With its mellow rolling singletrack, the out-and-back ride on the Emigrant Trail is a good choice for novice and intermediate riders. Emigrant is also one of the first trails to shed the winter snow, so it also makes a good early season warm-up.The singletrack starts off paralleling the north side of Prosser Creek, but soon turns uphill to the left to cross a dirt road. Follow the singletrack all the way to Stampede Reservoir. Along the way you will cross a number of dirt roads, but the main crossings are marked and the way across the minor ones are pretty obvious. This is an out-and-back ride, all singletrack, mostly rolling hills, and not very technical.
As you drive to the trailhead on CA-89, you will pass the Donner Encampment historical site. You can ride from the historical site parking area, but the most popular trailhead is just past the Prosser Creek bridge on CA-89, north of Truckee. If you reach Hobart Mills Road, you've gone too far.
http://www.singletracks.com/item.php?c=1&i=1205