SARDINE PEAK Mt. Bike Loop
The ride to Sardine Peak isn't very technical, and it doesn't have a ton of aesthetic value, riding-wise. Until you reach the top, that is. From the lookout tower on the top of the peak, the views are outstanding of the entire northern Sierra area, from Mt. Lassen down to the Sierra Buttes and south to Mt. Rose and Freel Peak. This ride is long, with a good climb, but accessible by most riders regardless of ability. Drive north to the end of the Boca/Stampede Road from the Hirschdale Exit from I-80. Park where the pavement ends. Head left/west on Henness Pass Road and follow this relatively flat road around 5 miles into Sardine Valley. At the western edge of the valley, turn left, on State Road S450 (still Henness Pass Road) and begin gently climbing the canyon. After a couple of miles, turn right on Lemon Canyon Road (CR650). Another mile and a half will take you to a right turn for "Sardine Lookout." From here, you'll gain about 1,500 feet in the next 4 miles to the top of the ridge. Turn left and make the last short climb to the lookout. To make a fun loop out of it, go back down to the most recent intersection and make a left and get ready for some fun descending down Smithneck Creek. Over 5 miles of high speed downhill will take you to Smithneck Road, just north of Sardine Valley. Turn right on Smithneck. From here, you can either take CR S860 south back to Henness Pass road, where you'll turn left and back to the car, or alternatively make a left soon after reaching Smithneck and follow the more enjoyable path back on the east edge of Sardine Valley and back to the parking area. - a 33885 m activity route in Truckee, California
Route Location
Start Lat/Lng: (39.50636673, -120.09244537)
City: Truckee
Country Name: the United States
Country Code: US
State Code: CA
State Name: California
Postal Code: 96161
Route Stats
Activity: Activity
Distance: 33885 m
Max Elevation: 2464.58 meters
Elevation Gain / Total Ascent: 609.7 meters
Data Source: MapMyRIDE
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