1860
Pony Express riders relay mail service from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA crossing the future Tahoe Rim Trail at Kingsbury Grade and Echo Summit
1899
The Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve is established by President William McKinley prior to the establishment of the United State Forest Service
1931
The Desolation Valley Primitive Area, now known as Desolation Wilderness, is established
1964
The Wilderness Act is passed which allowed the designation of Desolation Wilderness (1969), Granite Chief Wilderness (1984) and Mount Rose Wilderness (1989)
1968
The National Trails System Act is enacted to direct the establishment of National Scenic, National Recreation (and via a 1978 amendment) National Historic Trails
1969
The Spooner Lake & Backcountry section of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is established
1973
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is created from portions of the Tahoe, Eldorado, and Toiyabe National Forests
1981
Tahoe Rim Trail founder Glen Hampton, a USFS Recreation Officer, envisioned a 150 Mile Loop following the ridge tops of Lake Tahoe
1982
Tahoe Rim Trail Fund formed and was granted non-profit 501c3 status
1984
Turned the first dirt on the trail! Construction began at Luther Pass.
1990
First trailhead completed at Big Meadow, CA
1991
First interpretive trail at Tahoe Meadows complete
2001
After 17 years and over 200,000 volunteer hours, the 150-mile loop was complete at the California/Nevada stateline on the north shore of Lake Tahoe; the Tahoe Rim Trail is officially declared open!
2001
Ed Laine completes a photo project to document each of the 150 miles within the new trail system to correspond with the official opening of the trail.
2001
First Tahoe Rim Trail website goes live!
2002
The TRTA helps with new 1,000 mile trail construction project at sister trail organization in Lake Baikal, Russia.
2003
96 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail are dedicated as a National Recreational Trail.
2004
First goats used for pack support on trail work brushing the trail corridor.
2005
TRTA launches new website.
2006
TRTA celebrates 25 years, 165 miles completed.
2007
TRTA hosts its first Youth Backcountry Camps.
2008
Tahoe City reroute project is completed.
2009
1,000th member joins the 165 mile club!
2009
Trail crews kick off summer breaking ground on the Daggett Summit Reroute project.
2009
Ultra runner, Killian Jornet sets fastest supported thru hike record at 38 hours, and 36 minutes.
2011
Rim to Reno trail project breaks ground after epic Tahoe winter.
2011
Van Sickle Bi-State Park which straddles both California and Nevada is open to the public.
2013
The Tahoe Rim Trail Challenge kicks-off its inaugural year.
2013
Tahoe Rim Trail awarded “Best Place to Hike” in North Lake Tahoe/Truckee’s “Best Of” competition.
2014
Rim to Reno trail project is completed to Mt. Houghton.
2015
Trevor Thomas becomes the first blind hiker to complete the trail along with his guide dog, Tennille.
2015
TRTA receives its largest bequest gift from Stephen S. Ball Estate.
2016
TRTA is designated as a Service Enterprise by Nevada Volunteers recognizing the TRTA leverages volunteers and their skills in all operations successfully to deliver its mission.
2016
Google Trekker aka “Googie” travels approximately 100 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail by volunteer power. Google street view will be live summer 2017.
2017
5 years after the program’s inception, the TRTA announces the Tahoe Rim Trail Challenge is now FREE for everyone.
