Trail Gold in Lake Tahoe Area

Recreationists in SxS Enjoy Alpine Trail Touring

QWR had the privilege to recently review some of the backcountry touring routes in the Genoa Peak area on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU).  

Street legal and non-street legal OHVs can access a number of high-elevation trails off of the Kingsbury Grade.   OHVs can also access the main through route (14N32) off of Spooner Summit behind the Nevada Division of Transportation Maintenance Station on Highway 50.

Access to Genoa Peak Trail from Kingsbury Grade

The Logan House Loop, an alpine-like loop opportunity trail (14N33), can be found once you get near Genoa Peak. 

View from Popular Genoa Peak Turnaround

It passes by numerous aspen groves and offers the trail enthusiast some breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley.   This route should be a must ride trail for OHVers who enjoy summer or late fall color touring. 

Historic Carvings in Aspen Grove

Be sure and take a lunch as you will want to take all day to stop and enjoy the various vista points along the way.

View of Lake Tahoe

QWR commends the LTBMU for their ongoing effort to armor the routes by adding soil erosion structures and trail delineators.   

Trail Delineators along Route 

QWR understands the Forest is starting a project to enhance the staging area off of the Kingsbury Grade.  This is great news and will be greatly appreciated by motorized and non-motorized recreationists that use the area.

The staging area project is part of the LTBMU’s long-term effort to engage with the OHV community in a partnership that will both protect natural resources and enhance sustainable motorized trail opportunities in the Lake Tahoe area.  

Alpine OHV Trail Success Story in Lake Tahoe Area

Armored Water Crossing on Blackwood OHV Trail

 

Addressing water quality concerns on OHV trails is not a new concept.  In fact, federal and state agencies have been doing just that for over 30 years. 

Cresting a Rolling Dip on Blackwood OHV Trail

 

The Blackwood Canyon OHV trail on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is a good case study of a successful 20+ year-old joint project between the U.S. Forest Service and the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s grant program.

Video of Jeep on Rolling Dips Installed on Blackwood OHV Trail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HYU6TMTEII&feature=em-upload_owner

 

While on a recent SUV tour of the trail, QWR was able to document many of the (circa mid 1980s – early 1990s) stream armoring efforts and rolling dips (historically called water-bars) that are now important environmental features of the route.

Rolling Dip and Water Runout

 

QWR believes the success story at Blackwood Canyon highlights the import of OHV being proactive in supporting soil erosion/water quality-related projects on motorized trails.  Installation of modern stream armoring structures and rolling dips can help secure the future of OHV recreation on public lands in even the most sensitive areas including those regions that contain our historic alpine routes.