Tahoe Rim Trail
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Elevation Profile
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Waypoints
Tahoe City Trailhead
Common starting point on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.
6,224 ft
Desolation Wilderness Entry
Enter Desolation Wilderness. Permit required beyond this point overnight.
7,999 ft
Freel Peak Area
Highest point on the trail near Freel Peak (10,880 ft). Views of Tahoe and Great Basin.
10,338 ft
Carson Pass
Highway 88 crossing. Resupply at Caples Lake Resort.
9,498 ft
Return to Tahoe City
Complete the loop.
6,224 ft
Route Details
Distance
170.0 mi
Elevation Gain
32,999 ft
Elevation Loss
32,999 ft
Max Elevation
10,338 ft
Estimated Days
14
Trailhead
Tahoe City (North Shore)
Best Season
July through September. Snow on high points in June. Desolation Wilderness permit required—limited quota.
Permit Required
Desolation Wilderness permit required for overnight travel in that section. recreation.gov.
About This Route
The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 170-mile loop encircling Lake Tahoe at elevations between 6,300 and 10,338 feet, offering some of the most varied high-country scenery in the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin. The trail crosses through Desolation Wilderness, the Carson Range, and the Nevada high desert, presenting dramatically different terrain on each segment. The trail is usually attempted as a multi-week backpacking trip, though some ultra-runners complete it in under 72 hours. The two main challenges are the Desolation Wilderness permit quota (highly competitive in July-August) and the lack of water on the Nevada side where springs can be miles apart. Snow covers the highest points—the Freel Peak area near Echo Summit and the Carson Pass region—well into June. The full route doesn't become consistently snow-free until early July. Wildflowers peak in the Desolation Wilderness in July; fall color appears in September. The lake itself is visible from many high points, shimmering blue-green far below. The Nevada side offers solitude and wide-open views of the Great Basin. The California side through Desolation Wilderness is the most dramatic—granite, lakes, and alpine terrain rivaling anything in the Sierra.
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