Tahoe Rim Trail

A loop around an alpine lake, the Tahoe Rim Trail encircles the Lake Tahoe Basin for about 165 miles along the ridgelines of California and Nevada, offering near-constant views down to the cobalt water below.

The full loop gains roughly 24,000 feet cumulatively and takes most backpackers eight to sixteen days, riding between about 6,300 and 10,300 feet in elevation. It shares tread with the Pacific Crest Trail on its western side and breaks neatly into day-hikeable segments from numerous trailheads.

Practical detail: no through-permit is required, though a few wilderness sections need free self-issue permits and campfires are often restricted. Water can be sparse along the ridges, so hikers plan carefully around lakes and creeks, especially late in the season.

July through September is the dependable window, after the snow melts from the higher passes and before autumn storms; wildflowers linger into early summer at altitude. Completed in 2001 after decades of volunteer work, the trail has become one of the West's most beloved loop routes.