Tahoe Trail Runs Guidebook Will Debut by Late 2026
Authors Spencer Cox, Parker Burnell, and Matt Zupan are preparing a new guide to 50 regional running trails.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Running
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A new guidebook titled Tahoe Trail Runs will catalog 50 trails across the Northern Sierra region by the end of 2026. The project covers 500 total miles of terrain across eight distinct sub-regions, including areas around Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Auburn.
Why it matters
The guidebook aims to provide comprehensive navigation for runners in the Northern Sierra, modeled after existing successful guides for the Eastern Sierra. By including GPS integration and terrain difficulty ratings, the authors hope to standardize trail information for the local running community.
The upcoming guidebook highlights 50 individual trails spanning 500 miles of terrain. These routes are organized into eight sub-regions, including North Lake, South Lake, East Lake, West Lake, Reno, Carson City, Lakes Basin, and Auburn.
The players
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox is a co-author of the upcoming guidebook who collaborated with other runners to document the Northern Sierra trails.
Parker Burnell
Parker Burnell is a co-author of the guidebook who helped research the 500 miles of trails included in the project.
Matt Zupan
Matt Zupan is a co-author of the project who worked to compile trail data across eight Northern Sierra sub-regions.
Wolverine Publishing
Wolverine Publishing is the company that signed a contract to distribute the guide after a deal facilitated by Gary Goldfinger.
Gary Goldfinger
Gary Goldfinger is the individual who facilitated the publishing agreement between the authors and Wolverine Publishing.
The details
The book serves as a technical resource for runners, offering detailed terrain descriptions and difficulty ratings for every included route. Each trail entry is paired with GPS links to support phone-based navigation, alongside essays contributed by local runners.
Timeline
The guide is scheduled for release at the end of 2026.
Season Trajectory
This publication will influence the regional running calendar by providing a centralized resource for trail training and route selection throughout the Northern Sierra. It follows the pattern set by the Eastern Sierra guidebook series, potentially increasing visitor traffic to these trails.
Runners in the California region will gain access to specific difficulty ratings and GPS-navigated routes across 500 miles of previously fragmented trail systems. This resource aims to simplify route planning for those training in the eight Northern Sierra sub-regions.
The takeaway
Runners looking to explore the Northern Sierra should prepare for a significant expansion in available trail data by late 2026. This guide will provide a structured way to navigate complex terrain using both traditional descriptions and modern GPS technology.
What happens next
The authors plan to finalize the guidebook for a public release scheduled for the end of 2026.
Further reading
Explore more resources on local athletic paths and trail events in our Running section.
More information
For more information on the project's development, visit the official guidebook information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tahoe Daily Tribune.
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