Tunnel Creek
- DIFFICULTY:
moderate
- ESTIMATE DISTANCE TO CLIMB (feet):
1500 (Trail Cross Section)
- DISTANCE FROM I80/395 INTERCHANGE (miles):
45
- START LAT/LONG:
N39 deg 13.32', W119 deg 55.68'
- END LAT/LONG:
N39 deg 12.06', W119 deg 55.16'
- ROUTE TO TRAIL BEGINNING (miles from I 80/US 395 interchange):
0.0 South on US 395
10.5 Exit 46 Mt Rose Highway Nevada Route 431
32.3 Left on Country Club Lane
34.6 Left on Rte 28
35.5 Park just after Ponderosa Ranch
36.2 Route 28 is marked by no parking signs for about 0.5 mi before the trail start and apparently
the parking ban is enforced. Park along Rte 28. Since road is very narrow use foot path that travels from between Route 28 and Lake Tahoe.
36.5 Walk to trail entrance on left side of Route 28. Trail is marked by Tunnel Creek sign and a gate across the trail.
- GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP QUADRANGLE:
Marlette Lake
A small trail map which loads rapidly and a
large printable trail map which takes several minutes
to load into a separate window.
- TRAIL SYNOPSIS:
Travels
very steeply up along a jeep trail passing through a pine forest including Jeffrey
Pines and fir trees. After a sign to the western portal to the tunnel,
the forest changes to broad leaf forest with primarily Quaking Aspen trees. After
a road junction, the trail narrows follows the old flume.The forest changes back to pines primarily Jeffrey Pines.
The view of Lake Tahoe are spectacular. (photograph)
CAUTION!! The trails are used by mountain bikers. Since some
bikers travel excessively fast on down hill stretches , hikers may want to avoid
peak times (weekends) and use the trail during week days or during the off-season.
- TRAIL DESCRIPTION (first number is distance in miles):
0.0 Pass gate and Tunnel Creek sign.
2.3 Pass sign to western tunnel portel.
2.4 Pass road junction.
2.5 Taking right turn and pass along flume trail.
- GEOLOGY:
Granite
- PLANTS:
Jeffrey Pines and Quaking Aspens.
- ANIMALS:
Trail Map
Trail Cross Section
Photograph