Oktoberfest Foliage Hikes

As part of the first annual Truckee Oktoberfest, we want you to get out and about, to enjoy the beautiful fall scenery right here in Truckee. Complete one, or all, of the trails below to get entered into a raffle to win a $250 TMS/TML gift card!! You must be present at Tahoe Mountain Life Saturday, October 10th from 3-4 to win. We will draw the winner during our Oktoberfest Best Dressed & Facial Hair Contest!

How to enter: join the Truckee Oktoberfest Passport and after you complete your trail, you are automatically entered into the raffle! BONUS: Completing each trail will you get you a different prize on top of your raffle entry 🎁

Sagehen Creek

Sagehen Creek Trail is amazingly lush and beautiful as it follows a lovely stream through the forest out into a meadow ending at Stampede Reservoir. In the spring there are tons of wild flowers including fields of Mules Ears. Wildlife is abundant in this area with so many trees, bushes and fields of wild flowers. There are beaver dams, although I haven’t seen a beaver, deer, tons of birds, squirrels and probably a bear or two. In the fall the foliage will turn a brilliant range of colors so come with your camera. This trail is a local favorite and great for trail runners and hikers, it’s a family friendly hike near Truckee, perfect for bird watchers, nature lovers, flower lovers and visitors.

Length: 5.1 miles
Vertical Feet: 209
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Loop
Surface Type: Packed Dirt
Features: Mountain Stream, Wild Flowers, Forested, Beaver Dams, Huge Meadow, Dog friendly
Facilities: No. A vault toilet is available at the Donner Family Camp Picnic Area, 4 miles south of Sagehen Creek on Highway 89.

Getting There: From I-80 at Truckee, take the exit to Highway 89 North towards Sierraville. Continue north on Highway 89 for 7 miles to Sagehen Creek. At about 6.8 miles, the road starts downhill to Sagehen Creek and you’ll see a small bridge. The parking lot is just over the bridge on the right. Usually there are some cars parked there.

Parking: There aren’t any signs marking the trailhead but there are usually some cars in the dirt parking lot. Slow down at the bridge to make this very sharp right turn. If you see the sign to UC Berkeley’s Sagehen Creek Field Station, you have gone too far.

Prize: Receive a free Maurten bar or Tailwind packet! Come into TMS or TML and show us a photo of you on the trail or your completed hike on your activity tracker to claim. Expires 10/15/26

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Tompkins & Martis Valley Loop

The Tompkins and Martis Valley Loop Trail has spectacular mountain views and is relatively flat for Tahoe. This is a great trail for running especially if you aren’t used to the altitude or want to run with a friend while chatting and it’s a perfect family hike. Take young kids to get them excited about hiking and families from out of town. You can run it, hike it or bike along the outer loop called Tompkins Trail. It’s one of the first trails to melt out in the spring and a perfect place to check out fall colors. There’s a lot of water for dogs, some picnic tables to stop and enjoy lunch, and bridges and boardwalks that make it fun and interesting. The light in the valley is fantastic early morning or at sunset so try to hit it at one of those times.

Length: 4.2 Miles
Vertical Feet: 196 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Loop
Surface Type: Packed Dirt, Boardwalks
Features: Mountain Views, Mountain Stream, Meadow, Dog friendly
Facilities: Yes, bathrooms at the parking area

Getting there: From I-80, take the exit for 267 towards Lake Tahoe. Continue for about 2.5 miles and look for a sign labeled Martis Creek Wildlife Area on the right hand side of the road. From Kings Beach or Northstar take 267 towards I-80 and look for the sign for Martis Creek Wildlife Area on your left.

Parking: Lot at the end of South West River St.

Prize: Receive 20% off any full price item! Come into TMS or TML and show us a photo of you on the trail or your completed hike on your activity tracker to claim. Brand exclusions apply - Expires 10/15/26 (Brand exclusions include: Garmin, Shokz, Roll Recovery, Rocky Talkie)

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Truckee River Legacy Trail Truckee Springs Segment

This is the newest section of the Legacy Trail that stretches the length of the Town of Truckee from Glenshire in the East to Donner Lake in the West. The trail is not complete as this section will dead end and you can head back the way you came. There is a short dirt section outlined on this segment which will raise you up in elevation and provide sweeping views of downtown Truckee and the river. Fall foliage will consist of aspens and willows along the River and up the slope of the hill to the South. There is also a brand new dirt section which will lead you up to Thelin Drive and connect to the Sawtooth trail region. Dogs are welcome on this trail and you will find a combination of pavement and dirt with relatively flat hiking. You can start at DEWBEYÚMUWEɁ Park (bathrooms and picnic tables are here) or at the Truckee Springs trailhead.

Length: 1.99 Miles
Vertical Feet: 64 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Out and Back with side options
Surface Type: Packed Dirt, Pavement
Features: Mountain Views, Truckee River, Dog friendly
Facilities: Yes, bathrooms at DewbeyúmuweɁ Park. Water filling and bike repair stations at trailhead

Getting there: From downtown Truckee, head west on West River Street, following the Truckee River. DewbeyúmuweɁ Park is about a quarter mile west of downtown on the river side of the road. Look for the park, restrooms and pedestrian bridge connecting across the river to the Legacy Trail.

Parking: Street parking is available along West River Street.

Prize: Pick a prize from our beloved swag bin! Come into TMS or TML and show us a photo of you on the trail or your completed hike on your activity tracker to claim. Expires 10/15/26

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Check out the full line up of Truckee Oktoberfest events