Tahoe Rim Trail (Glass Mountain)

The Painted Rock Loop via Tahoe Rim Trail offers a truly varied and demanding jogging experience, winding through beautiful old-growth forests and revealing expansive views of Lake Tahoe. You'll navigate a mix of singletrack, dirt roads, and even some paved sections, with descents that can be quite rocky and technical. Keep an eye out for the unique Painted Rocks, a massive pile of basalt that makes for a distinctive landmark on this challenging 13.9-mile (22.4 km) route.

Planning your visit requires preparation for this difficult trail, which includes a significant 1586 feet (483 metres) of elevation gain and an estimated duration of 2 hours and 46 minutes. Route-finding can be quite difficult in the first half, so a navigation app is essential to avoid getting lost. Remember that the high elevation, reaching over 7,700 feet at Painted Rock, will add to the strenuousness of the climbs.

This loop is a notable section of the extensive Tahoe Rim Trail, a 170-plus mile system encircling Lake Tahoe, and is celebrated for offering some of the region's best viewpoints. A recent reroute project improved 6,000 feet of the Painted Rock section, enhancing both sustainability and panoramic vistas. It also connects with the historic Western States Trail, making it a significant route for those interested in the area's trail network.