20mi Alpine County Ride

Gorgeous, bucolic Diamond Valley is a mainstay for Alpine County cyclists but escapes notice by many visitors because it is in the shadow of Markleeville’s famous Death Ride and the monster passes of Ebbetts and Monitor. But it is well worth exploring as part of a longer ride or by itself if you don’t mind a bit of a drive for a relatively short ride. Other options include doing the loop twice (it’s beautiful enough to do that without regrets) or adding a side trip to the town of Markleeville or Grover Hot Springs. The route shown here from Gardnerville is 20 miles with 1,100 feet of climbing. Another nice thing about this ride is that it can be done year-round except right after a heavy snowstorm.

The 12-mile Diamond Valley loop can be done in either direction and approached from Minden and Gardnerville or from Markleeville, or started right on the loop. This route starts in Gardnerville, at the intersection of Foothill Rd and Fairview, or Route 206.Take Foothill Rd south, parallel to Highway 88. After a little over 4 miles the road comes to 88, and if you cross and continue on the other side you will be on Diamond Valley Rd. After a steep but short pitch, the steepest on this ride at only 4 percent, the road settles back down to a very gentle climb, almost imperceptible at times. After mile six you follow the road around to the right and cruise through a beautiful, wide open valley for several miles. Here you are likely to see more cows than cars. After mile 11.5, you come to Highway 89 and turn right, and follow it to Woodfords. Turn right again onto Highway 88. After less than a mile on 88, veer right onto Carson River Rd, Old Highway 88, and follow that back to Diamond Valley Rd, where this time you can turn left to hook back up to Foothill Rd for the ride back to Gardnerville. Source