Route 50 Pollock Pines-S. Lake Tahoe

[urbancoyote]

Route 50 from Pollock Pines to South Lake Tahoe looks shorter and easier than the Western Express Route. I've heard that riding Route 50 on this segment is illegal for bikes, but I've also heard that a lot of people do it.

Is there anyone who knows both routes and can comment on the differences between them?

uc

[MrBent]

I can't recommend it.  That stretch of Hwy 50 has many tight, blind corners with astronomically high volumes of fast traffic--trucks, RV's, sports cars with drivers hot for the casinos at State Line.  I suppose you would survive it--maybe.  However, the experience would just be flat-out nasty.  Then you have to deal with South Lake Tahoe--also nasty.

My wife and I recently rode from Carson City west to the coast.  We did our crossing in May, so the Mormon Immigrant Trail connector was still buried in snow.    We found an alternate, but would have liked to do the route as mapped by AC.  Carson Pass will present you with some interesting moments, but it is far better than the Echo Summit/South Lake alternative.  It's really pretty country, too!  My vote is to stick with the original route.

Have a great ride!

Scott

[ibike4fun]

Anyone who rides that segment wants to die early! It is even scary in a car. I lived in that area for many years and drove that stretch in my car countless times and know from experience. You need to really watch the RV's and the semi trucks. At times there is no shoulder and they would rather hit you then have a head on collision. Some of those RV's are so big they take up an entire lane and then some.

You would be much better off going on Mormon Immigrant. That is a very nice stretch of road, lots of room, tons of places to camp, and it takes you to about the same place. There is not too much traffic in Aug/Sept. July is the peak time for car traffic. Water could be a problem in some places until you get to Caples Lake.


"Banana Slugs are too cool for word!"

[miguelcat]

Highway 50 into South Lake Tahoe often has heavy, and sometimes high-speed traffic.  Certain spots have minimal shoulders as well. The descent into Tahoe would be a little hairy, as you would be hugging a cliff with about a 1,000-foot drop-off.

To my knowledge, and I live in Tahoe, it is not illegal to ride on Highway 50. I know people who have ridden east, but not west.

I would take the other route...even greater scenery and a lot less stress.

[gnarlydog]

I don't know if it is illegal, but it would definetly be suidical. Stick with the western express route and if you want to get to lake tahoe you can take hwy 89 after you get over carson pass.

[urbancoyote]

Thanks for the feedback. It's really clear that Hwy 50 would be hazardous for my health.

I still need to get from the Western Express Route to South Lake Tahoe, though. On the map, a left turn on Hwy 206 onto 207, up Kingsbury Grade and through Genoa looks like the way to go. Is that the way to do it, or is there some better way?

The other thing is that I have a friend in Incline Village who I would like to visit. Is there a reasonably safe way to ride around the lake to its north end?

[BikerLee]

I've driven Hwy 50 to South Lake Tahoe a couple of times eyeballing the biking.
It's bikable, but not likable :>}
From South Lake Tahoe just follow the west shore, can't remember the number (89?), up to Incline.
Several hilly stretches with no shoulder, but traffic isn't going that fast and they're used to seeing bicycles.
I've ridden around the lake 3 times.
Regards,
Lee