South Lake Tahoe, CA: Tahoe Rim Trail
Take two weeks to hike through superlative Sierra Nevada country on a 165-mile circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe. Ranging in elevation from 6,240 feet to 10,338 feet, the TRT spans two states (California and Nevada), six counties, one state park, three National Forests, and three Wilderness areas.
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Major trip-planning beta below.
RESUPPLY MADE EASY
On a thru-hike starting at Echo Lake, you’ll never have to carry more than four days of food. Rest and resupply at these three spots.
#1. Tahoe City, CA
MILES FROM START 52
SHOP Save Mart Supermarket, 100 River Rd.
INDULGE Burgers and beers at Bridge Tender (530) 583-3342; 65 West Lake Blvd.
#2. Incline Village, NV
MILES FROM START 90
SHOP Raley’s Supermarket, 930 Tahoe Blvd.
INDULGE Ceviche Taco Salad at Hacienda de la Sierra (775) 831-8300; 901 Tahoe Blvd.
#3. Zephyr Village, NV
MILES FROM START 130
SHOP Safeway, 212 Elks Point Rd.
INDULGE Waffles and banana splits at Red Hut Café (775) 588-7488; 229 Kingsbury Grade
GUIDEBOOK AND MAP
The Tahoe Rim Trail, by Tim Hauserman ($13; wildernesspress.com); Tom Harrison Maps Lake Tahoe Recreation Map ($10; tomharrisonmaps.com)
HYDRATION
Water gets scarce starting in July. Tank up before these sections: Tahoe City
to Mt. Rose Highway (38 miles; consider a cache at Brockway Summit); Kingsbury North to Spooner Lake (20 miles); Spooner Lake to Ophir Creek (18 miles).
PERMITS
Required only in the Desolation Wilderness. Half kept for walk-ups ($5/
hiker/night; 530-543-2694; fs.fed.us/R5/ LTBMU/). Thru-hikers must pay fees, but aren’t subject to site quotas.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 270.5
Waypoints
TRT01
Location: 38.833766, -120.042377
From Lower Echo Lake trailhead), hike along the
eastern edge of four small lakes dotted with
granite islands. Also, here you’ll find the Echo Chalet Forest Service outpost.
TRT02
Location: 38.847194, -120.087484
At mile 3.1, enter the wilderness where the TRT and the Pacific Crest Trail merge
TRT03
Location: 38.865545, -120.130261
Stop at the boulder-strewn shores of Lake Aloha for a swim beneath Pyramid Peak and the spired crest of the
Crystal Range-watch for marmots near the pile of rocks known as Cracked Crag
TRT06
Location: 38.877922, -120.1346
In spring and early summer, an outlet creek creates a snowtunnel waterfall perfect for showerin
TRT07
Location: 38.879264, -120.126699
At mile nine, camp at Susie Lake with views of 9,974-foot Dick’s Peak. Push
TRT08
Location: 38.904128, -120.139116
Push 1,600 feet to Dick’s Pass the next morning, where, after a few hours of climbing, you’ll have huge views of a dozen lakes and 130-mile visibility north to 10,462-foot Lassen Peak (on clear
days).
TRT09
Location: 38.921425, -120.152498
The next 2.5 miles drop 1,000 feet to Fontanillis Lake, where you can rest your dogs in crisp, clear water.
TRT11
Location: 39.024358, -120.21198
Richardson Lake, a tree-lined tarn with
campsites on the northwest corner
TRT12
Location: 39.049266, -120.244305
The last 6.7 miles to Barker Pass (12) traverse rolling
terrain through dense forest dotted with
meadows. End at Barker Pass trailhead.
TRT04
Location: 38.876337, -120.14625
Nav tip: At the northern side of Aloha, turn east away from Mosquito Pass toward Glen Alpine; it’s a frequently missed turn.
TRT05
Location: 38.878352, -120.138667
In half a mile, reach Heather Lake, encircled in
flowers and hemlocks.
TRT10
Location: 38.933407, -120.149473
Pass Upper and Middle Velma Lake (10), each with nearby camping. Water up here, as the trail enters an eight-mile dry section through firs to Richardson Lake
TRT47
Location: 38.832037, -119.91221
ARMSTRONG PASS
TRT39
Location: 39.157551, -119.886984
BACK TO TRT
TRT24
Location: 39.280206, -120.030868
BEST VIEW YET OF LAKE
TRT49
Location: 38.789673, -119.999519
BIG MEADOWS
TRT26
Location: 39.289819, -119.979406
COOL CINDERCONE
TRT22
Location: 39.257926, -120.065866
BROCKWAY ROAD CAMPSITE
TRT52
Location: 38.801534, -120.036387
ECHO SUMMIT
TRT13
Location: 39.09352, -120.243631
FIRST BIG VIEW OF LAKE TAHOE
TRT48
Location: 38.802183, -119.977933
GRASS LAKE TRAIL
TRT31
Location: 39.313246, -119.897141
HACIENDA DE LA SIERRA MEX FOOD
TRT42
Location: 39.062286, -119.899784
HUGE LAKE VIEW
TRT34
Location: 39.249625, -119.95303
INCLINE VILLAGE STARBUCKS
TRT38
Location: 39.16491, -119.898004
MARLETTE LAKE
TRT37
Location: 39.19097, -119.889143
MARLETTE PK CAMPGROUND
TRT45
Location: 38.917527, -119.889828
MONUMENT PASS
TRT25
Location: 39.277345, -120.001088
MT ROSE WILDERNESS
TRT28
Location: 39.293815, -119.953094
MUD LAKE
TRT41
Location: 39.086401, -119.887842
NEAR GENOA PK RD CAMPSITE
TRT30
Location: 39.322762, -119.940292
OLD CHAIRLIFT
TRT15
Location: 39.108375, -120.236937
PCT TRT JUNCTION CAMPSITE
TRT29
Location: 39.315434, -119.94698
RELAY PEAK
TRT20
Location: 39.214274, -120.158704
ROAD CAMPSITE
TRT50
Location: 38.751614, -120.003585
ROUND LAKE
TRT44
Location: 39.00636, -119.948965
S LAKE TAHOE BEACH
TRT51
Location: 38.742664, -120.034152
SHOWERS LAKE
TRT14
Location: 39.105691, -120.236654
SIERRA CREST PANORAMA
TRT27
Location: 39.29163, -119.957448
SKIRTING RELAY PEAK
TRT40
Location: 39.104604, -119.896963
SPOONER SUMMIT
TRT44
Location: 38.960675, -119.886363
STAGECOACH SKI LIFT
TRT46
Location: 38.876824, -119.889802
STAR LAKE CAMPSITE
TRT19
Location: 39.174711, -120.136316
TAHOE CITY CAMPGROUND
TRT32
Location: 39.307336, -119.908001
TAHOE MEADOWS TRAILHEAD
TRT23
Location: 39.234605, -120.018442
THE CHAR PIT KINGS BEACH
TRT18
Location: 39.16236, -120.152341
TRUCKEE RIVER
TRT36
Location: 39.219262, -119.9043
TUNNELL CREEK ROAD
TRT17
Location: 39.140484, -120.191759
WARD HIGHWAY
TRT35
Location: 39.26875, -119.898722
WASHOE LAKE VIEW
TRT21
Location: 39.224628, -120.13658
WATSON LAKE
TRT33
Location: 39.249517, -119.955639
WILDFLOWER CAFE
TRT43
Location: 39.005878, -119.947456
ZEPHYR COVE RESORT