We rolled out of Davis in the cool morning air, leaving behind the flat farmland of California's Central Valley with a much bigger challenge waiting ahead—the climb to Lake Tahoe. I have been looking forward to seeing Lake Tahoe, but knew this would not be an easy day.
The first miles were relaxed and enjoyable as we connected to the American River Bike Trail, following the river through shaded sections that provided a nice escape from city traffic.
We ended up missing a turn and the reroute took us through historic Sacramento, we rode through Old Sacramento Waterfront, where Gold Rush-era buildings and wooden sidewalks gave us of a brief glimpse into history before continuing east toward the foothills.
From there, we worked our way through Folsom, picking up sections of the Johnny Cash Trail. Riding beside the famous Folsom State Prison, and Johnny Cash's legendary prison concert. The trail's bridges and artwork made this one of the most memorable urban sections of the day.
The real work began after the foothills. We stopped in Placerville for a much-needed second breakfast, knowing the biggest challenge still lay ahead. Fueled by coffee and extra calories, we pointed our bikes toward the Sierra Nevada.
What followed was a relentless 23-mile climb along U.S. Route 50. The road steadily gained elevation as the temperature cooled (not enough though) and the scenery transformed from oak-covered hills to dense pine and rocky. The valley disappeared and we finally caught glimpse of snow-capped peaks in the distance.
We climbed on, eventually reaching nearly 7,400 feet above sea level.
We thought we might arrive around 8pm, but we pulled in closer to 6:45p, nearly 10 hours of riding. after 127 miles of riding and 11,000 of feet of climbing, the reward finally appeared, Hilton hotel.
It was one of those days that captures everything great about bicycle touring: river trails, historic towns, mountain climbs, and a finish line so beautiful that it makes every hard mile worthwhile.
Route Video
