The Watson Loop: Tahoe's best ride by Jon Gubman, Outpost contributor In this package Ride the loop Alternative loops Tips/What to bring Other events on the Western States Trail Get involved with maintenance Related Links Long before I ever lived in Reno, I used to visit the area with one purpose in mind: mountain biking. And the trail I'd drive four hours from the Bay Area to ride was the Watson Loop. Now that I live here, I'm able to ride Watson Loop more often, which has only increased my appreciation for the ride. The ride has it all; ripping single-tracks, brutal climbs, long, squirrly descents, plenty of scenery. It even has a lake you can take a dip in if it's too hot. "This is one of the best places to ride in Tahoe," said Billy Frietas, a riding buddy who first showed me the Watson Loop. "It's a playground of singletrack trails up there," Frietas said, referring to Mt. Watson, home of the Watson Loop. View of Mt. Watson. This is the spot to rest, most of the climbing is over! Photo by Jon Gubman One ride, and I was hooked. The dramatic beauty of the landscape, the pristine solitude of the area and, of course, the challenge of the ride itself filled me an awe that is saved for only the premier rides. Years later, with more than 50 rides on the Watson Loop under my belt, I'm still hooked. The guys at Olympic Bicycles, a bike shop in Tahoe City, agree. I met John and Brian, both employees at Olympic, on the Loop one sunny, spring afternoon. "It's hard to beat this ride," said John as he invited me to join them on their way to the top. "Yeah," chimed in Brian, "this is best. Posted Nov. 15, 1997 Copyright 1997 Nevada Outpost TOP | NEXT Nevada Outpost is produced by students at the Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, Reno Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost