as private property owners, the plan is starting to take shape.

Max Jones, who owns Spooner Lake Cross Country and Flume Trail Mountain Bikes, lent his expertise to determining three routes connecting Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon.

Potter said they settled on the mid-line route, traversing seven miles along the east-facing slopes of the mountains. It begins around 5,600 feet and climbs 1,100 feet to the highest point of 6,700 feet. The average grade is 6 percent.

Potter said it was an easy decision.

“If this was the only trail I could put in, it would be a killer trail,” he said. “Plus, we had fewer obstacles with this option.”

He said the gradual ascents with some steep climbs will make the trail a challenge for the experienced mountain biker while still being accessible to the novice.

“This is for everybody,” Potter said. “All skill levels.”

The trail also will be open for other non-motorized use, like hikers and equestrians.

While there are some trails now in the hills of east Carson City, they are what’s known as non-system trails. They don’t connect in a meaningful way and may not have the proper permits.

The trail, with access points in Kings Canyon and Ash Canyon, will make sense to users, Guzman said.

“It’s from a very well-known point to another well-known point,” he said.

It also could draw other outdoor enthusiasts to the area, Guzman said.

“This is the kind of thing that people will drive thousands of miles to come and experience,” he said. “We have a hidden spot here. People do not realize what a unique place this is. The Sierra Nevada is just spectacular.”

Potter said while users will be able to begin at either point, he imagines most will prefer to begin from the Kings Canyon side and climb about 2.5 miles to the highest point.

Once there, they’ll be on an outcropping with views of the entire city, along with Job’s Peak, the Sweetwater Range and Washoe Lake.

From there, it will a 5.5-mile descent into Ash Canyon. Along the way, there will be other overlooks for users to take in the view.

Work on the trail is expected to begin in the spring and could take up to five years to be fully complete.

Guzman said he appreciates the dedication and expertise of volunteers like Potter.

“This is the perfect use of our lands,” he said. “This corner of Nevada is just fantastic.”

Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail Update

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Jeff Moser

View from the future trail. Elev-6100′

The future Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail (KC/ACT) will be a seven mile non-motorized multi-use trail designed for mountain biking and running, and managed for hiking and equestrian use. Come over to the Muscle Powered blog to get the latest news from Jeff Potter on this exciting project HERE.

Carson City to the Flume Trail Loop

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Jeff Moser

Our extended winter left a lot of snow in the Sierras, and mountain bikers have been waiting week after week for the snow to melt enough to ride the trails in the high country. Although many sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail are still under some snow, the Flume Trail is finally open! On the morning of June 26th, the Northridge Riders assembled for an epic ride that took us from our driveways, all the way up to the Flume Trail 1,000 feet above Lake Tahoe, and then back home again.

Northridge Riders leaving the neighborhood

Due to high levels of excitement and anticipation, everyone was on time for the ride and ready to go. This included me too, which can be a rare occurrence. We huddled together briefly for a photo, and then got underway. You could sense the enthusiasm. I thought everyone was pedaling a bit too hard for the amount of miles ahead of us. Thankfully we only made it about a mile before we had to pull over and make minor adjustments to derailleurs and shoes. Once on the road again the pace was more relaxed, and we pedaled through the scenic west side of Carson City.

Leaving Carson City up Kings Canyon

The adventure seemed to begin when we reached the end of the pavement on Kings Canyon Road; the feeling of leaving the security and familiarity of town, and heading out into the unknown. We were glad to have gotten an 8:00 AM start, because the temperature was already starting to get warm. I took comfort in knowing we could refill our water once we got up to Spooner Summit.

Looking South towards Carson Valley and Jobs Peak

Kings Canyon steadily climbs out of Carson City, and you gain altitude fast. The gravely road switchbacks up the side of the canyon, and transitions from the desert feel of the valley below into the forest of the Sierras. Once you climb out of Kings Canyon, you have great views of the Carson Valley to the South. The road to Spooner from here is easier going as it parallels highway 50 below, but the roadbed is mostly loose decomposed granite. The sand can become deep at times, so you have to pick your way around the road to find the best traction. As you near Spooner Summit, there is a lot more shade, and several creeks cross the road. It was at this point that I started feeling that I was far away from home.

Stopping to smell the flowers on the climb to Spooner Summit

Kings Canyon to Spooner Summit was the longest leg of the journey. We had a slow and steady pace and our legs were fresh, but we started feeling the burn at the end of the 14 mile climb. We were really looking forward to the ice cream at the Flume Trail Bike Shop.

Flume Trail Bike Shop at Spooner Lake

We finally reached Spooner Summit, joined up with the Highway, and then bombed down to Spooner Lake State Park. We each paid our $2 entry fees, and rode over to the Flume Trail Bike Shop. The first order of business was to refill our water and get some ice cream! When I got over to the freezer though, it was nothing but a big white empty void. I suddenly understood how Christopher Columbus probably felt when he promised the crew that they would reach land by the next morning. Scott J glared at me with a look of betrayal. “You promised…”, his eyes said. The guy at the shop heard our discussion, and told us that the ice cream delivery hadn’t showed up for the week. It was late.

Glamor Shot – Scott R and Brent

I’m not certain if the guy at the shop sensed our sadness or was trying to avoid the bloodshed of a violent mutiny, but he said, “Hold on guys…” as he walked over to a freezer marked Employees Only. He pulled out last season’s freezer burned treats, and offered them to us for free! My frozen yogurt bar was encrusted in ice crystals, but tasted way better than it looked. We sat outside and enjoyed our frozen snacks. Two dollars to enter the park, and they give you free ice cream. You just won’t find cheaper entertainment anywhere. The steep climb ahead didn’t seem so bad now.

Jon smiling up North Canyon

Sometimes when I do a ride that I’ve done before, I like to try something different. Maybe I’ll change the route up a little bit, or try it on a different bike. I recently built up a new single speed, and I’ve had a hard time riding any other bike. It’s a lot of fun. For days leading up to this ride, I was trying to get the courage to try this route with one gear. Additionally, I really haven’t done any long rides this year, so I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I finally committed to riding the single speed the night before after I ran the idea by Scott R over a beer. He seemed surprised by the idea, but he didn’t talk me out of it. I figured I could walk if I needed to, and half of the ride would be downhill, right? I made it up Kings Canyon easier than I had expected, and only the grueling North Canyon was left.

Marlette Lake – Jon, Scott J, Jeff, Brent, Scott R, Sandie (photo by Jesse)

Overall, the climb up North Canyon went pretty well with one gear. I was riding up ahead with Scott R, and most of the steep parts were short. Until we got to the final climb, that is. The final climb is less than a mile, but it’s really a granny gear climb. The steepness spiked my heart rate quickly, so I looked around for things to take photos of in an effort to rest. One by one, the rest of the gang caught up with me and passed me, motoring up the climb in their tiny gears. Thankfully, the grade eased up at the end, I was able to ride up to the saddle. Most of the climbing of the day was done!

Beef Jerky? – Jesse and Scott R

We had a nice break at Marlette Lake, and everywhere around us was a beehive of activity. Hikers and cyclists were all around the lake enjoying the day. We even saw one small group using a rope swing to jump into the lake. Brrrr. No thank you!

Marlette Lake is used as a hatchery for Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout

The Nevada Division of Wildlife was busy at the south end of the lake at the Trout Spawning Station. Marlette Lake is used as a hatchery for Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout, and there were several fine specimens swimming in the inlet creek. Rather than have these brood stock fish at a hatchery, they are raised in the lake in a completely natural environment. Hundreds of thousands of eggs are produced by these fish each year for Nevada fisheries.

Scott J fording the submerged trail near Marlette Dam

As we pedaled along the west shore of Marlette Lake, we rode past the last patch of snow on the trail. It was nearly melted and was easy to go around. When we reached the dam, the high water had the trail submerged. A couple of us ported our bikes over the rocks, but those of us who didn’t mind squeaky chains and wet feet pedaled on through.

Flume Trail Vista

It was a busy day up on the Flume Trail, and we waited our turn for the traffic to clear. There’s a fun section that descends from the Marlette Dam, makes a sharp switchback over some granite boulders, and then finishes with a bridge crossing by a waterfall. It’s always fun to try to clear this section without putting a foot down, so we were patient as the riders ahead of us disappeared down the trail.

Single Speed Karate Monkey above Sand Harbor

Just across the bridge, the Flume Trail begins, and riders are offered stunning views of Lake Tahoe. I always enjoy taking someone new on this trail and watching their jaw drop as they come around the first corner to view the lake from 1,000 feet above it. You try to tell them how beautiful it is, but it can’t be fully imagined even by looking at a photo. It’s just something you need to see in person.

Jeff on the Flume Trail

While the Flume Trail is narrow and cut into the side of a steep mountain, it is smooth and well maintained. There is one hazardous rock slide area, but it is well marked. The biggest challenge of the Flume Trail is to keep riding and not stop constantly to take pictures or enjoy the scenery.

A treacherous spot on the Flume Trail

Caution, Landslide Area! – Sandie following instructions

When we arrived at Tunnel Creek, we began our final ascent of the day. The hill is only .6 miles, but it’s steep, and our legs were protesting any more climbing. We took a break at the saddle near the intersection of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Scott J crossing the pass at Tunnel Creek

The trail drops down a steep sandy road after leaving the saddle at Tunnel Creek, but soon becomes one of my favorite sections of this route, the Red House Flume. While the Marlette Flume is up high and exposed, the Red House Flume is shady and enclosed in a more heavily wooded area. It’s a pleasant ride all the way to Franktown creek with many flowers and streams to enjoy along the way.

A big tree down on the Red House Flume

Blooming Mules Ear on the Red House Flume

At the end of the Red House Flume Trail is Franktown Creek and a skinny concrete dam. Riders must dismount here and carry their bikes across. It has been made more treacherous by a recently built structure on the upstream side enclosed in a chain link fence. It feels like you’re going to get tossed into the creek far down below. This is the only part of the ride that made me feel uneasy, and a different route to get to the Red House may be more desirable.

Crossing the Dam at Franktown Creek

Directly below the Red House Flume is the Red House itself. The Red House, as you might imagine, is painted red. But it is reportedly nicknamed for a caretaker named Harry “Red” McGovern, a past caretaker along Franktown Creek. The system of tunnels, dams, and flumes that brought water from the Sierras to Virginia City required constant monitoring and repair, so caretaker stations were built along the water route. Hobart Station, or “The Red House” was one of these stations. There is a shaded picnic table at Red House, the babbling Franktown Creek is nearby, and the remains of an old 1924 Dodge Roadster peacefully rest out in front of the house. It’s a perfect spot to take a break.

Red House

The inside of Red House could use a woman’s touch

After taking some photos at Red House, we began the next leg of the journey. After a short descent down Franktown Creek Road, the trail becomes Tanks Road, a long, mostly flat road that follows the contour all the way to the water tanks high above Lakeview. The trail here is easy going, and you have plenty of time to enjoy the views of Washoe Valley below and Slide Mountain to the North.

Snowball Contest

One particular photo stop was near a snow covered northern slope. Scott R suddenly got the urge to make some snowballs and commence target practice on an old dead tree that was several yards down the hill. He couldn’t seem to hit it, and before long the whole gang was over there making snowballs and trying to be the first one to hit the target. In the end Brent was the winner, and I believe Scott may owe him five bucks.

High above Washoe Lake

The final descent back to Carson City

Once you reach the water tanks, the pleasant road becomes really steep. It’s a fast descent all the way down to Lakeview from here as the road twists and turns down the mountain. We got our first glimpse of Carson City since Kings Canyon, and it was still way below us. Several minutes later we had reached the pavement of Lakeview, descended down Combs Canyon, and finally arrived back in the City.

Post Ride Celebration!

We finished our ride with a celebration, enjoying Brent’s famous margaritas, chips, and salsa. The riders that brought along their GPS units recorded 42.5 miles ridden, 7.5 hours out on the bike, and 4,491 feet of elevation climbed! There aren’t too many places where you can have this much fun all day and enjoy spectacular views, all for the low price of two dollars. Especially when you throw in the free ice cream!

42.5 miles, 7.5 hours, 4,491 feet of elevation gain!

More Resources:

For riders looking to trim off some miles or climbing, Spooner Lake is a great place to start. Flume Trail Bikes has a full service bicycle shop, bicycle rentals, shuttle service, and staff knowledgeable with the area. Their website has full details including a great trail map, and can be found at http://theflumetrail.com.

More photos of the ride can be found:
in the Bike Carson Flickr Set
Scott R’s Flickr Set
and Jesse’s Flickr Set.

Special thanks to the Northridge Riders for a great day and sharing some of their photos!

Longview Trail

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Jeff Moser

When I was a kid, C-Hill was my playground. I spent many hours up in the foothills exploring the roads and trails on my Schwinn Stingray. Right about the time mountain bikes came along though, the developers came in and built on every part of land that wasn’t steep hillside. The playground was finished. There was nothing left but steep 4×4 roads going straight up the mountain. Biking, hiking, and winter sledding were gone.

Jeff F, Craig, and Dusty

Fast forward several years later though, and the trails are starting to reappear! Recreational trails that are appealing to mountain bikers and hikers are making a comeback in the area, as people begin to realize the importance of having these assets close to home. One of the newest trails on the map is the Longview Trail.

How to Get There

The Longview Singletrack trailhead is located at the intersection of Longview and Kings Canyon Road. On the south side of the pavement there are two dirt roads. One heads steeply up the ridge, the other leads into the ravine. Follow the lower trail into the ravine for a short distance, and look for the singletrack on that right that continues up the ravine.

Longview Singletrack Trailhead

Trail Description

The trail starts off following an old foot path, but eventually leaves the old trail and begins to cross back and forth across the ravine where it makes more sense to have a trail. The trail climbs pretty steep, the narrow ravine offering very few options for an easier line. I was able to make the climb up the ravine on my single speed, but had to rest frequently to do so. At least this offered plenty of opportunities for pictures! I’m looking forward to trying out the climb again with a granny gear.

Dude, where’s my truck?

When the ravine becomes too steep and narrow to continue up, the singletrack switchbacks out of the ravine and onto the western ridge above. The trail meanders around fun trail features such as boulders and abandoned mines, and eventually crosses the upper road mentioned in the beginning of the post. When you finally come out on top, you are rewarded with fantastic views of Carson City and Kings Canyon.

Climbing out of the Ravine

The steepness of this singletrack classifies it as an intermediate skills level trail. There are a few technical challenges along the way, mostly in the area of the switchbacks, but overall the trail is pretty smooth. Beginning riders will enjoy the trail if they don’t mind resting often on the climb.

Views of Kings Canyon and Carson City

Other Trails in the Area

The trail continues south to a plateau above Borda Meadows where it terminates at this time. From here, you can ride back the way you came, get on the doubletrack that crosses the south side of Borda Meadows and eventually connects to Kings Canyon Road, or head east to the canyon behind C Hill. There is a crude trail in the canyon behind C Hill that goes all the way to Rhodes Street where it meets Curry Street. I haven’t ridden it this year, but it can be overgrown at times, doesn’t connect all the way to the top, and has gaps in the middle due to intrusive geological exploration by land developers. Thankfully, the housing crash has spared further development in this beautiful canyon.

Riders on the Ridge

The Longview Trail is a welcome addition to the Carson City Trail network. Every new section of trail opens up new possibilities. Trails and roads are suddenly connected, and new loops are formed. In the future, it’s not hard to imagine connecting Douglas and Washoe counties along Carson’s west side. Or how about a giant loop around Carson City when all the trails are eventually connected? Now wouldn’t that be cool?

Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Loop

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Jeff Moser

On Saturday, I got to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. A ride up into the Carson Range, starting from Carson City. I’ve done all the pieces of this trek, but never all together in one ride. I was tired of hearing about how great it is from friends, and decided to go see for myself.

Leaving Carson City on Kings Canyon Road

Scott R and I left Carson City from my front door at 8:45 AM. We met up with Lester on the west side, and then picked up Ryan and Christine at the Kings Canyon trailhead.

Looking Towards Carson Valley

I really haven’t done many longer rides this year, usually only riding for one to two hour durations. I was wondering how I’d do on the long ride. By spinning a low gear and taking our time, I found that the hills went by quite nicely. I would’ve been cooked early on at our usual pace.

Kings Canyon Road

Kings Canyon gains a lot of elevation up front, but then provides a pretty gentle ride for several miles after that. The views along the road are outstanding, and it is safe to stare off into the distance while riding. Well mostly…just about all of us washed out in the sand at one point or another while gawking at the scenery.

Break Time at Flume Trail Bikes

Getting to the top of Kings Canyon was a mental milestone for me. Once at the top of Spooner Summit, I felt good and knew I could do the rest of the climb. This was probably the scariest part of the ride, as we had to ride along the shoulder of HWY 50 for about a mile. The roadside construction cones pushed us a little too close to traffic. I can’t imagine doing an around the Lake tour. It was a relief to get off the road and enter Spooner Lake State Park.

We stopped off at Flume Trail Bikes at Spooner Lake State Park for some cold beverages, and topped off all the Camelbaks and water bottles before leaving for North Canyon.

Indian Paintbrush in North Canyon

The higher we climbed, the more lush the vegetation got. North Canyon was a stark contrast to the lower elevations we had climbed from. Down below, the greenery is starting to fade, but things up here seemed to be just getting started. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature were sublime.

Final Grind up North Canyon

When we regrouped at the top of North Canyon, we talked about the route that we’d finish the ride on. As we did this, it started to rain a little bit. The Flume Trail seemed like a bad idea, none of us wanting to be stuck on a cliff wall during thunder and lightening! We chose to head towards Hobart via Sunflower Hill.

Marlette Lake

The road along Marlette Lake took us through an Aspen Grove. This was one of the most peaceful sections of trail. A couple riders commented that it felt like they were back East.

Crossroads at Marlette Lake

The peacefulness ended, and it was time to climb again! And quite steeply. Everyone was back down to the granny gear for the climb up to the saddle beneath Marlette Peak.

Another Grinder up Marlette Lake Road

We finally reached the highest point of our ride for the day, somewhere around 8,500 feet above sea level. We took a break on the granite boulders, and enjoyed the view of Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe below.

Marlette and Tahoe

We ran into construction as we neared Sunflower Hill. There was a big sign on the side of the road that read, “NO SMOKING”. It seemed wildly out of place for where we were at. Big trucks have been using the road, so it was freshly graded, and pretty silty. Not the best for riding.

Photographers on Sunflower Hill

After descending through a dark and dusty section of the woods, we came out upon the area known as Sunflower Hill. The “sunflowers” are actually Mule’s Ear, and grow all over the eastern Sierra; however, this hillside has a high concentration of them. The scene stopped us dead in our tracks, and we all had to get the cameras out.

Sunflower Hill

After descending a few switchbacks through the Mule’s Ear, we came to an intersection that gave us the choice of a downhill to Lakeview or more climbing to Hobart and Ash Canyon. We chose more climbing!

Hmmm…Which way today?

There were lots of large trucks and other heavy equipment parked around the area. A big sign advertised the “Marlette Gas Project”. There were more “NO SMOKING” signs here too. Ahh…explosive vapors. The signs made more sense, although none of us were sure why there was a gas line being put in.

Discussing the Marlette Lake Gas Project

We stopped for an extended break at Hobart Reservoir near a nice little campground and restroom. Since you can drive up Ash Canyon to within a relatively easy walking distance to the reservoir, there were quite a few fisherman and other visitors here. It was strangely noisy. Not what you would expect from such a secluded spot.

Hobart Reservoir

After a nice break, we continued to climb to get to Ash Canyon. We were all getting pretty tired at this point, and were all looking forward to some downhill. Just when we thought it was time to descend, another little hill would be presented to us.

Do We Really get to go Down Now?

Normally I would go down Lakeview, but I haven’t seen the top of Ash Canyon for over a decade. I remember it being terribly steep, and even remember crashing on it. Still, I wanted to get an updated visual of the area, since we ride the lower areas of Ash Canyon daily.

Carson City

We had another jaw dropping moment when we came out of the woods and saw Carson City below. Wow! We had done a lot of climbing!

Dropping into Ash Canyon

Once we were done soaking in the view, we began the final descent down Ash Canyon. This road is probably one of the steepest roads I’ve ever been down. Even with disk brakes, my arms required rest breaks at a few points during the descent. Lester and I both experienced rear brake fade. The lever was spongy, and you could pull it all the way back to the bars! Boiled brake fluid? Not sure…

It was almost a bummer to drop elevation so quickly. After so much climbing, a more relaxing descent would have been nice. Next time we will take the Lakeview route for sure!

Almost Home

We finished off the ride with a trip down the Creek Trail. We were all pretty fatigued, and took it much slower than normal. I felt like a pinball.

After saying farewell to the other riders, Scott R and I made it back to my house around 4:15. What a day we had had, and what a great feeling to have done such a great ride without the use of a car for a shuttle. I can’t wait to do it again!

More pictures of this ride can be viewed on our Flickr site by clicking HERE.

Bike Carson

Bicycle News, Culture, and Lifestyle in Carson City, Nevada

Tag Archives: kings canyon

Ash Canyon to Kings Canyon Trail

Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail Update

Carson City to the Flume Trail Loop

Longview Trail

Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Loop