Tahoe Rim Trail — Segment Guide

Segments — easier to harder

Easier SEG 8 Barker Pass → Tahoe City

16.4 mi ~2,500 ft gain June–October

Highlights

Shortest official segment — best first segment if you want to ease in
Page Meadow and the gradual Ward Canyon descent into Tahoe City
Dense lodgepole and fir forest with good wildlife sightings; less exposed than east-side segments
Finishes at the official TRT trailhead on the north shore of Tahoe City

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Barker Pass Trailhead — Barker Pass Rd off Hwy 89, ~7 mi south of Tahoe City; large dirt lot

End — park car 1 here Tahoe City Trailhead — Fairway Dr off 64 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City; large paved lot

Drive between trailheads: ~20 min · ~9 miles via Hwy 89

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Easier SEG 4 Spooner Summit → Kingsbury South

19.0 mi ~2,400 ft gain Early June–October

Highlights

East-side Carson Range — typically the first segment to melt out each year; can be hikeable by early June
Simultaneous views of Lake Tahoe (west) and Carson Valley (east) from the ridgeline
Ancient Jeffrey pine and red fir forests; rolling terrain keeps it manageable despite the distance
Kingsbury Grade finish with views sweeping down into Nevada

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Spooner Summit — Hwy 50 & 28 junction, NV; Spooner Lake State Park lot (day-use fee)

End — park car 1 here Kingsbury South Trailhead — Tramway Dr off Kingsbury Grade (Hwy 207), Stateline NV; roadside pullout

Drive between trailheads: ~25 min · ~17 miles via Hwy 50 & Kingsbury Grade

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Moderate SEG 6 Big Meadow → Echo Lakes

18.3 mi ~2,100 ft gain Late June–October

Highlights

Merges with the Pacific Crest Trail near the midpoint — well-signed and well-traveled from there
Wildflower meadows and a chain of sub-alpine lakes throughout the second half
Net downhill segment — finishes at Echo Lakes (7,414 ft), the lowest west-side endpoint
Water taxi available at Echo Lakes upper lot to skip the flat first 2.5 miles if you're connecting to Seg 7

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Big Meadow Trailhead — Hwy 89 near Luther Pass, ~5 mi south of Meyers CA; free roadside lot

End — park car 1 here Echo Lakes Trailhead — Echo Lakes Rd off Hwy 50 near Echo Summit; day-use parking fee

Drive between trailheads: ~20 min · ~13 miles via Hwy 89 & 50

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Moderate SEG 1 Tahoe City → Brockway Summit

20.5 mi ~2,900 ft gain Late June–October

Highlights

The official TRT start/finish point; departs from the bridge in Tahoe City
Watson Lake and striking lava rock formations near Brockway Summit
North shore views over Lake Tahoe; passes near Palisades Tahoe ski area terrain
Good mix of forest and exposed ridgeline — representative of the full loop's character

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Tahoe City Trailhead — Fairway Dr off 64 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City; large paved lot

End — park car 1 here Brockway Summit — Hwy 267 at summit between Truckee and Kings Beach; roadside pullout

Drive between trailheads: ~20 min · ~12 miles via Hwy 267 & 28

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Moderate SEG 3 Mt. Rose Summit → Spooner Summit

24.1 mi ~2,700 ft gain Mid-June–October

Highlights

Marlette Lake — the most photographed section of the TRT; deep blue water ringed by granite
The Flume Trail: a historic water flume bench-cut into the cliff with Lake Tahoe filling the view 1,600 ft below
Christopher's Loop viewpoint — the single best lake view on the entire trail
Longest east-side segment; rolling terrain and consistent grade make it more manageable than the mileage suggests

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Mt. Rose / Tahoe Meadows TH — large paved lot on Hwy 431 (Mt. Rose Hwy) at summit, NV; restrooms available

End — park car 1 here Spooner Summit — Hwy 50 & 28 junction, NV; Spooner Lake State Park (day-use fee)

Drive between trailheads: ~40 min · ~32 miles via Hwy 431 & 50

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Hard SEG 2 Brockway Summit → Mt. Rose / Tahoe Meadows

20.2 mi ~3,400 ft gain Early July–October

Highlights

Relay Peak (10,338 ft) — highest point on the entire TRT; 360° views into Nevada and over the full Tahoe basin
One of the last segments to clear snow — check conditions carefully; late June to early July in big snow years
Miles of exposed ridgeline — start early if afternoon thunderstorms are possible
Tahoe Meadows finish — a stunning sub-alpine bowl with facilities, making for an easy pickup

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Brockway Summit — Hwy 267 at summit between Truckee and Kings Beach; roadside pullout

End — park car 1 here Mt. Rose / Tahoe Meadows TH — large paved lot on Hwy 431 (Mt. Rose Hwy) at summit, NV

Drive between trailheads: ~35 min · ~25 miles via Hwy 267, 28 & 431

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Hard SEG 5 Kingsbury South → Big Meadow

22.9 mi ~3,600 ft gain Early July–September

Highlights

Star Lake (10,028 ft) — one of the most beautiful and remote spots on the entire trail; few people reach it outside of thru-hikers
Freel Peak (10,881 ft, highest point in the Tahoe basin) visible close to the route
Most remote and committing segment — plan water carefully; few bailout points
Brief touch of the Nevada border before dropping west into the south Tahoe basin

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Kingsbury South Trailhead — Tramway Dr off Kingsbury Grade (Hwy 207), Stateline NV; roadside pullout

End — park car 1 here Big Meadow Trailhead — Hwy 89 near Luther Pass, ~5 mi south of Meyers CA; free roadside lot

Drive between trailheads: ~40 min · ~30 miles via Hwy 207 & 89

Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Overnight SEG 7 Echo Lakes → Barker Pass

32.5 mi ~4,400 ft gain July–mid-September

Highlights

Desolation Wilderness — the crown jewel of the TRT; granite basins, sapphire lakes, and exposed passes
Dicks Pass (9,380 ft), Lake Aloha, Velma Lakes, Rubicon Lake — big scenery mile after mile
Most section hikers split as a 2-day overnight, camping near Middle Velma Lake (~mile 17–19)
Overnight permit required: Zone 46, 10 spots/night, free — book on Recreation.gov starting March 20; no camping at Lake Aloha; bear canister required
Strong hikers and trail runners can complete it as a very long single day — see the running section below

Shuttle logistics

Start — leave car 2 here Echo Lakes Trailhead — Echo Lakes Rd off Hwy 50, ~1 mi from Echo Summit; day-use fee; arrive early, lot fills by 8am on weekends

End — park car 1 here Barker Pass Trailhead — Barker Pass Rd off Hwy 89, ~7 mi south of Tahoe City; large dirt lot

Drive between trailheads: ~50 min · ~38 miles via Hwy 50 & 89

Desolation permit ↗ · Official map ↗ · Conditions ↗ · Start map ↗

Running the TRT

Options for trail runners & fastpackers

Segment 7 as a long day

32.5 miles, ~4,400 ft gain. Experienced trail runners do it in 10–14 hours. Start at Echo Lakes at first light; aim to finish Barker Pass before dark. June 21 gives ~15.5 hours of daylight at Tahoe's latitude — feasible with an early start, but tight. No overnight permit needed if you're out before dark.

Running individual segments

Any segment works as a point-to-point run with a car shuttle. Segments 4, 8, and 6 are natural starting points — shorter, lower cumulative elevation, good footing. Most trail runners complete all 8 segments over 2–3 summers, treating each as a big day out rather than a race effort.

Fastpacking Segment 7

Camp near Middle Velma Lake (~mile 18) and run the second half out in the morning. Carry minimal gear; use the TRT overnight permit (Zone 46). Roughly 6–9 hours of moving time per half for trail runners. The most rewarding overnight option on the trail.

Full-loop single push

Current supported FKT: 1d 13h 12m (Adam Kimble, 2020). A fit trail runner attempting a self-supported single push should plan for 36–55 hours. Conventional start is Tahoe City bridge, clockwise. Support crew with food and lights at major road crossings (Spooner, Kingsbury, Echo) is essential.

Permit note: Desolation Wilderness overnight permits are required regardless of pace. A runner who camps anywhere in Desolation needs the same Zone 46 permit as a hiker. Day-use (in and out without camping) has no permit and no quota for the TRT route.