Friday, June 27, 2014

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Day 2 of our Alpine tour begins from Woodfords and heads out through the stunning Carson Valley from Alpine County in California to Douglas County in Nevada. It meanders along Emigrant Trail onto Fredericksburg Rd and cuts across the valley into Gardnerville. The ride continues east for a slow jaunt around the foothills of Pine Nut Mountains before looping back through the valley into California for a gorgeous quiet run along Carson River Rd.

We exit Woodfords Inn and head east on CA-88.

Emigrant Trail is a wonderful detour off CA-88; this less traveled road connects to a small scattered residential community around Mesa Vista with grand views of the rising mountain slopes and the expansive open valley below.

Emigrant Trail drops us down onto the valley floor on Fredericksburg Rd; this road winds along the flatlands through acres and acres of open ranch lands around the scenic Carson Valley.

Foothill Rd/NV-206 continues through the valley pass horse ranches and acreage ranch style homes and pastoral meadows.

Centerville Ln cuts across Carson Valley with fabulous views of the mountains and the green grassy valley! This area is home to several horse ranches with beautiful old weathered wooden barns.

We cross NV-88 and continue on Centerville Ln/NV-756E; this road leads us away from the open valley to the outskirts of the residential community at Gardnerville Ranchos.

Dressler Rd takes us through the Ranchos homes out to the Carson Valley Golf Course on Riverview Dr.

We head NW on US-395 through the commercial business district of Gardnerville to our lunch stop at the Starbucks at Carson Valley Fair; this busy section of interstate has a wide shoulder area with great views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Waterloo Ln quickly name changes to Toler Ave as we head east out of town towards the scattered ranches around the foothills of Pine Nut Mountains. 

Toler Ave becomes Fish Springs Rd after 1.4 miles; it leads us out to the open range around Fish Springs Flat with acreage ranch homes dotted within the remote dryscape.

The road name changes again to Jacobsen Ln and continues on a single lane road through the desert landscape of sagebrush and scattered pines.

We continue to wind around the foothills of Pine Nut Mountains on Out R Way with sweeping views of the bald mountain peaks in the far distance.

The turn onto Pinenut Rd opens up with dramatic views of the high ridges and peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains!

Pinenut Rd leads us back into Gardnerville to Muller Pkwy and Riverview Dr for a quick stop for cold drinks at the 7-Eleven off US-395.

We jog our way around the residential neighborhoods through the Ranchos on Langley, Tillman and Kimmerling to NV-Hwy 88 S.

NV-88 S takes us along the scenic Carson Valley pass acreage ranches and grazing cattle with phenomenal views of the high mountains!

We exit NV-88 S onto Fairview Ln/NV-206 and cross the State Line into California on Fredericksburg Rd.

The flat terrain on Fredericksburg Rd leads us back through Carson Valley to Carson River Rd.

Carson River Rd is the Old CA-88; it’s a scenic detour that follows along the West Fork of the Carson River with fantastic valley views.

Carson River Rd exits onto CA-88 N; we take CA-89 S back to Woodfords Inn.

Riding up mountains passes are a great challenge, but sometimes it’s good to slow down and enjoy the scenic lush valleys and explore the lower flatlands of the Sierra Nevada Mountains-there’s quite a lot to see! I love the simplistic beauty and starkness of the desert flats along with silver gray hues of the sagebrush covered foothills!

Garmin Stats:
51.94 Miles with 2231′ of elevation gain
Max elevation: 5569′
Max grade: 5%
Terrain: Flat to rolling with a few low hills

Weather: Sunny and hot with scattered clouds and blue skies. Temps ranged from 66F in the morning to an afternoon high of 95F. SW winds with 26% humidity.

Click here to view the interactive route map & elevation profile

Follow this route for today’s ride: