A list of reliable water sources for Tahoe Rim Trail hikers
I ran into a deluge of misinformation regarding water sources along the TRT and as a result I carried up to 2 gallons of water on some sections. In retrospect, reliable water sources on the TRT average 6.3 miles apart and 3 liters is all you’ll need in most situations. Here is a complete and concise listing of the water sources I found on my thru-hike in September-October 2012, in the order I encountered them, hiking counterclockwise from the Mt Rose Summit Trailhead. It should be noted that 2012 was an extremely dry year and the snowpack was exceedingly low, so these sources are the bare minimum one should expect to encounter. The mileage listed is the distance between the two sources and quality and quantity are ranked on a 0-5 scale relative to other TRT sources.
Mt Rose Summit TH: no water available
2.5 miles
Galena Falls
Quality: 3
Quantity: 3
Notes: Impossible to miss.
7 miles
Gray Lake
Quality: 5
Quantity: 5
Notes: For the 600′ of elevation gain this is an amazing side trip even if you don’t need water.
15.4 miles, 2nd longest waterless stretch
Watson Lake
Quality: 1
Quantity: 5
Notes: Water that tastes just like the debris that’s decomposing in it.
12 miles
Tahoe City resupply or Truckee River
7 miles
Ward Creek
Quality: 4
Quantity: 4
Notes:
6 miles
Blackwood Creek Springs
Quality: 5
Quantity: 4
Notes: 2 springs that feed Blackwood Creek cross the PCT near Barker Peak.
3 miles
Barker Creek
Quality: ?
Quantity: 3
Notes: On my National Geographic map this looks to be an outlet of Bear Lake. I crossed over the flow and marked it but did not fill here.
4 miles
Richardson Lake
Quality: 4
Quantity: 5
Notes: Also a gest place to camp or just take a rest.
9 miles
Desolation Wilderness Lakes
Quality: 3
Quantity: 5
Notes: After crossing into Desolation southbound it’s almost 9 miles to your first water, Middle Velma, but after that sources are never more than 4 miles apart.
3.5 miles
Lower Echo Lake
Quality: 3
Quantity: 5
Notes: Easiest access is on the north end or at the lake’s outlet.
1-4 miles
American River
Quality: ?
Quantity: 5
Notes: Parallels US 50. Did not fill here.
2 miles
Benwood Meadow Springs
Quality: 2
Quantity: 2
Notes: Not great but definitely possible to fill here. 3 crossings over a couple of miles.
5 miles
Little Round Top Springs
Quality: 5
Quantity: 4
Notes: 2 springs, 100′ apart.
1 mile
Showers Lake
Quality: 3
Quantity: 5
Notes: Drinkable, but I’d go for the springs a mile to the west.
1 mile
Upper Truckee River
Quality: ?
Quantity: ?
Notes: Crosses the PCT about a mile south of Showers Lake.
2 miles
Round Lake Spring
Quality: 3
Quantity: 2
Notes: Crosses TRT about a mile south of Round Lake.
1 mile
Round Lake
Quality: 0
Quantity: 5
Notes: Opaque green.
2 miles
Big Meadow Creek
Quality: 1
Quantity: 1
Notes: Unsure of this source.
1 mile
Grass Lake Creek
Quality: 3
Quantity: 4
Notes: Two encounters, about a mile apart.
9 miles
Freel Peak Spring
Quality: 4
Quantity: 4
Notes: Crosses TRT south of Freel Peak saddle.
3 miles
Star Lake
Quality: 1
Quantity: 5
Notes: The lake was antifreeze green by this time of year.
4 miles
Monument Peak Spring
Quality: 4
Quantity: 3
Notes: Located near intersection with chairlift.
5 miles
Edgewood Creek
Quality: 2
Quantity: 2
Notes: Edgewood Creek parallels a sewer line and drains the highway. I prefer the slightly smaller creek 1/4 mile further south on the TRT.
15.5 miles, longest waterless stretch
Spooner Lake
Quality: ?
Quantity: ?
Notes: I’ve been told there is tap water at the cabin at Spooner lake. I bummed enough at the trailhead to avoid the 1.2 mile roundtrip hike.
7.4 miles
Marlette Peak Campground Well
Quality: 5
Quantity: 5
Notes: At the bottom of the campground, less than 1/4 mile off TRT.
13 miles, 3rd longest waterless stretch
Incline Creek Spring
Quality: 4
Quantity: 1
Notes: Crosses TRT 2 miles south of Tahoe Meadows, just enough flow to fill here.
2 miles
Ophir Creek
Quality: 2
Quantity: 5
Notes: There’s plenty of flowing water in the Tahoe meadows drainage and it’s deeper and easier to fill here than the nearby spring although quality may not be as good.
———-Rim to Reno Water Sources ———-
Mt Rose Summit TH: no water available
2.5 miles
Galena Falls
Quality: 3
Quantity: 3
Notes: Impossible to miss.
3.5 miles
Bronco Creek Spring
Quality: 5
Quantity: 4
Notes: Crosses the Rim to Reno trail 2 miles from its junction with the Mt Rose summit trail on the saddle.
9 miles
Taylor Creek
Quality: 1
Quantity: 5
Notes: You’ll hear Taylor creek a soon as you get close, and the Rim to Reno follows it for several miles. It’s source is springs, but there were dead birds along the bank when I was there. Very silty because of the high velocity of this steep flow.
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Thank you so much for making this list! I am planning on doing this hike this late July or early August (2016). I have been desperately trying to research the water source information for this trail, and this is the first place I found any form of a comprehensive list. Everywhere else I looked just said something on the lines of that water is scarce and you’ll need to walk miles and miles between water sources. Do you have any idea if this list is still accurate?
Thank you!
This looks like a good list from what I remember 8 or so years ago in the late fall. Going to do the trail again next summer so found this quite useful for my planning.
Hi Lisa! I haven’t been on the TRT for more than a day hike in years now except for the PCT-concurrent section. I would imagine that the water sources are better now than 8 years ago. Just a guess. Let me know what you find and I will update the water report accordingly. Thanks and happy hiking!