Lake Tahoe - California - page 955

At the park's southern end, just north of the Hwy 50/Hwy 28 junction, Spooner Lake (
MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 775-749-5980; www.parks.nv.gov ; per car $7-10) is popular for catch-
and-release fishing, picnicking, nature walks, backcountry camping and cross-country ski-
ing. Spooner Lake is also the start of the famous 13-mile Flume Trail , a holy grail for ex-
perienced mountain bikers. From the trail's end near Incline Village you can either back-
track 10 miles along the narrow, twisting shoulder of Hwy 28 or board a shuttle bus. Ar-
range shuttles and rent bikes by the trailhead inside the park at Spooner Summit Bike
Rental Shop ( 775-749-1112; www.zephyrcove.com/flumetrail ; mountain bike rental per day
$40-60, shuttle $10-15; 8:30am-5pm May-Oct) or in town at Flume Trail Bikes (
775-298-2501; www.theflumetrail.com ; 1115 Tunnel Creek Rd, Incline Village; mountain bike rental per
day $35-85, shuttle $10-15) .
RENO (NEVADA)
A soothingly schizophrenic city of big-time gambling and top-notch outdoor adventures,
Reno resists pigeonholing. 'The Biggest Little City in the World' has something to raise
the pulse of adrenaline junkies, hardcore gamblers and city people craving easy access to
wide open spaces. The formerly gritty Midtown District - bordered by Liberty St (south
of the river) to the north and Plumb Lane to the south, with S Virginia St running through
it - has recently revitalized downtown with loads of exceptional new bars, restaurants and
arts spaces.
TIRED OF TAHOE?
To throw a few snowballs without blowing your family's budget or plodding along in week-
end traffic, aim for some of California's 19 maintained sno-parks ( 916-324-1222; ht-
tp://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1233 ; pass per day/year $5/25). Clustered along Sierra high-
ways, these inexpensive winter activity parks offer opportunities for raucous sledding, se-
rene cross-country ski touring or unhurried snowperson construction.
Or consider some of the smaller ski resorts. In addition to cheaper lift tickets, Bear Val-
ley ( www.bearvalley.com ; Hwy 4) has its own snow play area, Dodge Ridge
( www.dodgeridge.com ; Hwy 108) has extensive get-to-know-the-snow lessons for kids, and
China Peak ( www.skichinapeak.com ; Hwy 168) gets sparse crowds and is nowhere near the
congested Tahoe-bound freeways.