Trail improvement project will enhance trail user experiences and reduce environmental impacts to Lake Tahoe

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (Aug. 10, 2020) – A $45,000 grant from the Tahoe Fund has allowed the nonprofit Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) to begin a trail improvement project that will reconstruct sections of the Upper Tyrolian Trail in Incline Village. The project, designed to enhance the user experience, make critical trail connections in the Incline Village area, and rehabilitate and restore old logging roads to reduce erosion and improve lake clarity, is expected to be completed by the end of October 2020.

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, TAMBAโ€™s intention is to improve the existing trail conditions and establish a dedicated mountain-bike-focused connection to the Tyrolian Downhill Trail. TAMBA has contracted with local professional freeride mountain bike athlete Cam Zinkโ€™s nonprofit trail building company, Sensus R.A.D Trails, to convert old logging roads into nearly two miles of sustainable singletrack trail that will connect the existing Tyrolian Downhill Trail to the Mount Rose Highway at Tahoe Meadows.

A new upper section of the trail will provide an official start trailhead with improved signage, and reduce mountain bike traffic on the Tahoe Rim Trail. The current Tyrolian Downhill Trail will not be closed during construction, but to avoid slowing it down, TAMBA asks that riders stay off the new trail until it has been completed.

โ€œTAMBA has established themselves as an organization committed to building sustainable trails in the Tahoe Basin,โ€ said Allen Biaggi, Tahoe Fund board chair. โ€œThis project supports our effort to create expanded opportunities for sustainable recreation, while balancing the environmental initiatives of our region.โ€

TAMBA's Ben Fish at Tryrolian Trail site

โ€œThe support provided by the Tahoe Fund is what has allowed this trail project with tremendous environmental benefits to move forward,โ€ said Ben Fish, TAMBA president and board chair. โ€œThis project is a long time coming, and the Tahoe Fundโ€™s mission is well-aligned with ours. Their contribution made it possible to bring in a professional trail contractor to build the flow style upper trail, and decommission and restore the logging roads.โ€

Trail Details

The first part of the Upper Tyrolian Trail will be built as a flowy singletrack trail that incorporates natural features to enhance the rider experience. After 0.75 miles, the trail will transition to one with professionally designed and built rollovers, tabletops, step-ups, step-downs and triple-option jumps that provide a unique and challenging experience for riders to practice and increase their skills.

Map of the Tyrolian TrailThe second connection to be made is a 0.4 mile long realignment of the existing trail known as the Tyrolian Connector Trail that connects the Tahoe Rim Trail to the Upper Tyrolian Trail. A low-angle singletrack traverse will be created to join the proposed alignment of the new Upper Tyrolian Trail. The realignment will have beautiful panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and will avoid old, eroded, fall-line dirt roads.

The second element of the project is to decommission nearly four miles of eroded logging roads in the area where the Upper Tyrolian Trail will begin. These dirt roads were used extensively by recent logging operations and were not designed to manage stormwater. Decommissioning will include scarifying compacted areas, naturalizing the soil surface with pine duff, and incorporating erosion control features to reduce sediment runoff into creeks that flow into Lake Tahoe.

The trail project is still in need of $15,000 to be completed this year. Donors interested in supporting the project, can contribute at tahoefund.org or TAMBA.org. Learn more about the Upper Tyrolian Trail project at www.tahoefund.org.

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About Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $2 million in private funds to secure more than $40 million in public funds for more than 40 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

About TAMBA

The Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that builds, maintains, and advocates for multi-use trails in Tahoe while providing education to all trail users and hosting fun community events. TAMBA works in partnership with land managers such as the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada State Parks, California State Parks, and the City of South Lake Tahoe. In addition, TAMBA helps maintain more than 100 miles of trail per year. Learn more at www.tamba.org.

Bikers on Tyrolian TrailExcevation for Tyrolian TrailView of Lake Tahoe from Tyrolian Trail