Water Sources

Tahoe City to Brockway Summit

20.2 miles

Water Sources

• Reliable water can be found at Watson Lake and Watson Creek 
  • Note that Watson Lake is adjacent to a campground without a bathroom. Some users are uncomfortable filtering and using this water due to impacts from campers not properly disposing of their waste. The TRTA is actively working to get a bathroom built at the campground to address this issue. 
• Seasonal sources may be found above Tahoe City including Burton Creek

Brockway Summit to Mt. Rose Summit / Tahoe Meadows

20.2 miles

Water Sources

• There is no water from Brockway Summit east until Gray Lake or Incline Spring, over 11 miles
• Gray Lake is a reliable source, but off the trail
• Seasonal Mud Lake may have water (or may just have mud)
• Incline Spring is reliable in all but the driest of years, but you may have to climb down the hill (and back up)  several hundred vertical feet depending on the season
• Galena Creek Falls has water year round
• Spring-fed Frog/Snow Pond has water year round, but is off the hiker TRT

Mt. Rose Summit / Tahoe Meadows to Spooner Summit

24.1 miles

Water Sources

• When open (often only for several weeks in mid-summer), Mount Rose Summit Campground has reliable water
• Reliable creeks can be found along the Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop
• Ophir Creek, 0.5 mile south of Tahoe Meadows Trailhead, is reliable
• The Marlette Peak Campground pump is typically operational from ~June through ~October, weather dependent. The pump is winterized in the late fall and de-winterized in late spring. 
• Marlette Lake requires a 2 mile detour off the Tahoe Rim Trail
• Spooner Lake requires a 1 mile detour off the Tahoe Rim Trail (Water can be filtered from the lake with a water treatment device. A water spigot at the day use area can be accessed after paying a fee to the park.) 
• In wet years water may be available at Twin Lakes
• Water is available at North Canyon Campground from nearby North Canyon Creek

Spooner Summit to Kingsbury South Connector

19.0 miles

Water Sources

• No water sources from Spooner Summit to the Kingsbury North Connector trail. Sinks in the bathrooms at Kingsbury North trailhead have water year-round during daylight hours, but most water bottles cannot fit underneath the spigot.
• Reliable water can be found at Edgewood Creek
• Water available at stores off of Tramway Drive requires a 2 mile detour off the Tahoe Rim Trail

Kingsbury South Connector to Big Meadow

22.9 Miles

Water Sources

• There is seasonal water in the South Fork of Daggett Creek and Mott Creek
• Do not attempt to detour to East Peak Lake for water – it is a reservoir used by Heavenly for snowmaking and the water is not consumable. The lodge at East Peak Lake is open only during the ski season
• There is almost always water in the Cold Creek Tributary north of Star Lake, and Star Lake never goes dry
• Seasonal springs are  available on both sides of Freel Saddle, some of which flow in all but the driest of years
• Water at Armstrong Pass requires a significant detour off the trail
• Seasonal water is available in Freel Meadows
• Water available at Saxon Creek requires less than mile detour from Saxon Creek Trail to Tucker Flat
• Reliable water can be found at the intersection with the Grass Lake Spur and at Grass Lake Creek

Big Meadow to Echo Lake

18.3 Miles

Water Sources

• Reliable Big Meadow Creek is .5 miles south of Big Meadow trailhead
• Reliable water can be found at Round Lake
• There is reliable water in the Upper Truckee River in Meiss Meadows
• There is reliable water at Showers Lake
• Seasonal streams flow between Bryan Meadow and Benwood Meadow
• The detour down to Lake Audrian is steep and requires bushwhacking
• Echo Lake has water but can be difficult to access after you cross the outlet

Echo Lake to Barker Pass

32.5 miles

Water Sources

• Water is abundant in southern Desolation Wilderness at Lake Aloha, Heather Lake, Susie Lake, Gilmore Lake, Fontanillis Lake, Middle Velma Lake, and numerous streams and creeks
• Seasonal creeks and streams flow throughout northern Desolation, and Phipps Creek is reliable though you may have to hike upstream from the trail crossing in dry years
• A reliable creek can be found 2 miles south of Barker Pass

Barker Pass to Tahoe City

16.4 miles

Water Sources

• A small, seasonal stream can flow just north of Barker Pass
• Ward Creek is a reliable source
• The Truckee River can be accessed from .5 miles south of Tahoe City