Parking and Access
Use the interactive map below for planning your trip on the Tahoe Rim Trail, including trailhead locations and parking areas.
ESSENTIAL PARKING INFORMATION
- Park in designated areas only and avoid parking and driving on vegetation.
- Always remove any valuables and food or “smellables” from your vehicle before parking. Parking is generally safe at trailheads but when these items are left in vehicles they become targets.
- If possible, avoid parking in pull-thru trailer parking spaces and save them for horse trailers.
- Do not park in front of closed gates. These closed roads are essential access points in case of emergencies such as wildfire or injured trail users.
- Camping or sleeping at trailheads is PROHIBITED. Camp only in designated campgrounds or where permitted within 300 feet of the trail.
- Parking can be a challenge on the Tahoe Rim Trail. Whenever possible we recommend utilizing public transit, carpooling, ridesharing, etc.
- Thru-Hike permittees must follow entry requirements and access Desolation from the TRT at Echo Lakes or Richardson Lake. Please park accordingly.
Each segment is outlined below with comments on parking facilities on or near the TRT. You can find the location of the parking facility on the map above as well as specifics on the number of parking spaces and facilities available at the trailhead. Official TRT trailheads (indicated below with TRT) are the closest parking areas to the Tahoe Rim Trail and include a trailhead kiosk with trail information. Other access points are listed here to assist with your trip planning.
Tahoe City North to Brockway West
Fairway Drive
- Side of road parking is limited to a few spots.
- Private property is adjacent to public lot, no illegal parking or you could be towed, especially if parking overnight.
- Parking can be a challenge on weekends.
Watson Lake
- Not recommended due to the limited availability of parking areas for overnight campers.
- Overnight parking allowed.
Entrance to Fiberboard Freeway/Mt. Watson Road
- Overnight parking.
- Dirt parking area.
TRT Brockway Summit Trailhead
- Paved parking spaces along Highway 267.
- Please park head in to maximize room for others.
- Parking is a challenge after 9 or 10 AM throughout the summer.
- Use extreme caution if you are crossing to Brockway East.
Brockway East to Mt. Rose
TRT Brockway Summit East
- Overnight parking available.
- Across the street from the highway pullouts, there is a small dirt road headed up the hill with a few parking spots at the top.
- Use extreme caution crossing the highway and driving up the dirt road.
- Expect this small lot to fill early on weekends.
Martis Peak Road
- Overnight parking available.
- There are a few pullouts in this area of the mainly dirt USFS road where parking is available.
- PLEASE STAY ON COMPACTED DIRT WHEN DRIVING AND PARKING!
- Parking for trailers may be available but is limited and turnarounds can be difficult.
TRT Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- Paved parking lot with some dirt parking at the north end.
- Very popular trailhead, expect it to be full during weekends and holidays in the summer by mid-morning.
- There is room for a few trailers.
- There are a few spaces for cars to park on the pull out next to the gate by Relay Peak Road. Do not block the gate!
Tahoe Meadows to Spooner Summit North
TRT Tahoe Meadows Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- Expect this small lot to fill early on weekends.
- Additional parking is available along the highway.
Ophir Creek Roadside Parking
- Parking is available along both sides of Highway 431 and in the pullout in front of Incline Lake Road.
Tunnel Creek Parking Area
- Tunnel Creek Road connects from lake level up to the Tahoe Rim Trail.
- Paid parking lots along the road.
- No overnight parking.
- Public transit stop.
Spooner Lake Nevada State Park
- Entry Fee required for Nevada State Park – Spooner Backcountry parking lot.
- No overnight parking.
- Short connections to the Tahoe Rim Trail from the park.
TRT Spooner Summit North
- Overnight parking available.
- Small paved parking lot off the highway which will likely be full weekends and holidays by mid-morning.
Spooner Summit South to Kingsbury North
TRT Spooner Summit South Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- Use extreme caution crossing the highway to access Spooner Summit North.
TRT Kingsbury North Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- Space available for trailers.
- Half mile connector trail to the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Kingsbury North to Kingsbury South
Major trailheads on both ends of this TRT segment access the trail via short connector trails. A long uphill climb connects the TRT to Van Sickle Park’
Buchanan Road
- Recommended for drop-offs and resupply only.
- No overnight parking.
- This is a small pullout in a neighborhood.
Boulder Parking Lot
- TRT is accessible via Edgewood Creek.
Van Sickle Bi-State Park
- No overnight parking. Park closes at sunset.
- Spaces available for trailers.
- The TRT is accessible via the 3.5-mile Van Sickle Connector Trail.
- A public transit stop is available nearby at Stateline Transit Center.
Heavenly Village Parking
- Heavenly Village offers monthly parking passes for their covered parking garage that is patrolled by security.
- Monthly Parking Pass $125 per month (April-October).
- Monthly Parking Pass $176 per month (November-March).
- Call Heavenly Village Parking at 530-542-6136 or visit their website here for more information.
- Van Sickle Trailhead is accessible from this parking garage by a .5-mile walk.
Kingsbury South to Big Meadow
TRT Kingsbury South
- Day use and extended overnight parking are permitted at the lower parking facility off Quaking Aspen Lane.
- Please follow the below requirements for overnight parking use:
- Vehicle owners must notify Heavenly Resorts security at 530-542-5187 with the following information: start and end dates, license plate number, vehicle type, and contact information.
- As of summer 2022 Heavenly security has no voicemail set up. You may need to call several times to get an answer.
- Heavenly Security is not responsible for your vehicle.
- Space for trailer parking is available.
High Meadow Trailhead
- High Meadow Trailhead is a small dirt parking area located 0.6 miles uphill from the end of the pavement/neighborhood. The dirt road is not recommended for low clearance vehicles and is only open during the summer.
- Limited parking is also available at the end of the paved High Meadow Trail Road.
- Overnight parking recommended only in the upper lot.
- The TRT is accessible approximately 6.3 miles uphill from High Meadow Road via Star Lake Trail. Users can also access the TRT via Cold Creek Trail to Monument Peak Trail.
Fountain Place Road/Armstrong Connector Trailhead
- Fountain Place road is a steep and narrow one-lane road with significant uphill bike traffic that is gated until June 30th. Parking is very limited at the top of the road (4.2 miles from the first gate on Oneidas Street) and turning around can be a challenge even in a passenger vehicle. Use caution!
- Overnight parking is not recommended.
- Parking is also available at two lots along Fountain Place Road located at the top and bottom of the Corral Trail but is recommended for bikers only.
- The TRT is accessible approximately 3.6 miles uphill via Armstrong Connector Trail.
- Be advised that if you are utilizing the Armstrong Connector Trail there will be a significant amount of bike traffic in both directions. Hiking on the trails lower down from Armstrong Connector (Upper Corral, Corral, Sidewinder) is not advised.
Horse Meadow Trailhead/USFS 051
- Overnight parking available.
- Dirt Parking Area.
- Four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles are recommended on USFS 051.
- The TRT is accessible approximately 0.9 miles uphill via Horse Meadow Trail.
Saxon Creek Trail/Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Extended overnight parking is discouraged.
- The TRT is accessible approximately 6 miles uphill via Saxon Creek Trail/Mr. Toads Wild Ride.
- Saxon Creek Trail (aka Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride) is a world-renown mountain biking trail. Hiking up or down this trail is highly discouraged and will likely not be much fun.
- Most traffic on this trail is downhill. The terrain is challenging and rated more difficult.
TRT Grass Lake Spur
- Extended overnight parking is discouraged.
- Small roadside pullout with limited parking.
Big Meadow to Echo Summit
TRT Big Meadow Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- Designated spaces are available for trailers but fill up quickly. Be advised that the parking lot entrance has sharp turns and can be difficult to navigate.
- This parking lot is extremely busy and is full throughout most of the summer.
- Parking is on the north side of Hwy 89. Users traveling towards Echo Summit will need to cross the highway to the southern side, use extreme caution.
Meiss Meadow Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- TRT is accessible 2.7 miles north via the Pacific Crest Trail.
TRT Echo Summit Trailhead (Adventure Mountain Sno-Park)
- The main Adventure Mountain parking lot inside the green FS gate is closed. Limited, paid parking exists outside of the gate.
Echo SNO-Park on Johnson Pass Road
- Overnight parking is recommended.
- Spaces available for trailers.
- TRT is accessible 0.3 miles west via Johnson Pass Road.
Echo Lakes to Barker Pass
Echo SNO-Park on Johnson Pass Road
- Overnight parking is recommended.
- Spaces available for trailers.
- TRT is accessible 0.3 miles west via Johnson Pass Road.
TRT Echo Lakes Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- Trailers are not recommended due to limited parking and narrow roads make trailering and turning a trailer around extremely difficult.
- Extremely busy and popular trailhead, parking is a challenge throughout the summer.
Glen Alpine Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- TRT is accessible 3.8 miles uphill via Glen Alpine Trail.
- The road to the trailhead is very narrow with limited options for turning around, trailers are not advised.
Camp Sacramento/Ralston Trailhead
- Overnight parking available.
- TRT is accessible 5 miles east via Mt. Ralston Trail.
- Access to the TRT from the west side of Desolation Wilderness out of the Basin.
- Several other access points are available from the west side of the Tahoe Basin with longer access hikes. Review area maps if you are interested in these additional options.
Bayview Trailhead
- As of June 18th parking fees are charged for this trailhead. $5 per 1/2 hour and $10 per day. As of June 23, it is unclear where users pay fees.
- Overnight parking available – $10/night.
- A corral is available for horse trailers at the trailhead.
- The trailhead is located at the end of the road past the Bayview Day Use Area.
- Bears are frequent visitors to this area and have broken into vehicles that did not have food left inside.
- This trailhead fills quickly during the summer months.
- TRT is accessible 4.9 miles west via the Bayview Trail.
Eagle Falls Trailhead
- This internal parking lot is now a paid fee of $5
- This is an extremely busy parking area with limited parking available.
- TRT is accessible 4.7 miles west via the Eagle Lake Trail.
Meeks Bay Trailhead
- Overnight parking permitted.
- Small dirt parking area.
- TRT is accessible 6.6 miles west via the Meeks Bay Trail.
Richardson Lake/Rubicon Trail
- Dirt parking area on the Rubicon Trail
- The TRT is accessible via the 4×4 Rubicon Trail 4 miles west. The road past the Rubicon Trail Staging Area is extremely rough and only accessible with specialized 4×4 high clearance vehicles.
- If you are utilizing the road to hike or bike, expect significant Jeep/Dirt Bike traffic.
Barker Pass to Tahoe City South
TRT Barker Pass
- Overnight parking available.
- Space is available for a limited number of trailers.
- Dirt lot located on the north side of the road approximately 0.5 miles after the paved road turns to gravel.
Ward Creek Boulevard
- Overnight parking not recommended.
- Limited parking available on the side of the road.
64 Acres Trailhead
- Overnight parking not allowed.
- Spaces available for trailers.
