Tahoe Rim Trail Association will put the finishing touches on a new section of trail within the Rim to Reno Trail System on Oct. 20.

This new section of trail was started in 2011 and allows hikers accessing the Tahoe Rim Trail at Relay Peak from the Mt. Rose Summit trailhead off Highway 431 to hike on approximately 2.5 miles of new single track trail from the Galena Waterfall. In the past, hikers on this section of trail walked on a dirt access road for approximately 4 miles.

This section of trail is part of the larger Rim to Reno Project that will connect the Tahoe Rim Trail to the Thomas Creek Trailhead in Reno. Since 2010, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, United States Forest Service-Carson Ranger District, Great Basin Institute, Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers have worked to make this vision a reality putting in thousands of hours to construct new trail.

On Oct. 20, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association will be celebrating this herculean effort during its End of Season Work Day Celebration. Community members, trail enthusiasts, and the general public are invited to attend. Festivities will kick off at 8:45am in the Mount Rose Summit parking lot off Highway 431. From there, attendees will carpool to the work site where the Tahoe Rim Trail Association will provide an overview the project and accomplishments to date. Trail building volunteers will then dig into the last workday of the season and will build the connection between the new trail and the old.

Volunteers of all skill levels and physical abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate — no prior experience necessary. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association will be providing lunch to volunteers. Register online in advance.

Volunteers should bring water, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and sturdy closed toed shoes. The TRTA will provide hard hats, trail building tools, expert crew leaders and lunch.