Do I need a permit to hike Tahoe Rim Trail?

No, Tahoe Rim Trail does not currently require a permit. Still check for seasonal closures or day-use fees with the managing agency before heading out.

How difficult is Tahoe Rim Trail?

Tahoe Rim Trail is rated difficult. It is 72.5 miles long. Difficulty ratings reflect a combination of distance, elevation gain, and terrain — your experience will depend on your fitness level and trail conditions.

What is the best season to hike Tahoe Rim Trail?

Tahoe Rim Trail is best hiked in summer and fall. Conditions vary year to year — check the trail status and weather forecast before your visit.

Is Tahoe Rim Trail suitable for kids?

Yes, Tahoe Rim Trail is considered kid-friendly. As always with children, bring water and snacks, pace yourself, and watch for weather changes and wildlife.

National Recreation TrailTRT

Tahoe Rim Trail

Route only

Route markers2
Water & camping43
Views1

Length: 72.5 mi
Thru-hike: 7–14 days
Elev. gain: 24,400 ft
States: 2

About the route

The Tahoe Rim Trail is a roughly 165-mile loop encircling the Lake Tahoe Basin through California and Nevada, climbing the Sierra Nevada and Carson Range ridgelines with about 24,400 feet of total elevation gain. About 50 miles overlap with the Pacific Crest Trail along Tahoe's western rim.

Trailhead

Common start

Tahoe Meadows Trailhead (common start)

39.3072, -119.9076

Verified waypoints

46 total · filter on the map above

Categories you've hidden on the map are collapsed here too.

Route markers2

Echo Summit · Intersection
Common alternate start and PCT junction at Highway 50.
Source ↗adventures_seed
Tahoe Meadows Trailhead · Trailhead
Common loop start north of Lake Tahoe, NV.
Source ↗adventures_seed

Water & camping43

Fallen Leaf Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Desolation Wilderness - Aloha Zone · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
SNO Echo Lake · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Eagle Point Campground - Emerald Bay State Park · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Goose Meadows · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Emerald Bay State Park · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Bear Lake Rd. Dispersed · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Hope Valley Resort & Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Toiyabe National Forest Hope Valley Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Kit Carson Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Tahoe SRA · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Lovers Leap Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Wrights Lake · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Campground by the Lake · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Silver Creek-truckee · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
William Kent Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Nevada Beach Campground and Day Use Pavilion · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Woods Lake Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Hope Valley Sno-Park · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Caples Lake Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Bayview Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Davis Creek Regional Park · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Meeks Bay Resort · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Meeks Bay · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Red Fir · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Pleasant Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Lake Tahoe - East Shore · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Nevada Beach Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Kirkwood Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Meeks Bay Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Wylder Hope Valley · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Lake Forest Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Hope Valley Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Silver Creek Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Camp Richardson Resort & Marina · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Camp Richardson Resort & Marina · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy
Zephyr Cove Resort · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
campground:mapmate_legacy
Kaspian Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Source ↗campground:mapmate_legacy

Relay Peak · Summit
Highest point on the TRT — 10,338 ft.
10,308 ftSource ↗adventures_seed

What we don't yet have

We deliberately do not display water sources, resupply towns, shuttle services, or trail-side businesses on this page. Those change every season and an out-of-date pin can be a safety issue, especially on the high-desert and alpine sections of long trails. Use the trail association's published guide, FarOut, or Guthook for that level of detail; verify with rangers before relying on any cached source.

Official sources

Last verified by us: 2026-05-16

Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Reconfirm alerts, permits, and closures with the agency before you go.

Best seasons

summerfall

States traversed

CANV

Editor's note

Loop trail. Common alternative starts: Echo Lake, Brockway Summit, Tahoe City, Kingsbury Grade, Spooner Summit.