Rules/Permits
Permits on the Tahoe Rim Trail are required to enter the Desolation Wilderness (5. Echo Lakes to Barker Pass section) for overnight use. There is no fee for day use. No permit is required for overnight camping on the remaining trail.   Permits must be picked up at the USFS offices - locations are below.

Please follow these general rules for camping on the trail:
  • On forest service land, you can camp anywhere as long as you are 300 feet from the trail and 200 feet from any water sources.
Permits are also required for camp stoves and campfires on all portions of the Tahoe Rim Trail. We recommend camp stoves whenever possible.   However, due to variable conditions in the Sierras in the summer months, open fires including camp stoves may be prohibited. Make sure you call for a permit. Please note that campfires are never allowed in Desolation Wilderness. Permits for stoves must be picked up at the USFS offices - locations are below.

Wilderness Permits and Reservations:
You will need a permit to enter the Desolation Wilderness (Echo Lakes to Barker Pass segment). Overnight permits may be reserved by phone, mail, or fax in advance but must be picked up in person or it may be faxed to you. Most importantly, you will need to get your permit prior to your hike.

If you are hiking the entire Tahoe Rim Trail segment (Echo Lakes to Barker Pass):
Taylor Creek Visitor Center
3 miles north of South lake Tahoe on Highway 89
Phone: (530) 543-2674; Hours are Seasonal, 8-5:30pm May through October (call ahead to make sure)

or

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
35 College Way
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: (530) 543-2694
Map

If you are staying within Desolation Wilderness:
Pacific Ranger District Wilderness Hotline
Phone: 530-647-5415


Desolation Wilderness Fee Schedule:

  • RESERVATION FEES: $5.00 per party/per permit (non-refundable). If you need to change the date of your reservation, there will be a $5.00 service charge.
  • CAMPING PERMIT FEES (TRTA Hikers): $5.00 per person per night for the first two nights, children 12 and under are free.


Complete information can be found at:
Desolation Wilderness (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/recreation/wild/deso/)

Note: There is no quota system and no fee for day use. Self register at Trailheads.

Nevada State Parks:
The other consideration in planning campsites is the restriction in Nevada State Parks (1. Mt. Rose to Spooner Summit Section). You must camp at the Marlette Peak Campground (about 10 miles north of Hwy 50 at Spooner Summit), but no permit is required.

Camping Rules
On the majority of the trail there are no designated campgrounds, therefore camping is considered "dispersed camping" by the USFS.

  • According to USFS regulations campers must camp within 300 feet on either side of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
  • The Tahoe Rim Trail encourages people setting up camp to follow Leave No Trace's recommendation not to camp within 200 feet of a water source.
  • Backpackers, horse-packers and mountain bikers (where permitted) are allowed free dispersed camping for up to 14 days.
  • In Desolation Wilderness (between Echo Lakes and Barker Pass) there are no designated campgrounds, but a backcountry permit is required. Contact the USFS for camping and stove permits at (530)543-2600.
  • At Watson Lake (6.7 miles west of Brockway) there is a designated dispersed campsite marked by a numbered post and a metal campfire ring with a hinged grill.
  • At Mt. Rose the USFS has a campground with water, restrooms, campsites and fire pits.

Camping Tips
The overall objective is to both have a good time and leave the place looking pristine so others will not camp in the same spot and increase the impact on the land.

Setting up Camp:
  • Look for high, level ground. This will keep you dry and prevent you from rolling down the hill.
  • Select a site that has a water source, but remember to set up camp at least 200 feet away.
  • Make sure you are on a durable surface; a big rock slab or a sandy spot are good.
  • It is best to set up areas for tents, a kitchen, people's packs and cleaning.
  • Remember to pick a spot appropriate for your uses. If you are there to enjoy the stars, make sure the tree cover is not too thick.

At Camp:
  • Avoid repetitive traffic routes by not moving from one area to another too often.
  • When you do travel Watch where you walk to make sure to use durable surfaces and avoid crushing vegetation.
  • Wear soft shoes around camp.
  • Minimize the number of trips to water by carrying large water containers.

Breaking Camp:
  • To make sure you take everything with you check all areas.
  • Take time to naturalize the site; covering scuffed areas with native materials (such as pine needles), brushing out footprints, and raking matted grassy areas with a stick will make it less obvious as a campsite.