Annual Tour of the Carson Valley set for Sunday

The Carson Valley Visitors Authority and Bike the West invite bicycling enthusiasts to their seventh annual Tour of the Carson Valley, which starts and finishes at Genoa’s Mormon Station Historic Park, on Sunday.

The event includes a barbecue and ice cream social and promotes outdoor activities such as bicycling, mountain biking and hiking.

The ride is open to all types of pedal powered cycles. There are four non-competitive tour options, including an 11-mile family fun ride; a 20-mile bike and hike option with the Carson Valley Trails Association; and a 44 or 60-mile tour along the foothill of the Sierra, which retraces the historic routes of pioneers, wagon trains and the Pony Express up to Woodfords Station and around Diamond Valley.

Registration will be available from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at Holiday Inn Express in Minden. On-site registration will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Mormon Station State Historic Park. The rides depart from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., depending on the option.

All participants receive a Carson Valley welcome packet, T-shirt and water bottle. The rides are fully-supported by Carson Valley Trails Association, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association and Alpine Trails Association and include food and beverages.

Tahoe Ridge Winery Market Place & Bistro will hold an old-fashioned barbecue around 11 a.m. at the finish line, where there will by ice cream by Hoch Family Creamery. A Class Act will provide live entertainment.

Tour of the Carson Valley is sponsored by The Carson Valley Visitors Authority with a grant funded by the Nevada Commission on Tourism, and is produced by Bike the West, which will also produces Tour de Tahoe – Bike Big Blue on Sept. 7, and the 23rd Annual OATBRAN – One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada from Sept. 21-27.

For more information, go to VisitCarsonValley.Org or www.BiketheWest.com.