The Tahoe Rim Trail
by Tim Hauserman
If you hike the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) you will pass crystal clear lakes surrounded by huge granite peaks, walk for miles along ridge tops with spectacular views of Lake Tahoe, wander through chest-high fields of wildflowers and stroll through deep forests of hemlock and red fir. The Thru Hiker's Guide to America: 25 Incredible Trails You Can Hike in One to Eight Weeks says of the route, "The TRT is one of the most beautiful trails in this book, in fact it may be the most beautiful trail." This year the TRT Association is celebrating 25 years since the trail was founded. And the best way to join the celebration: Hit the trail!
Fall is an ideal time to experience the TRT, the weather not too warm or too cold. With the kids back to school, you can often have the trail practically to yourself during midweek.
TRT has eight trail sections, each with its own unique flavor and personality. Here are a few of my favorite places.
Fall Colors
Start out at the Spooner Summit trailhead on Highway 50 and head 6 miles north to Snow Valley Peak. The first few miles follow a ridgeline through Jeffrey pines and white firs. Then the trees disappear to jaw-dropping views of Lake Tahoe and the massive aspen groves of Snow Valley. The next mile and a half is one of the best sections of the whole TRT, especially in the fall when the bright yellow of thousands of aspens contrasts with the deep blue of The Lake. Just after passing an old dirt road near the summit of Snow Valley, there is the perfect lunch spot with a view of Marlette Lake in the foreground and Tahoe in the background. You can return the way you came for a 12-mile round trip, or you can complete a loop via the new Marlette Lake Trail to make it a 15-mile day. To reach the Marlette Lake trail, follow the dirt road downhill about one-and-a-half miles to North Canyon Road. From here, head about 50 yards west to the Marlette Lake Trail. North Canyon Road also provides access to Tahoe's most famous mountain bike ride: The Flume Trail. The Marlette Lake Trail does not allow bikes in an effort to alleviate some of the traffic on North Canyon Road. When you reach the Marlette Lake Trail, you can turn right and head downhill about a mile to Marlette Lake, or turn left and follow it down to the Spooner Lake trailhead where you will find restrooms and water, in season. With only another one-and-a-half easy miles to go, follow the level trail along the edge of Spooner Lake to a short connector trail back to your Spooner Summit Trailhead.
Granite-lined Lakes
If you're looking for water, head toward Desolation Wilderness, which in the fall can truly live up to its name. A phenomenal 20-mile backpack trip starts at Echo Lake and follows the TRT past the Crystal Range. Then it's downhill to a campsite along island-dotted Heather or Susie Lakes at the base of Jack's Peak. On day 2 head over the top of 9,380-foot Dicks Pass to Dicks Lake and Fontanillis Lake—one of the prettiest in the region. From Fontanillis, it is just 5 miles more to Emerald Bay.
Easier Jaunt
For a relatively easier six-mile loop, complete with expansive views and a waterfall, take the newest section of TRT at the summit of the Mt. Rose Highway. From here, it is about two miles of gentle uphill to Galena Falls, a charming cascade just above the trail. Take a break before heading up to the junction with the old Mt. Rose Summit Trail. Moving on, a right turn leads you in three steep miles to the top of 10,776-foot Mt. Rose or, a half-mile further on, a left turn brings you uphill to a dirt road, and the former TRT trail. For a nice loop, turn left on this trail for a three-mile journey back to your trailhead and views of Tahoe, Incline Lake and Tahoe Meadows. It is hard to believe so much beauty is packed into such a short trail.
Tahoe Rim Trail 165-Mile Club
Hike the entire TRT and you can join the 500 other people who have become members of the Tahoe Rim Trail 165-Mile Club. You can hike it all in one fell swoop, or do it in sections. While the Pacific Crest Trail's 2,650 miles and Appalachian Trail's 2,175 miles may be a little too much for most people to handle, many people find completing the 165-mile TRT, though challenging, within the realm of possibility.