Backpacking/Thru-Hikingbackpacking

The Tahoe Rim Trail is a backcountry, non-motorized scenic trail. Please enjoy your travels, but Leave No Trace that you were there! This means low impact camping, pack out your trash, and take only pictures. The Tahoe Rim Trail is marked with triangular light blue trail markers with the words "Tahoe Rim Trail" stamped on them. The markers are spaced periodically along the trail as confidence markers and at major trail junctions and road crossings. It is typical to travel several miles between markers. The signs do not always last through each season, so always be prepared with a map and compass.

Distance:
The Tahoe Rim Trail is actually a 164.8 mile loop trail. That is the distance for thru-hikers, as you must include the miles between some trailheads (ie: Kingsbury North to Kingsbury South, which is 3.5 miles).

The TRT is open for the public to use and enjoy. Access to the TRT is free from any location. Please be aware of the following rules to help maintain the trail.
  • Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail
  • Biking is restricted to certain areas of the trail. For details, please visit the mountain bike section (link to section)
  • A permit is required to enter Desolation Wilderness (Echo Lakes to Barker Pass). Hiking groups are limited to 12 people. Day use is not subject to fees. For details, please visit the permit section (link to section) of our website.
  • 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.

Best Time to Hike

The Tahoe Rim Trail is open when the snow has melted off the trail in the summer - usually mid-June and until the snow starts in the fall - usually late October.

The best times to hike are early to mid-July for wildflowers and September/October for fall colors. During the winter months, the amount of snow that falls in the Sierra obscures the trail. If you are planning winter travel, you must be prepared for extreme weather and be competent with GPS and quadmaps.

Clothing

The weather in these mountains is best described as 'changeable' - conditions may vary widely from day to day. The elevation change on the trail will also affect clothing needs. The lowest elevation is Tahoe City at 6300' and the highest on Relay Peak is 10,333'. Bring layered clothing and be prepared for cold rain, even snow. It has been known to snow any day during the summer in Tahoe.
Waste

Visitors are asked to bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from water, trails, and campsites. Toilet paper must be buried or packed out. Garbage must also be packed out.
Maps

You can order maps from our Shop TRT. We offer the official Elevation Profile Map, or for those of you who prefer a standard relief map, the Tom Harrison Map of Lake Tahoe is also available. The TRTA office in Incline Village also stocks the map.
Shower

There are showers available at the Berkeley Echo Lake Camp.
Contact them for details and costs: (530) 659-7506.
Food Supplies
The TRT crosses several major highways making re-supplying relatively easy.
 
On the north shore:
the trail passes near a large grocery store at the intersection of Hwy 89 and Hwy 28, at the only stoplight in Tahoe City.
 
On the south shore:
the trail passes by the post office and general store at Echo Lake (open Memorial Day to Labor Day - call for details 530-659-7207).
The trail also passes by the Tramway Market on the southeastern part of the trail (near the Kingsbury South Trailhead). Contact them for details at 775-588-4969.

Guidebooks
There is a Tahoe Rim Trail guidebook: The Tahoe Rim Trail, a Complete Guide. We highly recommend this book for your trips on the trail. You can order your copy from Shop TRT or pick it up from our office. Another resource is The Tahoe Sierra by Jeffery Schaffer.
Gear - What to Bring

Bears in Tahoe
Flora & Fauna
Parking
Dogs on the Trail

It's a Loop - Where do I Start

If you are planning to hike the entire TRT loop (165 miles), where you start can be important for planning food & water caches, campsites, and where to park your vehicle. We suggest two possible starting points:

  • First choice would be Tahoe Meadows, hiking clockwise. This works great for caching/buying food more evenly around the trail.
  • Second choice would be starting at Tahoe City, as it provides food and hotels close to the trailhead if you are traveling a long distance and need a place to stay before you start your trek.