Pictures From My Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-hike
The Tahoe Rim Trail is a long-distance backpacking and hiking trail that forms a 165 mile loop around Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada and Carson mountain ranges of California and Nevada. I thru-hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail in the fall of 2011.
Here are some pictures from my trip…
Have any questions about the Tahoe Rim Trail? Post your comments below…
Out of curiosity how long did it take for you to do the complete trail? Also how did you manage to get away from work, etc.? Cool pics and great trip!! Thanks.
@Josh: It took about 10 days of actual hiking plus a couple days off in Tahoe City. Hiking and publishing books about hiking is what I do for work so that wasn’t a problem for me. But the good thing about the TRT is it’s short enough to do during a typical 2 week vacation. My friend Mark went with me and he has a normal job.
For anyone interested, there is a social network group on the TRT started by Mountain Education’s Ned Tibbits and found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheTahoeRimTrail/
Hi Erik, I will be going in July for a family reunion. Are there short hikes where I can take as a day trip. I am still not ready to do long hikes yet, just a novice.
@Sonia: There are trailheads with parking equally spaced around the trail about every 20 miles dividing the trail into 8 sections which make it convenient for shorter hikes.
The section between Tahoe Meadows and Spooner Summit on the northeast side of the lake is especially pretty with great views of the lake and easy terrain suitable for beginners.
The section between Echo Lake and Barker Pass on the southwest side of the lake (Desolation Wilderness) is even more stunning, but with more difficult terrain.
Those were my two favorite sections.
Did you just have one resupply? Are bear canisters required?
@Sean: I started at Kingsbury Grade (east side of the lake) and hiked clockwise. I bought some extra food at the little store at Echo Lake and then did a full resupply in Tahoe City.
If I had to do it over again I would start at Tahoe Meadows, pick up a maildrop at Echo Lake and then resupply in Tahoe City. This would break the trip into three nearly equal segments.
Bear canisters are not required as far as I know and I did not carry one.
Gotta love the Rim Trail!! Maybe I’m slightly biased because I was born and raised in Tahoe City, but I feel its definitely worth checking out for anyone who loves backpacking. Ive got countless hundreds of miles on it, and it NEVER gets old!
Kinda random, but my buddies and I saw you on the trail this fall near Echo Lakes hiking in the opposite direction as us. We were beginning our third day of thru hiking the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, which shares the same route in that area. The TYT was such an amazing trail, and way more remote than anything Ive ever hiked. Any chance you will ever make a TYT atlas? There is little to no information about the TYT, and a book like yours would have made the trip planning so much easier.
@Dave: Cool! Did we meet or just pass each other on the trail? I haven’t done the Tahoe Yosemite Trail yet but it’s one I definitely would like to do. I’ve got to finish the new PCT Atlases and then the Tahoe Rim Trail Atlas first (which will be coming later this year and early next year). Did you see a lot of other hikers on the TYT (the portions that don’t coincide with the TRT or PCT) or did you have the trail pretty much to yourselves?
@Susan P: Dave might be able to give you a more definitive answer about the weather around Tahoe since he lives there, but I think the best time to go is between late June and early October. Depending on how much snow fell the previous winter you might encounter some lingering snowfields if you start in June, and if you run too late into the fall you might hit bad weather. I did it in September and the weather was great (except a few cold rain showers that luckily didn’t last long).
By the way, for anyone planning to hike the TRT something fun to do on your day off in Tahoe City is to raft the Truckee River. I’ve done this four or five times in the last few years and it’s always a blast. You can rent a raft or just buy a tube from the gas station. It’s a nice lazy river float (until the end where there are some minor rapids) and a fun way to relax and cool off and kill a couple of hours.
when is the best time to go? is June too early, or is there still a lot of snow? also, getting there & away – what is the nearest or best logistical airport and land transportation to take to THs?
Thanks!
@Susan P: Oops, missed your question about getting to the trail. The nearest major airport is in Reno, NV (about 60 miles away). The North Lake Tahoe Express Shuttle can take you from the airport to the Lake Tahoe area. If you are driving to the trail you can park at one of the many trailheads and you’ll finish right back at your car (which is very convenient). I have heard some stories about cars being broken into at trailheads, but nobody messed with ours.
Hi Erik, great pictures! We’re planning a thru hike of the TRT in July possibly starting from Mt. Rose with resupplies at Tramway Market, Echo Lake and Tahoe City. We won’t have a car so we’ll be using shuttles and cabs to get from Reno to wherever in the north to the trailhead. Any ideas for cheap lodging in the north? Alternatively, we could stay in South lake Tahoe, but then we’d have a long dry stretch between Tahoe City and Kingsbury. Any advice on lodging or a way to break up that section would be welcome. Thanks! We can’t wait for the pocket guide!
@September: Starting at Mount Rose would be nice since you would start your hike on one of the most scenic and easiest sections of the TRT. That is how I plan to do it next time I go. You could spend the night in Tahoe City (if I remember correctly it was about $80 for a hotel) and take the TART Mainline bus to Incline Village. From there it should be a pretty easy 9-mile hitch up Highway 431 to Mount Rose Trailhead (there is a ton of day-hiker traffic heading out to that very popular trailhead). You could also start in South Lake Tahoe if you like. The Water situation on the north side of the lake is not as bad as it appears. There are quite a few seasonal water sources, a handful of reliable water sources close to the trail and several backup water sources which you can access by hiking a mile or two off-trail. You will be able to find water one way or another. All of the on-trail and off-trail water sources (that I know of) will be shown in the atlas.
@Susan P: I would agree with Erik that the best hiking season for the TRT is between late June and early October. Just know that even in a relatively smaller snow year (like the current winter) you will definitely still hit plenty of snow in the Desolation Wilderness area. Snow often lingers there through July, and in heavy snow years like last winter, snow will linger in patches throughout the entire summer. Personally, September is my favorite month for hiking in Tahoe because most the lakes are warm enough to swim in, and the crowds are half what they are in July and August.
@Erik: We just said hi in passing. I didnt put the black clothing and beard together as you until we had passed each other. But yea, on our TYT hike we went 6 days without seeing anyone outside of our group on the trail; which was half of the total days! The trail definitely felt very remote and little traveled; which I guess is why the forrest service has given up maintaining the trail, meaning there are two cross country segments now. I highly recommend the trail though.
Erik, I also just wanted to say thanks for maintaining such an informative hiking blog. I am leaving on my first ultra long distance thru hike in two weeks, and your blog/books have been an invaluable resource in my planning. Can’t wait to hit the trail again!! PCT 2012.
My wife and I are planning on doing this trail sometime in July. What temperature rated sleeping bag would you recommend? This will be our first long backpacking trip. Do you have any tips for this hike? Thanks for the Backpacking gear planner. Its been a huge asset, especially when trying to limit weight! Thanks
@Derreck: For July you could probaby get away with a bag rated 30-40 degrees. But since sleeping bags are so expensive you might want to buy just one bag that will work for all your spring, summer and fall hikes that is rated around 20 degrees and unzip it and use it like a quilt in the warmer summer months. That’s what I do with mine.
ETB, Will you be coming out with your TRT atlas before middle of July ? We (me and the Woodrose) plan to start walking north from HWY 50 (Echo Lake) 18 July, doing the TRT clockwise. Next sobo on the PCT heading for JMT via Hetch Hetchy, finishing Mt. Whitney late September. We already have your Central California PCT Atlas…..(all the book and maps we need, except for Yo Valley and HHetchy). All Best, Muleskinner, walkin’ with Medicare for the first time this summer.
@Muleskinner: Unfortunately the TRT Atlas will probably not be available before July. Most likely it will ready be this fall or next spring. I’m working on finishing up the first couple volumes of the 3rd Edition PCT Atlas first.
Thanks everyone for your help and comments. It appears like the trail is well signed and resupply is easy. Hopefully the snow will clear early. I am going to do the JMT in August, but was looking for a second trip earlier in the summer.
If TRT isn’t clear in June, are then any other thru-hikes about the same distance that anyone can recommend?
Thanks!
What pack did you use?
@Ryan: My pack is a ULA Conduit, which is the older version of the Ultralight Adventure Equipment CDT. It weighs 21 ounces.
Erik, thanks for the detailed trip report and photos! I’ll be on the TRT this fall (late September) so really appreciate all the details. I used your JMT Pocket Atlas and loved it. Really wishing your TRT guide would be ready by this fall… Thanks for all the great information you put out in your blog. Carol
@Carol: Thanks, I’m glad to help and good luck on your trip. There is an off chance that I might have the TRT Atlas ready by fall. Once I get the first couple of PCT books out the door I might switch gears and work on the TRT for a while. If so I will let you know.
Erik, hen do you plan an update to the john muir trail atlas? Thanks, Jeff
@Jeff: Right now I’m working on updating the Pacific Crest Trail Atlas. Once that is done the John Muir Trail Atlas will be next up. So sometime in the next year or two. The next edition of the JMT Atlas will be mostly a cosmetic update since the information in the first edition is still mostly current.
Hi Erik. We are planning on hiking this trail in three weeks, starting at Tahoe Meadows Mt Rose area and hiking clockwise like you had suggested. Do you think we will need to do a water drop anywhere on the trail this time of the year? Also, do you have a suggested area of the desolation wilderness that you would camp in? I need to get a permit still and I would like to find a beautiful area to spend the night. Thanks Erik.
@Derrick: I hiked this time of year last year (September) and did not need to do any water drops but there were a few sections where we had to some some 15+ mile water carries. Water was more plentiful on the south and west side of the lake (between Kingsbury and Tahoe City) and more rare in the north and east side. I took notes and waypoints for all the water sources I encountered, but unfortunately I haven’t gotten around to organizing that information yet.
You might want to do a water cache at Brockway Summit if you can.
Here is a link from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association with some information about the water sources they suggest:
Tahoe Rim Trail Assoc Water Info
Lake Aloha is a beautiful place to camp in the Desolation Wilderness. Just make sure you bring mosquito repellent. That whole section is really mosquitoey.
Good luck and have a great hike!
Erik, Have enjoyed reading the TYT comments. Can you describe the difficulty of the trail? Thanks, Jeff
@Jeff: The Tahoe Rim Trail is well-graded, well-maintained and only has a few steep sections. It’s what I could call an intermediate trail. The Tahoe Rim Trail is less difficult than the John Muir Trail which is steeper and has more challenging terrain (snow, rocks, creek fords, etc.)
The Tahoe Rim Trail looks amazing! You managed to catch some great shots. I can’t say I have been around these areas but it sure would be something to try out at least once. The feeling when you reach the top must really be great. Thanks for sharing this.
I am looking forward to doing this trail next fall. I live just 45 miles down the hill in Colfax. Thanks for the great photos.
Erik, What training do you recommend for the hike-thru. My goal is to do it in the next few years with the Tahoe Rim Trail Assoc. I have done sections and enjoyed it so much.
Thanks for sharing your great pictures and look forward to picking up one of your books.
@Jennifer Wolf: The best thing you can do to train for a thru-hike is walk every day (2-3 miles around the neighborhood) and go for day hikes and overnight hikes on the weekends with a full 25 pound pack. If you don’t have any mountains nearby where you can hike on the weekends you can do things like climbing stairs, jogging or lifting weights, but hiking and walking is the best form of training.
If you need to lose a significant amount of weight beforehand I recommend the P90X and Insanity DVD workout programs. I tend to put on 20-30 lbs in the off-season because I spend long hours sitting at the computer working on my maps. I use these workouts to quickly shed the weight and get back into shape in time for the hiking season.
Here is an article I wrote a while back with some more info:
How To Train For A Long Distance Hike
Good luck!
Hi Erik. Any update on when the TRT atlas will be available?
Kathy: The Tahoe Rim Trail Atlas will be available this summer. Probably in June or July.
Erik, Thanks for the great site and so much information. Started to use your gear planner and it was a real eye opener on how much stuff I carried. Working on really lightning my load using your gear lists and recommendations. Planning on doing the TRT in Sept 2013 as my first long thru hike. Hope your TRT Atlas is ready before then.
@Rich: Me, too! What dates are you looking at?
@Erik: no pressure, dude, but we’re REALLY hoping that your guide is available in June-July this year as scheduled to help us plan our September hikes!
I’m thinking of starting right after Labor Day.
I’m planning to start the TRT at the end June (29th?) and hope the Erik the Black’s trail guide is ready in time. Anyone else planning to go around the same time?