Trailhead Directions
You can start your exploration
of the Rubicon Trail from
several locations. Here are
directions to a few of the most
popular and accessible:
Be sure you have packed
what you need to make the
trip fun and successful.
Check out our Parking &
Staging and Camping
tips.
Happy Jeeping!
The original starting point. This route is now paved all the way to Loon
Lake. From there you can continue
to take the original route through Wentworth Springs or take the Ellis
Creek Trail from Loon Lake to the
Rubicon Trail.
From Highway 50, turn North on Highway 49 towards Auburn. It’s not
too far down the road. Turn right on
Highway 193 to Georgetown. Turn right on to Wentworth Springs Road and
in to downtown Georgetown.
From Highway 80, turn South on Highway 49 towards Placerville. When you
get to the town of Cool, turn
left on to Highway 193. Turn left in to Georgetown.
Out of Georgetown, follow Wentworth Springs Road until it tees with Ice
House Road. Turn left and
follow Ice House Road to Loon Lake or Wentworth Springs.
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From Highway 50, turn
left on to Ice House Road.
It’s a long winding road
with a good climb to it.
Don’t be in a hurry.
This is again part of the original route. Coming from Georgetown or Highway
50, don’t turn towards
Loon Lake, keep straight. There are two old routes from here. Just before
the bridge before Airport Flat
Campground turn right and follow the old original dirt route over Geerle
Creek to Wentworth Springs.
This area is frequented by quads and motorcycles.
Continuing on straight past Airport Flat Campground is the paved route
to Wentworth Springs. This has
become the accepted original route of the Rubicon Trail. Follow the signs
to the Wentworth Springs
Campground and the Rubicon Trail.
This is the traditional end of the
trail for most people but for
those of us living on this end,
it’s the beginning.
From Highway 50, turn north
on Highway 89 towards Tahoe
City. After about 16 miles
from the famous “Y” at South
Lake Tahoe look for the
McKinney Rubicon Road and
turn left in to the residential
sub-division.
Follow the signs to the Rubicon
OHV Trail. It’s a left, then a
right, then it curves left and
right, then another hard left,
then straight on to the paved
section of the trail.
About 1.5 miles in is the staging area. There is room to unload a trailer or air down the tires.