Waypoints

1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,882 m
2. 1 : km 0 - alt. 1,882 m - END CALIFORNIA SEGMENT 8: At parking turnout at the end of the Western States Trail. 39.19616, -120.19812 Elev 6209 ft BEGIN CALIFORNIA SEGMENT 9: From the parking area, turn left onto Truckee River Bike Trail heading southeast. --- Sheriff: Placer County (530) 581-6300 Newspaper: Sierra Sun (530) 587-6061
3. 2 : km 0.04 - alt. 1,876 m - Turn left on Truckee River Bike Trail heading southeast. 39.19636, -120.19853 Elev 6191 ft
4. 3 : km 1.2 - alt. 1,883 m - Cross Alpine Meadows Road 39.18696, -120.19516 Elev 6189 ft --- Crest Cafe & Catering - west side of the trail Daily 8-3 - primarily breakfast fare.
5. 4 : km 1.29 - alt. 1,885 m - River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant 39.18610, -120.19484 Elev 6226 ft --- ~ $150/n (530) 583-4264 Restaurant M-Th 2-8, F-Sa 12-9, Su 12-8 riverranchlodge.com
6. 5 : km 5.38 - alt. 1,898 m - ENTERING TAHOE CITY All services Sheriff: Placer County (530) 581-6300 Newspaper: Sierra Sun (530) 587-6061 39.16301, -120.16556 Elev 6266 ft
7. 6 : km 7.14 - alt. 1,900 m - Cross the road and head northwest on Fairway Drive
8. 7 : km 7.57 - alt. 1,926 m - At Tahoe City-North Trailhead, turn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Glass Mountain) Camping is allowed along the first 11 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Tahoe Rim Trail mile marker begins at zero at this spot. There are no camping permits required for the ADT section of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Campfires are generally prohibited along the TRT even with a valid campfire permit. A campfire permit is required to use any kind of camp stove anywhere on the trail. You can obtain your California Campfire Permit online for FREE. Visit preventwildfireca.org to watch a video on campfire safety and complete a short quiz before printing your permit. Permits expire on the last day of the year in which they are issued.
9. 8 : km 8.41 - alt. 2,024 m - Side-trip: Cross and grave at top of the hill. According to local legend, William Boyle asked his buddies to bury him above the town so he could watch over them down in Tahoe City when he was gone. In 1912, they did just that. Follow the dirt road uphill to the right 100 yards and then turn right to find Boyle's cross. Unfortunately, the area has become overgrown so views of Tahoe City are limited.
10. 9 : km 8.68 - alt. 2,043 m - Keep straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Glass Mountain) crossing Mt Watson Boulevard. Soon after crossing you will come to a seasonal stream.
11. 10 : km 8.93 - alt. 2,050 m - Vista view Beautiful view of Lake Tahoe and Granlibakken ski area.
12. 11 : km 12.16 - alt. 2,134 m - Soon after the TRT 3MM, a stunning view from lava rock cliff's edge overlooking the Truckee River below where whitewater rafters can be heard in the summer. You can see Twin Peaks in the distance.
13. 12 : km 14.81 - alt. 2,308 m - TRT 5 Mile Marker Great spots for a picnic with plenty of rocks to sit on and vistas to enjoy. The first area you enjoy views of Lake Tahoe and Twin Peaks, with the second overlooking Squaw Valley. This area contains fractured basalt which sounds like you are walking on broken glass. Thus the name Glass Mountain for this section of the trail.
14. 13 : km 15.65 - alt. 2,320 m - Cinder Cone to the east. Dark red volcanic rock and once Tahoe City's sewage water repository before a modern treatment plant was built in the 1970s in Truckee.
15. 14 : km 17.8 - alt. 2,214 m - Keep right, crossing Deer Creek Road on Tahoe Rim Trail (Painted Rock South), 19E00 TRT MM 7 --- Burton Creek to the east. Seasonal water source. If no water here, those in need can head southeast on Deer Creek Road to its end at Mt Watson ACC (0.75mi). Then leave the road heading north to the stream. At this point (see the marker on map), the stream is generally reliable except after a mild winter. Do not camp within 100' of Burton Creek.
16. 15 : km 19.41 - alt. 2,340 m - Painted Rock TRT 8MM Great views of Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley
17. 16 : km 21.15 - alt. 2,243 m - Cross Mt Watson Boulevard and continue on TRT. -- Turning right on Mt Watson Boulevard will take you back to Tahoe City. Turning left will lead you to Truckee, Brockway Summit or to the top of Mount Watson.
18. 17 : km 22.53 - alt. 2,314 m - Turn right onto the dirt road to continue Tahoe Rim Trail, 19E00 TRT 10MM
19. 18 : km 24.18 - alt. 2,283 m - NOTE: No camping allowed along the trail for the next 3.8 miles (Datapoint 21), except for dispersed camping area just south of Watson Lake. TRT 11mm
20. 19 : km 24.84 - alt. 2,246 m - Keep left, heading uphill, on the path to stay on Tahoe Rim Trail, 19E00
21. 20 : km 26.8 - alt. 2,403 m - Junction with Watson Peak road. Continue on Tahoe Rim Trail Turning left here would take you on a steep climb to the top of Mt Watson.
22. 21 : km 27.85 - alt. 2,353 m - Turn left onto gravel Watson Lake Road, NFR 16N50
23. 22 : km 28.08 - alt. 2,369 m - Turn right. The TRT leaves the road heading off to the north, and skirting past the east side of Watson Lake. Be sure to filter any water taken from Watson Lake. Hikers also report lots of mosquitos in the area surrounding the lake. Dispersed camping is allowed on the south side of Watson lake. Turn left at this junction to reach dispersed campsites.
24. 23 : km 29.75 - alt. 2,278 m - Water Source Watson Creek, due south, is reportedly a reliable water source. You may encounter several Seep Streams between here and Datapoint 22 until mid-Summer. Do not camp within 100' of the water source.
25. 24 : km 30.25 - alt. 2,269 m - Camping allowed along the Tahoe Rim Trail
26. 25 : km 30.57 - alt. 2,268 m - TRT 15 MM Water Source Watson Creek 0.3mi south - usually reliable.
27. 26 : km 30.98 - alt. 2,270 m - Side-Trip Spur trail heads off right. In 90 yards you will reach a rock pile with a view of Carnelian Bay of Lake Tahoe. This offers the last view of Lake Tahoe until Brockway Summit.
28. E : km 32.19 - alt. 2,168 m

Useful Information

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.