Lost Sierra Bikepacking Route

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Nevada County, CA, US

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Route Overview

Matt McCourtney

Long Rides in Remote Places

252 mi.

24,642 ft.

A 250 mile Bikepacking loop that starts and ends in Truckee CA. The route combines The Tahoe, Sierra and Plumas National Forests and travels to the Northernmost edge of Sierra Nevada and back to the famous town of Truckee just north of Lake Tahoe.

For the optimal experience, the route is best broken up into 5 days at about 60 miles and 6000k of vert per day and can be done on a larger tire gravel bike or hardtail mountain bike.

The best time of year is mid summer to late fall, due to snowpack. Check the weather window, it gets hot in places and can be freezing at night.

The route is rugged, remote, challenging and awe inspiring but very doable logistically with plenty of camping, resupplies and water along the route.

The route was inspired by the Connected Communities Project. The Connected Communities Project aims to stimulate the economies of rural communities in the Lost Sierra by improving trail access and connectivity and encouraging diverse user types to explore and recreate on public lands by linking 15 mountain towns by trails. Learn More at https://sierratrails.org/connected-communities/

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Route Details

The Lost Sierra Route is a 250 mile gravel bikepacking loop starting and ending in Truckee CA that dives straight into the backcountry of the Lost Sierra Region, known for its rugged landscape and gold rush history.   Combining Tahoe, Sierra and Plumas National Forests, the diversity of this route is deep in history, beauty and filled with surprises and challenges!   The route travels to the Northernmost edge of Sierra Nevada and back to the famous town of Truckee, just north of Lake Tahoe.

From 7500 foot mountain passes to low lying river canyons, high plains valleys, historic gold rush era towns for resupplies, this route has an endless array of twists and turns to keep you visually in awe and inspired to pedal on.

The route is best broken up into 5 days, with about 60 miles and 6000k of vert per day.   There is unlimited dispersed camping in the National Forests,  plentifully developed campgrounds, a few hotels and ample resupply locations as you wind your way in and out of the backcountry into small long forgotten towns.

**The Route features:**

- High elevation mountain passes and peaks
- Abundant camping and water... rivers, streams, creeks and lakes
- Gold Rush historic towns providing ample resupplies
- High Sierra plains with free roaming mountain cattle and livestock
- Glacier carved alpine lakes
- Amazing scenery and natural beauty
- Solitude!!  
#

**Historic and noteworthy features:**

@point[Henness Pass Road](d,43268.91) was the primary emigrant trail in the mid 1800s serving as a resupply for miners and travelers alike.

@poi[Downieville CA](104225777) founded in 1849, was the epicenter of the Gold Rush.  It had a peak population of 5000 plus and was slated to be the capital of CA, losing out to Sacramento during its heyday.... Today, Downieville is known as a mountain bike destination with a current population of around 290.

@poi[The Sierra Buttes](104225776) sit at 8561 feet and set the stage for the backdrop of the Southern  portion of the route.   Featured in National Geographic, @photo[the Buttes](14315481) and the surrounding areas are magical, providing endless recreational opportunities from glacier carved lakes to 7000 ft alpine meadows brimming with wildflowers.   The landscape is truly amazing!

@poi[The Middle Fork of the Feather River](104225778) is a wild and scenic designated river that splits the route in half, crossing it on your way out and once again, on your way back.  The river is known for its rugged beauty, abundant wild trout population, and is one of the main water connections throughout the region.

@poi[Taylorsville CA](104225779), also founded in the mid 1850s, has a population of less than 200 and is the gateway to the high plains section of the route.   Sitting at 3547 feet in the Indian Valley, @photo[Taylorsville](14315513) is the northernmost point of the Sierra Nevada Range.   It is a great resupply with a local general store, restaurant, and full service campground with a hot shower.

@poi[Antelope Lake](103759272) rises above Indian Valley as you make your way up into the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada.  The lake is remote and beautiful, featuring craggy mountains, wildflowers and big views of the valleys below, offering camping in developed campgrounds.

Once past @point[Lake Davis](d,308693.16), a trophy trout destination, with abundant lakeside camping and a general store, you dive back into the Sierra Valley, the largest sub-alpine valley in the American West.   The route passes small towns like Portola and Loyalton before climbing back up and out to your starting point, Truckee CA.

**Recommended bike set up:**

Drop bar gravel bike with 35 mm or larger tires
Hardtail Mountain Bike

~ 100 miles of paved roads.... this is misleading as the majority of the paved roads are remote and feel like forest service roads once you get a few miles from towns.   The @photo[surfaces](14315536) vary and can ride much like gravel roads... some have weeds growing up from the yellow lines if there are lines left at all from years of weather and lots of use...

~ 150 miles of dirt forest service roads.... Forest service roads range from @photo[smooth](14315533) to rocky but are not technical by any means.  The rockiest sections are up near and past the Sierra Buttes.

# Important Reminders

- This is a seasonal route with snow and weather impacting travel.  The best time of year is mid summer to late fall once the snow melts.  Check the weather forecast as sections can be very hot and nights can be very cold.  
- Parking is limited in Truckee
- Resupplies are plentiful in towns along the way, check store hours as they may close before dark
- Dispersed camping is allowed in the majority of the National Forest except for restricted areas, check local regulations.   
- Developed camping is plentiful, but fills up in the summer so make reservations well in advance.  
- Bring a water filter, there is plenty of drinkable water along the route in rivers, lakes and streams
- Cell service is very limited
- Bike shops are limited to [Downieville](https://www.downievilleoutfitters.net) and [Quincy](https://yubaexpeditions.com/yuba/quincy-adventure-center.php) and have limited mountain town hours!

Lost Sierra Bikepacking Route

Route Overview

Route Details

Other routes by Matt McCourtney

South Park Loop Quincy CA

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