Tahoe City → Tahoe City

Tahoe Rim Trail

A high-country loop around the Lake Tahoe Basin through California and Nevada, paced here across the Tahoe Rim Trail Association's eight official trailhead segments. The virtual route uses the current segment total of 173.9 miles; the tread and published mileage can change over time.

280

illustrated waypoints

Ready to walk. Create an account and make this your active journey.Begin walking

Virtual progress, not trail navigation. Mileage, tread, weather, fire restrictions, water, permits, closures and bear-safety requirements can change. Before a real outing, check the Tahoe Rim Trail Association's current conditions and official planning resources.

Take the trail home. Download the original Virtual Hiker travel poster or see the route photo licenses.18×24 poster Photo credits

Print-ready completion certificate. Complete your selected itinerary to create a personal PDF and 300-DPI PNG certificate. Full-route completion uses the title Tahoe Rim Trail Virtual Completion, recording the participant, distance, completion date, earned milestones and any staged prerequisites. Sections receive a section accomplishment. This recognizes virtual activity and is not an official trail-organization credential.

Highlights along the way

Curated orientation points rather than a turn-by-turn navigation guide. Route variants can change the exact distance. Tahoe marks follow the current eight published trailhead segments and total 173.9 miles; the trail association notes that mileage evolves over time.

Tahoe City USA
km 0.0 · USA
Begin beside the Truckee River, where the loop can be walked in either direction. Canonical milestones are listed clockwise; your journey may choose either direction.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Brockway Summit USA
km 33.0 · USA
The first 20.5-mile segment passes Watson Lake and volcanic ridges above the Truckee River canyon.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Tahoe Meadows USA
km 65.5 · USA
The route crosses Relay Peak, the trail's published high point at 10,338 feet, before reaching the Mt. Rose–Tahoe Meadows trailhead.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Spooner Summit USA
km 104.3 · USA
A 24.1-mile east-shore section opens views toward Marlette Lake, Snow Valley Peak and the Carson Range.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Kingsbury South Connector USA
km 134.9 · USA
Old firs, aspen groves and broad views of Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley shape this 19-mile segment.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Big Meadow USA
km 171.7 · USA
The trail passes Star Lake beneath the basin's high southern peaks before descending toward Big Meadow.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Echo Lakes USA
km 201.2 · USA
Round Lake, Meiss Meadows and Showers Lake lead to Echo Lakes, where the TRT shares tread with the Pacific Crest Trail.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Barker Pass USA
km 253.5 · USA
The longest official segment crosses Desolation Wilderness past Lake Aloha, Dicks Pass and the Velma Lakes.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded
Tahoe City — Loop Complete USA
km 279.9 · USA
Creeks, wildflowers, Page Meadows and Ward Canyon close the final 16.4-mile arc back to Tahoe City.
Stop: trailhead · Elevation not recorded

Source and edition notes

Tahoe Rim Trail Association · reference-checked · Source reference checked 2026-10-16

This check concerns the linked source reference and virtual edition, not on-trail conditions. Unknown elevations are left absent; ascent and descent have not been collected for this edition.

Current information from the maintaining organization

This is a virtual itinerary, not a navigation guide. Source material and mileage can change. Check the maintaining organization for current conditions, access, permits, water and camping information. A virtual rest is storytelling, not a campsite recommendation.

Official segment maps, distances and planning information: view the reference.