Mount Pluto.jpg
Jonathan Cook-Fisher · CC BY 2.0

Tahoe Rim Trail is a 14.5-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Kingswood Estates, CA. It climbs 3,146 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,191 – 8,659 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.28632, -120.10217
Nearest town Kingswood Estates, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tahoe Rim Trail

14.5 mi · ▲ 3,146 ft · 6 hr 24 min

Elevation 6,193–8,660 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 39.28632, -120.10217

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 515 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 1.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  4. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  12. 1 miTurn left, heading E.
  13. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  14. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  17. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 0.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  19. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  22. 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
  23. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading SE.
  25. 1.2 miTurn left onto 16N54, heading SE.
  26. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading SE.
  28. 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 300 ftBear left, heading SW.
  30. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
  32. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  33. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  34. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  36. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  37. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  38. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  39. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  40. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  41. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  42. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  44. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  45. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  46. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  47. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  48. 150 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  49. 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  50. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.5 mi in (~205 min). Leave by 3:15 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 515 m from the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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