Loon Lake Loop Edorado National Forest, West of Lake Tahoe You really have to have a passion for technical rock riding to attempt this trail! Trail head is at the wilderness access parking lot within the Loon Lake camp ground. First part of the trail takes you around the back side of Loon Lake. This section of trail is great for a day hike or for the beginning rock rider as an out-n-back. Once completely at the back side of the lake the trail will start climbing up and away from the lake.		Gary & Larry posing at Loon Lake

This climb is not very enjoyable or rideable. Very loose babyhead and smaller chunks of granite that are moving around under your tires but to do this trail in reverse just to do this as a downhill is not an option worth considering. The backside climb is worse and that's if you even find the trail head from the Rubicon Jeep Trail. However unenjoyable this section is, the view and overall ride more than makeup for it! Once at the top of this section you will have the same but as a downhill, nicely challenging loose babyhead downhill. Keep an eye out for a cross trail that is slightly overgrown. There has been a large round (cut chunk of tree) marking this spot for some time but since its not conneted to anything it can be moved.
The cross trail is not well traveled so keep an eye on the cairns (stacked rocks) while traveling down this trail. If you can hear the distant roar of 4x4's then you're probably going in the right direction. You'll know for sure when you hit the Rubicon Jeep Trail, you will either see the 4x4 rigs or thier tracks, the trail is well defined. Turn left here and you'll want to reach "Gate Keeper" and then Loon Lake Dam. Once at the dam you ride across it, up the road to the Loon Lake CG entrance and back to your motorized vehicle.

The journey on the Rubicon is super challenging with lots of boulders, step up/downs and sort of hard to really know where you're going. At this point I would surely recommend having a guide, there is just no way to describe the direction of travel. I am available as a guide for this area as I both MTB & rock crawl it.

Don't take this area for granted. It is challenging and while only being approximately 18 miles around the lake... one gnarley crash and you will be getting a helicopter ride to South Lake Tahoe's Barton Memorial Hospital!  See Gary's life flight out on 7/4/03