The east side of the Pemigewasset Wilderness is called “Desolation” because loggers clear-cut the forest between 1890 and 1940, leaving behind huge quantities of slash. #1 - Lake Aloha Trail. hard (768) Length: 13 mi • Est. After a short while on the PCT, we turned right and headed down toward Glen Alpine. Both of us were super happy with the trip. You may find the area so remarkable that you will want to stay longer -- it's hard to see all its beauty in such a short amount of time. There were already more than 10 tents spread around the wooded area on the east side of the lake. We’d met a man by the spring who told us that the trail we were planning to take hadn’t been maintained for a while. My friend Joonas and I had been planning an early June hiking trip to Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite. Good trip, glad you were able to get out. The area is divided into 45 zones and permits are required year-round, with quotas in effect from the Friday before Memorial Day to September 30. Summer Backpacking near Lake Tahoe has many options, however the opportunity to backpack on the PCT into desolation Wilderness is by far the most sought after experience for hikers in the Central Sierra yearly. The gray granite gave way to dark black and red-tinted rock. ← Bikepacking in Patagonia – from El Bolsón to Bariloche, Bacon mac and cheese: 2-ingredient easy backpacking meal →. A practical application of the lessons learned in the first class, so to speak. We followed the Tamarack Trail all the way back to the PCT. Desolation Wilderness has been my favorite destination for backpacking lately since it’s so close to home, and there are so many spots and trails I still want to explore. Day 2: Glen Alpine trail to Glen Alpine Trailhead, Tamarack Trail to Tamarack Lake.Day 3: PCT / TRT back to Echo Lakes Trailhead. During the winter months, most of the trailheads are covered by snow and are not accessible. 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.. Thanks Andrew! We tried to secure our shelters the best we could, hoping they’d hold up during the night. We arrived at Susie Lake as the sun was about to dip behind the mountains. Backpacking to Half Moon Lake Lake of the Woods via Pacific Crest Trail, PCT: CA Section K - Echo Lake to Highway 80, Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Aloha, Mount Tallac Loop, Maggie's Peak, Eagle Lake, Granite Lake Loop. Starting at the Bayview Campground off of HWY 89, the hike to Dick’s Lake begins at a consistent incline. Initially, we thought he must have been mistaken as the path was in good shape and even had a new trail sign. #6 - Lake Aloha via Glen Alpine Trailhead. Plenty of hiking trails; some to waterfalls and others to great views of Lake Tahoe. But the views were amazing. We arrived at the trailhead a bit before 11 and got our gear … The morning was cold and windy. We had a quick breakfast before we started hiking back to the car. The Desolation is a 64,000-acre playground crisscrossed by hiking trails, running water and a generous number of alpine lakes of all sizes bursting with wild brook trout. Length : 10 Miles. We packed up and headed out. The night was surprisingly warm. We had the wind at our back the whole way back to the trailhead. The walk up to the peak is the most challenging, but the view is so gorgeous! The cold wind made us retreat into the relative warmth of our tents before the sun had fully set. This trail offers great views with a variety of terrains. We could see Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe behind us, with tall mountains on either side. Unfortunately for us, they opened for backpacking on the 5th, which meant we needed to find an alternate trip. 6 h 14 m. The hike to Lake Aloha is the ultimate day hike in Desolation Wilderness. Trails in Desolation Wilderness - 30 Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. The rocky shore always reminds me of the Finnish outer archipelago with its low vegetation and stunted pines. Take the Glen Alpine Trail back to Fallen Leaf. Desolation Wilderness is in north-central California along the eastern border, 3-1/2 hours northeast of San Francisco, 2 hours east of Sacramento, and 1 hour southwest of Reno, Nevada. Follow the PCT past Lake Aloha, Heather Lake and Susie Lake. Warmer than most summer nights in the mountains. If you're looking for a real adventure, you can try turning this loop into a day hike. We cooked dinner by the lakeshore, watching the light fade. Not exactly the wilderness experience we had the previous night, but it would do. As we got higher, we started getting a great view of the lakes below us. At waterfall camp, you'll have the opportunity to explore over 50 waterfalls. Harbors brook and brown trout and provides million-dollar sensations of owning your very own lake. I hope you’re also able to get out and enjoy the Rockies in your back yard. From the top of the pass, we still had a little over a mile to our campsite. Because of its beauty and accessibility, Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the United States. Some of the lakes also contain rainbows or brown trout, and even a few golden trout, our California state fish. The bare granite and snow backdrop makes the lake look even bluer if possible. The trail is fairly flat for most of the hike, with only two sections of significant elevation gain, and you will pass by 5 lakes in under 12 miles round trip. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. The hike to Lake Aloha is the ultimate day hike in Desolation Wilderness. Echo Lakes to Susie lake via Lake Aloha. Highlights include alpine lakes, granite peaks, and expansive views of Desolation Wilderness. Day 1: PCT / TRT to Tamarack Lake – Lake Aloha – Heather Lake, Susie Lake. Note: you need to get a wilderness permit from recreation.gov for this trip. Desolation Wilderness is one of the largest wilderness areas near Lake Tahoe at almost 64,000 acres. Make sure to call ahead to the Placerville Ranger Station in Camino, CA to reserve a wilderness permit ($6 reservation fee plus $5/person for the 1st night, $10 more than 1 night). I was glad to hear your Yosemite trips are happening. For day hikes, fill out a day permit at the trailhead (Echo Lakes Trailhead), so that people know where you are in case anything goes wrong. Both of us were tired anyway after sleeping poorly the night before, so we fell asleep early. You can reserve 11 spots ahead of time online at Recreation.gov, and 5 spots are available for same day walk in.. For day hikers, you can self issue a permit at the trailhead. He had to use rocks to set it up for the rest of the night. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the nation. Desolation is a popular backpacking destination, with much barren rocky terrain at the edge of the tree line. Although this hike can be done as a … This is a great overnight backpacking trip that features some of the best of Desolation Wilderness. The trail followed a stream that grew more significant as we descended. The most popular backpacking area is Desolation Wilderness, a 63,690-acre granite slab on the edge of the tree line in Eldorado National Forest.Nearby, the 19,048-acre Granite Chief Wilderness, a relatively unknown aside from the popular Five Lakes day hike, has deep canyons, fields of bright yellow mule's ears and the historic cabins at Whiskey Creek. Using some rocks and sleeping pads to block the wind, we were able to get some water boiled for a nice, warm dinner. Near the densely-populated city of South Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County lies the strikingly beautiful Desolation Wilderness area. comments. This Desolation Wilderness backpacking hike will take you through 12+ miles of beautiful scenery and alpine lakes! Desolation Wilderness. Trail Head At: Bayview Trailhead Campground, South Lake Tahoe. The fires and smoke are vividly described in early versions of the AMC White Mountain Guide and other regional … Both of us were tired after a long day of driving and hiking, so we called it a night early and went to bed around 9. Aug 31, 2016 - I would definitely recommend this backpacking trip for anyone who is an experienced hiker and is in shape. We didn’t have a very long day ahead of us, so we took things slow and enjoyed being out in nature after being cooped up for weeks. Desolation Wilderness is absolutely stunning and I almost don’t even wanna write this post about it because it’s so precious and pristine. Start at Echo Lakes Trailhead. Cooking was a challenge as the wind tried to extinguish our stoves. The sun hit our campsite as we made breakfast, forcing us to shed layers down to shorts within minutes. 570 ft elevation gain. Fortunately, we were the only ones at the lake, so we had no trouble finding a couple of flat spots to set up our camp. Desolation Wilderness, California. Elevation Gain: 2100 Feet. The trail starts climbing in earnest after the upper Echo Lake. After our short break, we continued on toward our campsite for the night. For whatever reason, I never sleep well the first night I’m up at altitude. Trailhead approximate address: Fallen Leaf Lake, Glen Alpine Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, #9 - Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Aloha, Mount Tallac Loop. We only broke through in a few places where the melting water had created snow bridges. Susie and heather lakes (Lake Tahoe) is a 10.6 mile out and back trail located near Lake tahoe, California. We took a long lunch break at Tamarack Lake. Backpacking the Desolation Loop in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Even with the lousy snow year we’ve had in 2020, an early June still means there will be snow in most places in the Sierra. 3 Minutes. If you are a lover of nature and backpacking, then Desolation Wildernessin California is a destination worth looking at. #10 - Maggie's Peak, Eagle Lake, Granite Lake Loop. It's bounded by logging roads and operations to the north and west, Lake Tahoe to the east, and US 50 to the south. With alpine lakes accessible within several miles of hiking, it's no wonder that folks flock to this destination from all over the country. Both of us had the route loaded on our Garmin Fenix 6 watch, which beeped any time we strayed too far off course, telling us to check the map and where we needed to head. The lingering snow on the surrounding mountains made for some stunning scenery. The Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail pass through the wilderness. We found two somewhat sheltered spots for our shelters and set them up before starting to make dinner. This was our first time backpacking Desolation Wilderness in South Tahoe and we absolutely loved it! If you're looking for a weekend backpacking trip with the most bang for your buck, look no further than Desolation Wilderness. Trip Overview: ~12 mile relaxing backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. This is one of my favorite moments from a trip with my dad and my pup. The trail is only recommended for very experienced outdoorsmen. Popular wilderness ages well under the eye of devoted stewards . After a hot day of hiking, there is no better way to relax than with a swim in beautiful Lake Aloha where you can spend hours swimming from island to island. Note: As of 10/3/2020, users have reported that Wrights Lake Rd is gated off just past the equestrian camp, so parking is limited. August 2, 2020. Loosey wondering if she should wait for Liz to remove her pack or to just jump in yet another beautiful Desolation Wilderness lake. 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. Desolation is a relative term. This wood caught fire and burned uncontrollably for years, casting black smoke clouds over the entire White Mountain region and polluting the watersheds. We didn’t mind a bit of snow, but we didn’t want it to be the dominating part of the adventure. Day two stats: 9.1 miles. Even though it was very last minute, we got to see and experience some top-notch alpine landscapes and enjoy nature. Date of experience: June 2018. My friend’s tarp caught a gust, and two of his stakes flew out in the dark forest. You will need to walk the extra distance to the trailhead. This trip can easily be extended to an overnight backpacking trip with a stay near Lake Aloha. We navigated down the patchy snow and small meltwater streams without issue. It felt odd being back in civilization in the middle of a hike. Saved from healthnuthayley.com. This 4-day backpacking adventure through Desolation Wilderness was the second half of the mountaineering course. The trail is fairly flat for most of the hike, with only two sections of significant elevation gain, and you will pass by 5 lakes in under 12 miles round trip. Lake Aloha is striking in the spring. We laid down on the sunny rocks for a while to let our shoes dry out. .. The first section of the trail, until Tamarack Lake, is very popular. Desolation has so many good overnight backpacking options with several options from each trailhead and even multiple trailhead options for the same camping destination. This loop traverses over Rockbound Pass and Dicks Pass on its way to the beautiful Lake Aloha. We lost the trail a few times, but it was easy enough to follow the lake in the right direction until we rejoined the trail. Unlike all the other trails we’d been on, the Tamarack Trail wasn’t graded for equestrian use. This means packing out all your trash … Day three stats: 4.1 miles. Route Name: Bayview Trailhead Location: South Lake Tahoe, California Duration: 3 days minimum Length:22 km / 13.8 miles If you want to avoid that, you can do this as an out and back starting from the Eagle lake trail head. As with most backpacking destinations, you’ll need to secure a wilderness permit for any overnight stays in Desolation Wilderness. Details: Middle Velma Lake – Desolation Wilderness. We passed Glen Alpine Springs, an old resort built around a bubbling spring in the ground. Desolation Wilderness 30 minute Backpacking Map: Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Backpacking Miles and Elevations. Desolation Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness of 63,000+ acres in Northern California. The shore of Lake Aloha was still mostly covered in snow. Read more. Mike L wrote a review Sep 2017. My tent held up ok, although I did tighten the lines once. You will climb for about 2-3 miles. We took advantage of the situation by using the restrooms at the trailhead, then quickly continued. 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 & … The wind was still for minutes, then all of a sudden, you could hear the wind pick up in the treetops. A list of other trailheads that provide access to the wilderness follows. For backpacking, Fontanillis and Dicks Lake are both in the same Desolation Wilderness zone - #23. Explore the most popular backpacking trails in Desolation Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Here’s our camp at last light, with the night’s first stars beginning to twinkle, and the rush of snowmelt singing us to sleep. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay. Philip Werner 4000 Footers, Backpacking Trips, Trip Reports, White Mountains. The geography changed as we started descending toward Heather Lake. This is Heather Lake in the Desolation Wilderness located outside of Lake Tahoe, CA. After taking a couple pictures at the dam by the outlet of Echo Lake, we headed out. +/- 3,000 feet of elevation with a starting elevation of 6,970 feet and a peak elevation of 9,660 feet. Permits are required in Desolation Wilderness. In order to protect its unique beauty and wilderness character, human access is limited and certain activities are restricted in the Desolation. The wind was gusty and kept changing direction. It has extensive areas of bare granite rock formations.. #4 - Lake of the Woods via Pacific Crest Trail, #5 - PCT: CA Section K - Echo Lake to Highway 80. Initially, we were in a thick forest, but soon enough, the views started opening up. Day one stats: 10.6 miles. Even on a Thursday morning, we met a constant stream of other hikers out enjoying the early summer weather. The trail follows the eastern shore of the Echo Lakes, high above lakeside cabins. Lake Aloha Trail. 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. It is an extremely popular hiking destination in California and boasts a number of attractive trails, including the Middle Velma Lake … We could already see the opposite side of the valley that we would be climbing to get back to Desolation. Lake Aloha via Rockbound Pass – Desolation Wilderness (38 mile loop) Trip Overview: ~38 mile backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness near South Lake Tahoe. Desolation Wilderness Permits and Quotas. But soon enough, the trail turned into a serious bushwhack through willow and alder thickets. GROUP SIZE We stopped for lunch halfway through the climb. NOTE: the lake is drained each fall, so plan accordingly. The snow was slushy in the warm summer sun, but it held firm under our feet. That said, I know people are wondering about it, so let me take this opportunity to share that when backpacking in Desolation there are no facilities and leaving no trace is … https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/desolation-wilderness The weather report called for high winds and snow down to 7000ft later that day, so we were happy to head out. If you want to do the full loop, you have to go on the road for a decent amount of time to walk back to the parking lot. If you decide to go, please practice Leave No Trace. Rested and full of calories, we climbed over the pass. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. 2,160 ft elevation gain. The Desolation Wilderness requires all day-hikers and overnight visitors to have a backcountry permit — yes, even day-hikers. Backpacking into Desolation Wilderness provides visitors and locals alike a simple well earned separation from the bulk of the crowds and… Even with the breeze, the air was pleasantly warm, especially considering it was early June. Backpack to this secluded destination that's hidden from most of the traffic in Desolation Wilderness. 1,560 ft elevation gain. My first solo backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness of Eldorado National Forest near Lake Tahoe, California. It was significantly steeper and even required us to use our hands to climb at times. Permits. Share. West Linn 380 contributions 93 helpful votes +1. ... to backpacking in the wild places on earth - where people are few, cell signal is nil, and Mother Nature still reigns. Backpacking Desolation Wilderness ABOVE : Last light lingers in the high country around Dick’s Lake. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. We’d been woken up several times by strong wind gusts. We arrived at the trailhead a bit before 11 and got our gear in order. Pemigewasset Wilderness Sign. Its a strenuous but beautiful journey. Backpacking: Desolation Wilderness ... Backpacking: Desolation Wilderness. Helpful. The sun even came out as we approached the car. We had a permit for June 4. Hiking in Desolation Wilderness. We encountered snow at around 8000ft. This 12 mile loop starts at the Fallen Leaf Lake Tamarack Trail Head and intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail. A few seconds later, the gust hit the tent like a semi-truck. 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