Big News!: Starting January 2024, bear canisters are required for trips into Tahoe Basin National Forest land and into the Desolation Wilderness:
“To help keep Tahoe bears wild, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has issued a new Forest Order that requires the proper storage of food and refuse (garbage) on all National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Forest Order also requires the use of bear canisters (hard-sided bear-proof containers) for overnight visitors to the Desolation Wilderness and wildlife-resistant dumpsters and food lockers (bear boxes) provided at National Forest campgrounds.”
Follow this link to read more.
Tahoe Rim Trail Regulations
- The Tahoe Rim Trail is a multi-use trail open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians for the majority of its length. However, mountain bikes and equestrians are prohibited from some sections of the trail.
- Dogs are allowed on all sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Owners are asked to keep dogs on a leash in high use areas and under voice control. Please see our hiking with dogs page for more information.
- All motorized vehicles are prohibited from all sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
- Electric bikes (ebikes) are ONLY allowed on sections of the TRT within Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park that are open to bikes.
- The maximum group size in Desolation and Granite Chief Wilderness Areas is 12; Mt. Rose Wilderness Area is 15.
Camping Regulations
- In general, trail users must camp within 300 feet of the trail corridor and at least 200 feet away from water sources and 100 feet away from trails.
- Camping is prohibited at trailheads.
- Camping within the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is restricted to three established campsites: Marlette Peak, Hobart and North Canyon Campground.
- Camping is prohibited near Watson Lake outside of the Watson Lake Campground.
- Camping in Desolation Wilderness is by permit only (see permits below).
- Bear proofing of all smellables (food, hygiene products, etc.) in a canister designed to prevent access by bears is required in Desolation Wilderness per Forest Service Order No. 03-22-11. This method is strongly encouraged throughout the entire Tahoe Rim Trail system.
Fire Regulations
- Campfires on the Tahoe Rim Trail are prohibited. In the Tahoe Basin campfires are only allowed within designated campgrounds and only when fire restrictions are NOT in effect. The most recent information about fire restrictions can be found here.
Permits
All trail users entering Desolation Wilderness or using a campstove will need to obtain permits. Please respect the permit system to protect wilderness resources and mitigate wildfire risk.
Use Permits
- The only location on the Tahoe Rim Trail requiring a permit for day use is Desolation Wilderness. Permits are free, self-issued and available at all trailheads entering the wilderness. For more information on Desolation Wilderness click here.
Camping Permits
- The only location on the Tahoe Rim Trail requiring a permit for overnight use is Desolation Wilderness.
- There are two types of overnight permits for Desolation Wilderness – A regular Desolation Wilderness Permit (for non-thru hikers) and a TRT Thru-Hike Permit (for thru-hikers). Non-thru hiker Desolation Wilderness Permits are issued through a quota system and can be reserved through recreation.gov up to six months in advance or in person at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management (LTBMU) Forest Service Supervisor’s Office in South Lake Tahoe, CA when they are open to the public. For more information on overnight permits for Desolation Wilderness click here.
Campfire Permits
- Campfires are generally prohibited along the TRT even with a valid campfire permit (see campfire regulations above). A campfire permit is required to use any kind of campstove anywhere on the trail. You can obtain your California Campfire Permit online for FREE. Visit readyforwildfire.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.
- The state of Nevada does not issue its own campfire permits, but does require individuals to carry a California Campfire Permit in the Nevada backcountry on the TRT.
