2026 Shuttles
About our shuttle services
2026 shuttle service is operating.
Park at our shop, rent a bike (or not), ride a shuttle to a trailhead and ride back to the shop.
The Flume Trail Shuttle is running WEEKENDS only for June 2026. Possibly 7 days a week starting in July (depends on construction completion).
The 431 shuttle is operating every day to the start of the Incline Flume Trail, Tyrolian Downhill, Tahoe Rim Trail* riding south from highway 431.
*Tahoe Rim Trail EVEN days of the month only. First TRT June 6.
Cap to Tahoe Trail starts June 20, 2026 pick up in Carson City to ride 32 miles of single track back to your vehicle. Even days of the month weekends only.
General info:
Our shuttle services take riders to the start of four distinctly different but equally epic Tahoe Mountain Bike rides. The (Marlette) Flume Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Incline Flume Trail and the 34 mile Cap to Tahoe Trail. Guests can park in our lot at the shop (located behind the Tunnel Creek Cafe) and get a lift to their desired ride destination (Cap to Tahoe pick up is in Carson City with a drop off at the Tahoe Rim Trail at Tahoe meadows).
Shuttle Options:
Incline Flume Trail: our shortest ride option with very little elevation gain, great for beginner riders! (This shuttle also provides access to the Marlette Flume trail and other extensions). Currently open from the 431 shuttle
Classic Marlette Flume Trail Shuttle: Our Traditional Flume Trail Shuttle that drops off at Spooner Lake for a 14 mile point-to-point across the famous Marlette Flume Trail. OPEN WEEKENDS JUNE 2026. Expecting 7 days a week starting July 2026.
431 Shuttle: Provides access to the Tahoe Rim Trail, a slightly more advanced 12-mile ride. The Tyrolian Downhill and the Incline Flume Trail. TAHOE RIM ON EVEN CALENDAR DATES ONLY. For all destinations, book the 431 shuttle and when you get here tell us where you will be starting your ride.
Cap-to-Tahoe Shuttle: A 34-mile single track epic starting in Tahoe Meadows and concluding in Carson City (this shuttle runs even days of the month on weekends only, riders will be picked up in Carson City at 9:00am and taken to the trailhead).
Current 2026 Spooner Shuttle Schedule
Saturday/Sunday shuttle departures:
9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm** Only return shuttles and shuttles for personal bikes after 2:00 pm
The Classic Flume Shuttle
(The classic Flume point-to-point shuttle is currently available on WEEKENDS ONLY - All other access to the Marlette Flume is from our 431 Shuttle)
About the Flume shuttle:
Season: June-November (as weather permits)
Shuttle Cost: $22/rider
Bike Type: Hardtail, Full Suspension, Mountain Pedal Assist E-bike
Mileage: the classic 14 mile point-to-point from Spooner Lake to the bike shop with 1100 ft of elevation gain
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Minimum of two riders on a shuttle required to make van trip (dedicated single riders can pay for two shuttle tickets to ride)
- If scheduled vans are filled to capacity, we will send another van for the overflow riders (current 14 rider capacity)
- Shuttles generally leave a few minutes later than scheduled and we try to group as many riders together as we can to minimize van trips
2026 Incline Flume Shuttle Schedule
7 days a week shuttle departures:
9:00, 10:00, 11:00 am, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00
** Only return shuttles and shuttles for personal bikes after 2:00 pm
Highway 431 Shuttle
The Highway 431 Shuttle runs every day and gives riders access to the Incline Flume Trail, Tyrolian Downhill and combines with the Tahoe Rim Shuttle on even dates.
Flume Shuttle Routes Map:
Incline Flume Shuttle:
open every day
Shuttle Cost: $22/rider
Bike Type: Hardtail, Full Suspension, Mountain Pedal Assist E-bike (class 1)
Ride Options:
The Incline Flume Trail: an easier, roughly 10-mile point to point ride where riders will take the Incline Flume across and then descend tunnel creek road to return to the shop. This is a great beginner route with no significance elevation gain with nine miles of single track.
The Incline Flume Trail adding the Marlette Flume Viewpoint Out-and-Back: This route provides riders with far more single track and much less elevation gain than the traditional route from Spooner Lake with the 1000’ climb to Marlette Lake. After completing the Incline Flume trail, riders will arrive at Tunnel Creek Road and turn left to start the short half mile climb to the Marlette Flume Trail. Riders will then ride the Marlette Flume South-bound for around 2 miles in order to get to the most beautiful spots along the trail. The Flume Trail is closed in the middle due to the repair being done on the Marlette Lake Dam, you would turn around and ride the same route back to Tunnel Creek Road then descend back to the shop, this route will be about 16 miles. (Closure only in affect mid-week)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Minimum of two riders on a shuttle required to make van trip (dedicated single riders can pay for two shuttle tickets to ride)
- If scheduled vans are filled to capacity, we will send another van for the overflow riders (current 14 rider capacity)
- Shuttles generally leave a few minutes later than scheduled and we try to group as many riders together as we can to minimize van trips.
2026 Tahoe Meadows Shuttle Schedule
(Even Dates Only)
Even Date Weekday shuttle departures:
9:00, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pmEven Date Weekend shuttle departures:
9:00, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm** Only return shuttles and shuttles for personal bikes after 2:00 pm
Tahoe Rim Trail Shuttle
(Also bookable under “Highway 431 Shuttle”)
Tahoe Rim Trail Shuttle:
Season: June-November (as snow melt permits)
Shuttle Cost: $22/rider
Bike Type: Hardtail, Full Suspension recommended (No E-Bikes Permitted)
Ride Options:
The Tahoe Meadows back to the shop: This route takes riders on a roughly 12 mile point-to-point from Tahoe Meadows with 314 ft of elevation gain. This is the first section of the TRT only and is the shortest version of the meadows ride.
The extended TRT ride: Due to the work being done at the Marlette Dam, the 22-mile “Tahoe Epic” ride can not be ridden as a continuous loop. Despite the changes, the second section of the Rim can still be accessed, as well at the spectacular views from Marlette Peak. Riders would be setting off on a more ambitious route, where they would traverse the first section of the TRT to the Tunnel Creek Road Crossing before taking the second the section until it concludes on the Marlette Peak View-point. Upon arriving and soaking in the scenery, Riders would then double back across this technical section of trail and descend Tunnel Creek Road back to the bike shop. This route is roughly 20 miles in length.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- TRT Shuttles run on even dates only (ie : the 2nd, 4th, 6th etc.) of each month.
- If scheduled vans are filled to capacity, we will send another van for the overflow riders (current 14 rider capacity)
- Shuttles generally leave a few minutes later than scheduled and we try to group as many riders together as we can to minimize van trips
Cap to Tahoe Shuttle
About the Cap to Tahoe Shuttle:
Season: June-November (as snow permits)
Shuttle Cost: $40/rider
Bike Type: Hardtail, FullSuspension recommended
Ride Description:
The Cap to Tahoe shuttle is a new shuttle that accesses roughly 31 miles of single track from the Tahoe Meadows on Highway 431 to Carson City. This Shuttle is available 9:00am even day of the month on weekends to match the even day only TRT section. (Ie Sat 20th) Reservations required.
Park in the city lot directly behind the Bike Smith bike shop in Carson City. Meet at 8:45 AM and shuttle departs at 9:00 AM. Shuttle takes riders to the Tahoe Rim Trail trailhead on hwy 431. The ride combines 15 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail to the Cap to Tahoe connector to finish on the Lincoln Bypass downhill into Carson City. A short pedal through town ends back at The Bike Smith. Total ride about 34 miles. 2000’ climbing and 5,000’ descending. MTB project route name: “Rose to Lodes” note a new section of trail is NOT on this route - at about 19 miles in just past a bridge, keep straight on single track to avoid a steep road.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Cap to Tahoe shuttles run even weekend days only departing from The Bike Smith in Carson City.
-Riders should have their own bikes in order to meet at the pick-up location by 9:00 AM in Carson.
- Shuttle availability is subject to change based on interest in the route.
Rental bikes available at our shop for those able to transport bikes to and from Carson. Special arrangements can be made.
2026 Cap to Tahoe Shuttle
(Even weekend day only 9:00am)
Shuttle departures from Carson City:
(Park BEHIND the Bike Smith bike shop in Carson city. 900N Carson Street.)
9:00am ONLY