Availability
Richardson Lake Corridor and Gilmore Lake are mapped at or near the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.
Backpacking camp
Richardson Lake Corridor camp area
Tahoe Rim Trail, California
About this place
Richardson Lake lies on the PCT/TRT corridor used by the 2026 Desolation Zone 46 through-hike permit.
The through-hike permit does not authorize side-zone camping; carry a hard-sided bear canister, remain in the permitted corridor, and build no fire.
Water planning
Water at this camp
Natural water at or near this camp areaDrinking safety
Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.
Seasonality
Richardson Lake Corridor is a mapped waterbody; USGS does not classify it here as seasonal or year-round. Confirm current level, access, and quality. Gilmore Lake is a mapped waterbody; USGS does not classify it here as seasonal or year-round. Confirm current level, access, and quality.
- Richardson Lake CorridorLake or pond · at the camp areaMapped waterbody — level and access can change · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
- Gilmore LakeLake or pond · 0.4 mi awayMapped waterbody — level and access can change · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
Fire planning
Campfire & stove rules
Permit + current order requiredCampfires
Richardson Lake Corridor is an undeveloped backcountry camp area in Tahoe Rim Trail. A California Campfire Permit is required for a portable stove or any otherwise-legal fire in Tahoe Rim Trail. Use a gas, jellied-petroleum, or pressurized-liquid-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve; wood, charcoal, twig stoves, and campfires are allowed only where the current forest order and destination-specific elevation or named-area rules expressly allow them. Never treat an old ring as proof that a fire is legal, and do not build a new ring where fires are prohibited.
Backpacking stoves
Shutoff-valve gas or pressurized-fuel stove with permit. Use a gas, LPG, jellied-petroleum, or pressurized-liquid-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve. Twig and wood-burning stoves follow the campfire rule and are prohibited anywhere wood fires are prohibited.
Permit
Carry a valid California Campfire Permit for a portable stove or any otherwise-legal fire; the permit never overrides a forest closure, fire-danger order, elevation limit, or named-area prohibition.
Current restrictions
Check USDA Forest Service's current alerts and the selected trailhead posting before departure. The standing rule shown here remains subordinate to a newer emergency order.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
The Tahoe Rim Trail is used year-round, but winter snow, avalanche exposure, highway controls, wildfire, and trail or parking closures can make a summer itinerary inappropriatePlace closure
No recurring date-based closure of Richardson Lake Corridor is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Seasonal access
Source-connected approaches: Kingsbury Grade Trailhead, Big Meadow Trailhead, Brockway Summit Trailhead, and 6 more. The Tahoe Rim Trail is used year-round, but winter snow, avalanche exposure, highway controls, wildfire, and trail or parking closures can make a summer itinerary inappropriate.
Before driving
Check Lake Tahoe Basin alerts, highway controls, trail conditions, and the exact overnight permit and parking rules for the selected segment.
Mapped approaches
Choose a trailhead for Richardson Lake Corridor camp area
Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.
- Echo Lakes Trailhead10.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Echo Summit Trailhead12.4 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Barker Pass Trailhead19.9 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Tahoe City Trailhead33.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Brockway Summit Trailhead51.1 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Tahoe Meadows Trailhead68.6 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Spooner Summit Trailhead87.9 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Kingsbury Grade Trailhead103.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Big Meadow Trailhead123.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 38.901401° N
- Longitude
- 120.107641° W