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| Home > California > Twin Peaks And Sand Pit |
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit
Saturday, April 13, 2024
| Other Names | Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Sand Pit, Sawmill Pond, Twin Peaks, South Tahoe, Southlake Pits MX |
| Last Known Status | Closed For Season |
This is a very small but scenic offroad area located in the outskirts of South Lake Tahoe. There are just a handful of ATV trails, a short 4x4 rock crawl and a sand pit with a decent motocross track. The short trails lead to two peaks with some large rocks and panoramic views. Overall, this place makes for a great afternoon ride to unwind, but is not a large enough area warrant any special travel plans.
Since this location consists of two separate areas, there are two designated closure dates. The sand pit/motocross track closes for the season around mid November while the trails usually remain open until November 20. The dates are subject to change and may close early due to inclement weather. For current conditions contact the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit before heading out.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | CA OHMVR stickers required |
| Dates Open | May - November | CA OHMVR red sticker vehicles permitted year round |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | Yes | Residents of any state not listed must purchase a Nonresident OHV Use Permit. (AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY) |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes (96 dB) | CA OHMVR noise limits apply (1985/older limit 101 dB, 1986/newer limit 96 dB) |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | No Restriction | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
 ATVs | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Permitted | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | CA OHMVR restrictions apply |
| MX Helmet Required | Yes | helmets required by state law |
 Camping | Prohibited | |
 Campfires | Prohibited | |
| Night Riding | No | day use only - 9am to 7pm |
| Trail Blazing | Some Areas | permitted at the sand pit |
| Alcohol | No Restriction | |
| Rule Enforcement | Few/Periodic |
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 1,280 acres (2 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 2 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 6300 to 6900 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Heavily Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  Mostly | |
| Sand | Little | sand pit |
| Mud |  None | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | Little | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills | None | |
| Water Crossings | None | |
| Small Jumps |  Few | |
| Large Jumps |  Some | sand pit |
| Berms | Few | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | None | some narrow connecting trails (very short) |
| Roads | Some | |
| Intersections | Some | |
| Rider Traffic | Few | |
| Shade |  Many | |
| Ranges/Gunfire | None | |
| Hazards | Few | (hazards not marked) Beware of cliffs. drop-offs near peak |
 Novice | Mostly | |
 Amateur | Little | |
 Expert | None |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | National Forest |
| Features | Public |
| Max Engine Size | No Maximum |
| Min Engine Size | No Minimum |
| Comment | hard packed, large table tops, big berms |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (NW) | Chevron (530) 541-7141 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (NW) | Chevron (530) 541-7141 |
 Water | 1-5 Miles (N) | Fallen Leaf Campground (530) 543-2600 |
 RV Hookup | 1-5 Miles (N) | Tahoe Valley Campground (530) 541-2222 |
 RV Disposal | 1-5 Miles (N) | Tahoe Valley Campground (530) 541-2222 |
| Campground | 1-5 Miles (W) | Fallen Leaf Campground (530) 543-2600 |
 Conv Store | 1-5 Miles (N) | 7-11 (530) 541-0302 |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Pros | great scenery, free, cooler temperatures |
| Cons | very few trails, very short, day use only (9am-7pm) |
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | Half Day this area is very small |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | South Lake Tahoe, CA | ||
| Address | Twin Peaks Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | ||
| From: South Lake Tahoe, CA
1) Take US-50 South about 3 miles 2) Turn right (west) on Sawmill Road, continue 1.8 miles (if you go past the stop sign you've gone too far) 3) Turn right onto paved road, proceed toward the Sawmill Pond/Twin Peaks Staging Area. For Sand Pit Staging Area (better parking for trailers): 4) Continue on Sawmill Road to the stop sign 5) Turn right (north) at the stop sign onto Lake Tahoe Blvd, continue 1 mile 6) Turn right (east) and proceed through gate (look for signs). |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 35 College Drive South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150-4500 (530) 543-2600 sm.fs.paltbmu@usda.gov www.fs.usda.gov |
| Contact Info | Lake Tahoe Hi - Lo's 4WD Club P.O. Box 8248 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158 gary@laketahoehilos.com talltara@aol.com www.laketahoehilos.com |
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
The 'Sand Pit' area has a moderate hillclimb behind the MX track.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Trails are smooth, easy, fast, and again... VERY SHORT.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
One of the many scenic overlooks.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Sawmill Pond at the Twin Peaks staging area has a nice day use area.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
All trails are marked and rated.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
There is a large mud bog in the center of the track, but nobody was in the mood to get dirty.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Sawmill Pond has a day use area and offer fishing for children 14 and under.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
This is the trailhead from the Twin Peaks staging area.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
The twin peaks staging area has restrooms, a small parking area, and access to Sawmill Pond.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
The trails are extremely short, but there are some great views.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Views at the summit are great.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
This short bypass route is for 4x4s only, and it connects right back to the main trail after this short section of boulders.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Part of the MX track uses the natural terrain of the hillside.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
The MX track at 'Sand Pit' is decent. It is hard packed with some large table tops and huge berms.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
This is the access gate for the 'Sand Pit' area. You can access both the trails and the pit/track from either staging area.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
A typical piece of trail here. This would have been great if the trails were longer. The whole area is very small.
Twin Peaks And Sand Pit Trail Photo
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS