ActivitiesHikingRelay Peak Trailhead
Relay Peak Trailhead
North Shore, hiking, strenuous
The highest point on the entire Tahoe Rim Trail at 10,338 ft. Clear days offer views deep into the Sierra Nevada, Nevada desert, and the full lake basin.
In short: Relay Peak Trailhead is a strenuous hike on Lake Tahoe's North Shore: 8 mi round trip, 1,800 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 10,338 ft. The season is Jul – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,800 ft
- High point
- 10,338 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Where it is
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Trail details
- Highest point on the TRT
- 360° Sierra Nevada views
- Often snow-free by mid-July
- Trail
- TRT to Relay Peak Summit
- Season
- Jul – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Mt. Rose Hwy pullout
- Dogs
- Allowed
Go with a guide. Walk the basin with a local guide, on a trail matched to your group and the season.
Guided hikeConditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Campfires
- Metal rings only
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Know before you go
- Permits
- Desolation Wilderness needs a permit for both day hikes and overnight trips. Most other trails in the basin need none.
- Parking
- Lots at Eagle Falls, D.L. Bliss and other popular trailheads fill by 9am on summer weekends. Start early or go midweek.
- Altitude
- Trailheads start around 6,300 feet and the highest summits top 10,000. Carry more water than you would at sea level and take the first day easy.
- Weather
- Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.
More hiking within 5 miles
- Tahoe Meadows Trailhead1.2 mi, easy
- Mount Rose Summit Trailhead1.4 mi, strenuous
- Galena Creek Trailhead3.3 mi, moderate
- Diamond Peak MTB / Tahoe Meadows Connector4.2 mi, strenuous
Nearest campgrounds
- Spooner Backcountry Campgrounds14.3 mi, 15 sites
- Lake Forest Campground14.5 mi, 20 sites
- Tahoe State Recreation Area15.2 mi, 23 sites