McKinney-Rubicon OHV Trail

About the Trail

The Tahoe Engineering Division maintains a public easement and recognizes public rights to pass along the world-renowned Rubicon Trail within Placer County.  The trail is a challenging, rocky traverse across the beautiful Sierra Crest into the Lake Tahoe Basin from Wentworth Springs in El Dorado County. Travel is open to recreationalists year-round operating 4-wheel drive motor vehicles, off-road motorcycles, mountain bikers, equine riders, hikers and winter sport locomotion. A majority of the adjacent land to the trail is public, managed by the US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe National Forest District.  There are some private parcels interspersed, and users should stay within the public easement. 

Rubicon trail location on Google map (PDF) Opens in new window

Trail Map

Water Quality on the Trail

The Tahoe Engineering Division is mandated by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California's water resources within the Rubicon Trail public easement.  Threats to water quality can and will close the trail to all users.  Practices to protect water quality include: 

  • Stay on designated routes 
  • Look for trail markers 
  • Never drive through meadows 
  • Straddle ruts, gullies and washouts 
  • Cross streams at designated points 
  • Minimize wheel spin 
  • Never drive over vegetation 
  • Be patient at delays, do not cut
  • Stay off the trail during periods of heavy rain or snow melt to minimize sedimentation

Trailhead

The McKinney-Rubicon Trailhead is approximately one mile west from the Tahoma neighborhood entrance on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Trailer parking and pit toilets are available at the trailhead parking area. Follow posted signs to the trailhead. Users of the Rubicon Trail should always be respectful of neighborhood residents; dimming lights, minimizing noise, obeying posted speed limits, packing out garbage and being self-sufficient. 


  1. Filming permits for the Rubicon Trail and commercial requests should contact the Placer County Film Office at https://filmplacertahoe.com/


  1. Additional information is available on the El Dorado County Rubicon Trail web page: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/Rubicon/Pages/rubicon_main_info.aspx