Northern California - Biking from Auburn to Donner Pass

I've recently gotten into road biking, and for some reason I've become "addicted" to setting a goal of going somewhere. Right now, I want to Donner Pass!

When I route directions from Auburn to Donner pass on cycling directions on google maps, around the area of Gold Run, it takes me onto the highway, and at which point, dotted green lines appear on the highway. Does that mean I can legally ride on the side of the highway? Otherwise it seems like highway 50 would be the only way to get there, which is quite out of the way.

First post here too :)

Yes, you do need to ride on I-80. See http://www.colfaxarea.com/biking.php and the entry for "Bicycling from Alta/Baxter to Truckee/Lake Tahoe".

To the south, US-50 to Tahoe would be insane. If going that way, take Mormon Emigrant Trail from Jenkinson Lake at Pollock Pines to 88, then 89 up to Tahoe.

Very interesting link, thanks for sharing! Now I just need to get training so I don't die of exhaustion half way there! :D

Mormon Emigrant Trail / 88 is by far the more scenic route, and the way I'd go. See also http://www.chainreaction.com/emigranttrail.htm

Mormon Emigrant isn't plowed, so it stays closed until the snow melts. It was still closed on July 2nd this year (when I'd planned to ride it last), and I'm not sure when it finally opened. The fall colors along 88 make this time of year the perfect time to ride it.

Yes, you do need to ride on I-80. See http://www.colfaxarea.com/biking.php and the entry for "Bicycling from Alta/Baxter to Truckee/Lake Tahoe".

To the south, US-50 to Tahoe would be insane. If going that way, take Mormon Emigrant Trail from Jenkinson Lake at Pollock Pines to 88, then 89 up to Tahoe.

Please don't try this so late into fall, it could be fine, but there is always the possibility of a dangerous snow storm at those altitudes. It is insane enough in spring or summer.

Please don't try this so late into fall, it could be fine, but there is always the possibility of a dangerous snow storm at those altitudes. It is insane enough in spring or summer.

I don't think the OP has a party to make it through the winter on human flesh if needed.. so good call.

Please don't try this so late into fall, it could be fine, but there is always the possibility of a dangerous snow storm at those altitudes. It is insane enough in spring or summer. Regardless of the time of year, one should always check the forecast. If there is clearly no chance of snow, I think it is OK to do this late October or early November. The way things have been going around here, there seems to be a chance of a dangerous snowstorm in September or June, so a check of the weather is always in order, but there are times when there clearly won't be a storm coming in, and I wouldn't worry about snow at those times.

Please don't try this so late into fall, it could be fine, but there is always the possibility of a dangerous snow storm at those altitudes. It is insane enough in spring or summer.

Oh I'll just dig a snow cave if I have to by the side of the road. lol actually what I want to do is bike to exit 176, climb castle peak, sleep on the top, and bike back!

Regardless of the time of year, one should always check the forecast. If there is clearly no chance of snow, I think it is OK to do this late October or early November. The way things have been going around here, there seems to be a chance of a dangerous snowstorm in September or June, so a check of the weather is always in order, but there are times when there clearly won't be a storm coming in, and I wouldn't worry about snow at those times.

I was in several wicked thunderstorms this summer in the Sierras. Good advice.

Oh I'll just dig a snow cave if I have to by the side of the road. lol actually what I want to do is bike to exit 176, climb castle peak, sleep on the top, and bike back!

Oh, if that's what you want to do (and you're the type to dig a snow cave in winter), ride up Foresthill Road all the way to the end, past Robinson Flat, to Soda Springs Rd. Soda Springs Rd will then take you to Soda Springs at I-80 and you can take the "Hole In The Ground" trail passed the Snow Lab to Boreal, then up to Castle Peak.

I've never been on Soda Springs Rd, but back when I had a dual-sport motorcycle I understood that it was ridable. I know Sean Allan on mtbr.com has posted about a lot of his rides in the general area (Foresthill to Truckee, Foresthill to the Rubicon Trail/Tahoe), and if you're willing to ditch skinny road tires, I bet it'd be do-able.

Whenever you decide to ride this (I have done it several times) check CalTrans road conditions
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. I-80 is being completely redone from Newcastle to the state line over the next few years. There could be portions of it that are reduced to one lane with no shoulder for bikes. Lane blockages can happen with very short notice, so it would be best to drive I-80 from Baxter to Cisco Grove exit (20 miles) and check out the safety aspect of your ride just before you do it. You can also pull over and check with the construction crew to see if they are planning to restrict the lanes on the day you are planning to do the ride. Also check out the amount of stuff on the shoulder. Last time I rode it, there was a lot of metal parts that had fallen off the vehicles and the shoulder was pretty littered.
It is a fun ride. The climb out of Baxter is not bad. The trucks are in the right lane and are generally moving very slow, so they provide good blocking from the faster cars. The downhill from Nyack is pretty fast, as is the stretch from the Grass Valley exit to Cisco Grove. Cisco to Donner Lake is on Historic Highway 40, so the traffic is light. The climb from Rainbow Rd. to the top of Donner is about 1500' of 5-8% grade. The 3 mile downhill from Donner Summit is a blast, but be careful gaining too much speed, unless you know the road very well. The first sweeping right over the rainbow bridge comes up really fast and is a tight turn. There are several decreasing radius turns which will scare you if you come into them too hot. Also, be prepared for crosswinds as you head across the lower part of the descent.