Tahoe Rim Trail
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Good three-day window with mild temps and no snow on the ground. Short November days are the main logistics constraint — sunset at 4:57 PM means you're done hiking by 4:30 if you want to make camp in daylight. The stream gauge data in this briefing is mismatched to the TRT (those gauges are Central Coast/South Bay) — ignore the CAUTION flag on crossings, it doesn't apply here.
57°/30°F · Partly Cloudy
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0" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
10h 27m daylight · Sunrise 6:30 AM · Sunset 4:57 PM
Full Briefing
The stream crossing data flagged in this briefing is geographically wrong — Salinas River, Llagas Creek, and Alameda Creek near Sunol are Central California Coast Range drainages, not Tahoe Basin. Disregard the CAUTION status entirely. With zero snowpack at all local SNOTEL stations (Annie Springs at 6,021 ft shows 0 inches, 0.2" SWE, stable) and no recent precipitation, any water crossings on the TRT right now are going to be low or dry. Late-season sources may be scarce — carry enough capacity between known reliable sources and plan to filter from any standing water you find.
Weather looks clean for the bulk of the trip. Tuesday brings a 35% chance of light rain with highs hitting 57°F and a wind shift to NW overnight dropping to 30°F — pack a rain layer and expect a chilly Tuesday night. Wednesday and Thursday are sunny and calm, temps in the mid-50s during the day and right around freezing at night. That overnight low of 30°F Tuesday is your coldest night; your three-season system should handle it fine but make sure you're in your shelter before the temperature drops. No wind to speak of after Tuesday.
The real operational issue is daylight. Sunset is 4:57 PM with golden hour starting at 4:19 PM — you've got roughly 10.5 hours of usable light. If you're starting at noon today, you have under five hours to make camp before dark. Plan your daily mileage accordingly and build in a hard stop for camp setup by 4:00 PM. Headlamps are standard kit but moving on rocky TRT terrain after dark in November with temps dropping toward 30°F is not where you want to be.
No fires within 50 miles, no avalanche terrain on the TRT, no snow to deal with. This is a solid late-season window. The Tuesday rain is a minor nuisance, not a hazard. Get miles in Wednesday and Thursday when it's clear and calm.
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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