For Justin Knowles, trails provide something increasingly valuable in a world dominated by screens and technology: a chance to disconnect, get outside, and connect with one another.
It’s a perspective shaped by both sides of his life.
Professionally, Justin has spent more than 25 years working in technology and currently serves as a Senior Vice President at Oracle, where he leads product management and strategy. Outside of work, however, some of his most meaningful time is spent far from a computer it’s spent backpacking, trail running, and introducing others to the outdoors.
“Trails and the TRTA are essential in an increasingly technology-focused world,” Justin said. “I work in tech, but volunteering for the TRTA is a way for me to give back.”
A Lifelong Connection to Trails
Justin’s commitment to trails began long before he discovered the Tahoe Rim Trail.
He first volunteered on trails as a high school student with a Student Conservation Association crew. In 2002, the Appalachian Trail introduced him to the long-distance hiking community, beginning a connection to trails that would continue for decades.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin turned his attention to the Tahoe Rim Trail, completing the 174-mile loop and joining the TRTA’s 165-Mile Club.
In 2021, he joined the Tahoe Rim Trail Association’s Board of Directors and has since served in a variety of leadership roles with the organization.
Today, Justin lives and works in the Bay Area but spends as much time as possible in South Lake Tahoe with his family. His connection to the outdoors also extends well beyond his own adventures. Justin serves as a volunteer and board member with the San Mateo County Parks Foundation and the Pacific Skyline Council of Scouting USA, and one of his greatest passions is helping young people experience the outdoors.
“My passion is taking my family and Scouts out on the Tahoe Rim Trail,” Justin said. “I love leading youth on outdoor adventures that build confidence, teach resilience, and connect folks to nature.”
Experiencing the Trail Together
This summer, Justin had the opportunity to put that passion into action when he led a group of 11 youth and adults on a section hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe City to Highway 50, traveling through Desolation Wilderness along the way.
For the group, the journey offered more than beautiful scenery. They encountered PCT and TRT thru-hikers, experienced life on a long-distance trail, and saw firsthand the work that goes into maintaining a worldclass trail system.
“We appreciated the unparalleled trail quality on the TRT and meeting PCT and TRT thru-hikers along the way,” Justin said.
Experiences like these are part of what keeps Justin committed to the Association.
The Tahoe Rim Trail provides countless opportunities for people to experience Tahoe, from a family heading out for an afternoon hike to a young person spending their first night in the backcountry to a thru-hiker setting out to complete all 165 miles.
But creating those experiences requires much more than simply having a trail on the map.
Caring for a Trail People Love
Tahoe’s trails are enormously popular, and Justin believes the TRTA plays an important role in helping people enjoy them responsibly while protecting the landscapes that make those experiences possible.
“The TRTA helps connect people to the area and helps prevent Tahoe’s world-class trails from being loved to death,” Justin said.
That means maintaining trails that can withstand heavy use, educating visitors about responsible recreation, inspiring stewardship, and creating programs that help people build meaningful connections to Tahoe’s public lands.
It is a mission that fits naturally with Justin’s belief in the value of getting people, especially young people, outside.
His professional life may revolve around technology, but his volunteer work is grounded in something timeless: helping people discover what can happen when they step away from the screen, shoulder a pack, and head down a trail together.
And whether he is hiking the TRT with his family, leading Scouts through Desolation Wilderness, or helping guide the Association as a member of the Board, Justin is working to make sure those opportunities remain available for the next generation.
By becoming a member, making a donation, or volunteering with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, you help care for the trails that connect people to Tahoe and ensure these special places remain ready to inspire the next adventure.
