The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 165-mile loop that circles the entire lake at elevations between 6,200 and 10,338 feet, staying mostly above the shoreline resorts and traversing granite ridges, subalpine meadows, and open forest with views down to the water from above. It is one of the great long-distance hiking trails in the Sierra Nevada.
Most visitors do day sections rather than the full circuit. The stretch above Emerald Bay on the western shore, the views from Monument Peak above the Nevada state line, and the ridge walk between Tahoe City and Brockway Summit are the most spectacular segments. Parts of the trail overlap with the Pacific Crest Trail. Mountain bikes are allowed on most sections not in wilderness areas, making it a premier high-altitude riding circuit as well.