Tahoe Rim Trail is a 14.2-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Kingswood Estates, CA. It climbs 3,070 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,139 – 8,659 ft · steepest grade: 20%15.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Elizabethtown Meadows Trail 39.28706, -120.10392
Nearest town Kingswood Estates, CA
Directions
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Tahoe Rim Trail
14.2 mi · ▲ 3,070 ft · 6 hr 16 min
Elevation 6,139–8,660 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Elizabethtown Meadows Trail · 39.28706, -120.10392
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:01 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 473 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Elizabethtown Meadows Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Martis Peak Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 300 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NE.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto 16N54, heading SE.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
- 1.7 miBear right, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Martis Peak Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Elizabethtown Meadows Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
97% dirt3% paved
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.1 mi in (~254 min). Leave by 2:26 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 473 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
- 2.3 mi · loop · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.4 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.4 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.5 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.6 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.6 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.6 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
- 2.6 mi · out & back · via Tahoe Rim Trail
More from Elizabethtown Meadows Trail Trailhead
- Chipmunk–KB Trail, 3 sights 15.6 mi · ▲ 2,674 ft
- Fox–KB Trail, 3 sights 15.5 mi · ▲ 2,795 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 10.8 mi · ▲ 2,380 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 14.2 mi · ▲ 3,062 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 14.5 mi · ▲ 3,146 ft
- Martis Creek Lake–East Martis Creek Trail, 3 sights 7.5 mi · ▲ 477 ft
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