With alpine lakes accessible within several miles of hiking, it's no wonder that folks flock to this destination from all over the country. Desolation Wilderness backpacking loop. The Trailhead is a paved parking that gives visitors direct access via rock road to the Historic Glen Alpine Spring Resort. Desolation Wilderness is one of the largest wilderness areas near Lake Tahoe at almost 64,000 acres. In fact, it’s so popular you’ll need a permit to enter, even if you’re planning just a day hike. From the name alone I knew this would be some sort of adventure. Twin Lakes Trail is one of the few day hikes in the Desolation of Wilderness. And while permits can be hard to snag, getting here is easy. Desolation Wilderness, California. During the winter months, most of the trailheads are covered by snow and are not accessible. Meek's Creek Trailhead is at the north end of the wilderness area along Hwy 89 at Meek's Bay. The majority of Desolation’s roughly 80 named lakes are within a day hike from any trailhead, with ample vistas of sharp granite peaks, lush … IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR VISITOR USE, 2020: DAY USE PERMITS: The use of paper day use permits is temporarily suspended in Desolation Wilderness for the 2020 season, due to the current COVID-19 situation. Desolation is accessible from 15 trailheads. The gently rolling trail leads down out of Desolation Wilderness and eventually to shallow Richardson Lake. The wilderness straddles the crest of the Crystal Range in the northern Sierra Nevada within the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. Desolation Wilderness Day Hikes, Overnight Camping & Backpacking. It is also one of the most popular wilderness areas in the country due to its proximity to South Lake Tahoe, breathtaking views, numerous lakes & waterfalls, and stunning granite geography. Day 1: PCT / TRT to Tamarack Lake – Lake Aloha – Heather Lake, Susie Lake. Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe region Travel resources ... to Emerald Bay. Allow Desolation Wilderness to empower you to leap into the unknown and explore the beauty of the backcountry. For being named desolation wilderness, it sure was a lovely vibrant place. Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of sub-alpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Review Intro. Desolation Wilderness is far from a hidden secret. Permits are required. Snowpack would be a big theme of this particular adventure. The 15-minute USGS topo map Fallen Leaf Lake provides a view of most of the Desolation Wilderness area. Report it. Desolation Wilderness Eldorado National Forest Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Gates to trailheads open around Memorial Day and close early October. North Desolation Wilderness Central Desolation Wilderness South Desolation Wilderness. Like most lakes in Desolation Wilderness, American Lake is accessible from a variety of trailheads depending on where you want to start, desired mileage, and elevation gain/loss. Wilderness areas give great opportunity for solitude and recreation and they are backpackers’ favorite because of their beautiful multi-day hiking trails. Start at Echo Lakes Trailhead. Other Trip Options Grab some maps for Granite Chief, Tahoe, and Robbs Peak if you want to venture beyond the most accessible trailheads or turn your hike into more than a weekend excursion. • 17 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail runs though the Desolation. This map depicts the Tahoe to Yosemite trail from its Meeks Bay Trail head … Desolation Facts: • Total acreage of the wilderness is 63,960. Visitors can also explore Desolation Wilderness starting from Echo Lakes Trailhead, Glen Alpine Trailhead, Bayview Trailhead, Loon Lake Trailhead, Buck Island Trailhead, and Horsetail Falls Trailhead. Day hiking into Desolation Wilderness is also a great option for exploring some amazing spaces. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Why we loved Twin Lakes Trail. Because Desolation Wilderness is such a popular recreational area, human access is limited and certain activities are restricted within. When to Go. Keywords recreation, wilderness, permits, trails, trailheads, camping, hiking. The hike is just under 6 miles (roundtrip) and involves a moderately strenuous gain of about 2700-ft. Basics: Ralston Peak is located in the southern part of Desolation Wilderness and is relatively easy to reach. See an error? Zone and trailhead map of the Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe, California. Trailheads on El Dorado National Forest (West) Side. There is not great signage at the beginning of the trail, but head towards Twin Lakes any time you see it on a sign. The Eagle Falls Trailhead is off Hwy 89 at the end of Emerald Bay. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. The two most logical starting points for an overnighter were the Glen Alpine Trail at Lily Lake and the Mt Tallac trailhead. This Location The Tahoe to Yosemite, Tahoe Rim, and Pacific Crest Trails through Desolation Wilderness : Main Features: Meeks Bay is the trail head for the Classic Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, and an excellent entry point into the Desolation Wilderness for short and medium distance backpackers as well.. I arrived at a trailhead still full of snowpack. • Elevation in Desolation ranges from about 6,500 to 9,983 feet on Pyramid Peak. Desolation Wilderness is accessed through 13 trailheads: Loon Lake, Van Vleck, Rockbound, Twin Lakes, Lyons Creek, Pyramid Creek, Ralston Peak, Echo Lake, Glen Alpine, Mt. The Twin Lakes Trailhead is a short walk from the parking lot. From the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center of South Lake Tahoe go north on Highway 89 for about 1 km and turn left into the paved road directly across from the entrance to Baldwin Beach. If you're looking for a weekend backpacking trip with the most bang for your buck, look no further than Desolation Wilderness. Day 1 – Choosing a Route Through Desolation Wilderness. Try the Horseshoe Lake Loop for a full sampler of classic Desolation scenery, or venture straight into the heart of the wilderness on a shorter out-and-back to Lake Lois. As with almost all of the zones in Desolation Wilderness, there is more than one trailhead to choose from as your entry/exit point, as was the case for us. Desolation Wilderness is located in El Dorado County southwest of Lake Tahoe. The Trailhead . Finding the wilderness. Camping fires are not allowed in the area. There is a trailhead with parking on the north side of Hwy 50 at Camp Sacramento. Once you’re a few miles from the Desolation Wilderness trailheads, the crowds quickly thin out. Be sure to arrive at the trailhead early in the morning as parking is … National Wilderness Facts: • California has The 63,000 acre Desolation Wilderness situated just West of Lake Tahoe is a hiker’s paradise. R at ing. There are seven major trailheads to access the Desolation Wilderness from Highway 89 and Highway 50. Then, we made our way to the trailhead at Lower Echo Lake, which is on the southeast end of Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness is jointly administered by both the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Signs are posted at trailheads with information and regulations. To start the hike, head down the road and you eventually will find an information stand at the trailhead. This trip would represent my first wilderness adventure in California. Any trailhead into Desolation Wilderness will be popular, but this one is fairly remote and has a long walk of 3+ miles before even reaching the Wilderness boundary. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. There are several trailheads in the vicinity of South Lake Tahoe, with access from Highway 50 and Highway 89. We decided to enter from the Echo Lakes trailhead at Echo Summit. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Desolation Wilderness Access from this trailhead includes direct rail access to the Gilmore Lake, Half Moon Lake, Susie Lake, grass Lake, Heather Lake as well as the PCT which runs the length of Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness August 11, 2012 DanaMite 63,690 acres, a federally protected wilderness area located along the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range – in between Lake Tahoe and the Gold Country, on the western slopes. Mapophile added Aug 5, 2010. The Granite Lake Loop makes a great multiday trek. The most popular include the Eagle Falls and nearby Bayview trailheads, both of which climb out of Emerald Bay, as well as the quintessential Desolation hike from the Echo Lakes Trailhead to Lake Aloha, near the southern reach of the wilderness area. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay. After discussing some alternatives and checking satellite photos on Caltopo, we decided to go for a relatively snow-free loop in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe. The following is a list of Desolation Wilderness trailheads: Western Trailheads It is a compact area of roughly 8-by-12 miles or just less than 100 square miles. From www.fs.fed.us. Several dirt roads cross the trail as it slowly rises to the Barker Pass trailhead. Make use of the water taxi to cut 3 miles off of the trip, allowing yourself more time to explore. We walked well today, taking short breaks for snacks and managed to even squeak in a luxurious swim break around two. This 2 day, 1 night loop hits some of … no ratings. These three maps overlap so we can follow side trails to local trailheads off of the main TYT-PCT route through Desolation Wilderness, such as Eagle Falls, Bayview Camp, and Cascade Lake along the West shore of Lake Tahoe. Trailhead : Miles One Way: Difficulty: Twin Lakes to: Grouse Lake: 2.1: Moderate/Difficult : Hemlock Lake Use to figure out what permit you need. Sign at the Twin Lakes trailhead in Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness Hike to Dick’s Lake (1-3 Days) This Desolation Wilderness backpacking hike will take you through 12+ miles of beautiful scenery and alpine lakes! Initially established in 1931, this region gained Wilderness status in 1969. The Desolation Wildnerness is just west of South Lake Tahoe. Small creeks and meadows punctuate the generally forested northern portion of the segment. Also consider avoiding the wilderness during high-use periods. Monday, July 24, 2006 (Lake Aloha) We performed gear checks and shuttled our cars between the exit and entry points. Don’t be put-off by full parking lots and foot traffic. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the nation. I decided on a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail near Lake Tahoe through the Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness program has had an June 2006 Volume 2 Issue 1 . Tweet. Trailheads can be accessed off Highway 50 and off Highway 89. 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