A Journey on the Tahoe Rim Trail Summer 2017: June 2017

TRT Painted Rock Section: Top of Tahoe City Grade to Access 7643'

Top of Tahoe City Grade from road 16N53

I park my car at the mapboard sign near the end of pavement on the fiberboard freeway FH74. Here 16N53, a closed jeep road takes me to the TRT. I first hike southbound to connect up to where I was able to get to on my Tahoe City hike. The trail starts out in a forest of mossy trees as it avoids a high point on the ridge that would require unecessary climbing.

As it reaches the saddle beyond the high point the trail is in a nice sunny area.

The trail once again contours away from the ridge back into forest to avoid the next high point.

The trail emerges into another sunny area at the next saddle. This one has a trail junction with an access trail which can be hard to follow.

The trail returns to forest but the elevation now keeps vegetation alternating between forest and low scrub, even grass.

Finally the TRT reaches the same mountain top I hiked to in my Tahoe City hike.

Access Road 16N53 to Access Road just north of Mtn 7643'

I backtrack to the access road I came up and now go northbound. The trail takes its time crossing the access road, parallels it long enough to merge with a cutoff trail from the same access road at its pass thru the mountains. The entire climb towards painted rock is very gradual with many uneccesary switchbacks designed for mountain bikes which double the trail distance.

The trail finally tops out at a summit with views.

The trail descends shortly to arrive at another summit, this one with a side trail. Although there is no signage this fits the spot on the map where Painted Rock should be.

The trail makes its final descent to the fiberboard freeway. I cross the road, take a picture of the sign on the other side, and temporarily end my hike to go grab some food in Kings Beach. I do return to get another 0.9 mi which is in the set of pictures after this bunch.