Formiga. Bear storage boxes are placed at Desolation Wilderness campgrounds and picnic areas for storing food. This was where we got lost for nearly 2 hours trying to locate the cairns. We we observing the route of Eagle Creek through the terrain from up there, before we dropped down to Middle Velma Lake and this series of 3 trail junctions pointing East. What’s the cost: Permits required and prices vary. The trail to the Bayview Camp Trailhead splits off East from the Eagle Falls Trail to cross over to Bayview Camp by climbing over the Maggies Peaks massif between the two main peaks. Both of these trail routes East bend to the Northeast to navigate over or around Maggies Peak. For Southbound backpackers wanting to remain on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route from Middle Velma Lake the moves we make through these three trail junctions South of Middle Velma Lake are "Left, Right, Right.". This hike started on Thursday, August 20, 2015, with the intention of being out for 10 nights. Scrambling an area following-up on interesting things we've seen while hiking through on long distance backpacking trips makes local trips complimentary to the long, filling in gaps in experience that long trips cannot fill. Hiking East from this middle Bayview trail junction brings us through two more trail junctions East of the TYT on our way to the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. It is there our trail turns East to climb from between the lakes to find this last trail junction tracking to our North sitting on the Western edge of a gap almost overlooking Lake Tahoe. Great views from the summit make this a must-do.The Route: The route is fairly straightforward to Lake Sylvia (... Backpack Desolation's Primitive Western Edge through Rockbound Pass, Backpack to Smith Lake, Desolation Wilderness, Hike the Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lake Trail. By the time we left, California was enduring two large scale forest fires. West Flank Trailheads A bit more downhill brings you to Lake Schmidell, a large and iconic lake with lots of space for camping. This loop traverses over Rockbound Pass and Dicks Pass on its way to the beautiful Lake Aloha. Virtually all the water draining out of the basin feeding the Velma Lakes flows through this gorge and the gap at its base down into Emerald Bay. This loop can be done in two to three days depending on your time frame. TYT 2.49 miles further South of this second junction along our Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route we 1.17 miles South along the PCT-TYT route from this second Bayview-Camper Flat Trail Junction up to dip our toes into the North shore of Fontanillis Lake along the Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. Lastly, follow the same path through Rockbound Pass back out! Local Access Find more Class A, Class C, Class B, trailers, fifth wheel trailers and more at Outdoorsy! INDEX. We can see it traced out on the 30 minute maps above, though the trail is shown ending at Upper Velma Lake on the more recent 7.5 minute map below. Now I expect the amount of people relative to the density, difficulty, and distance of any particular wilderness area to a major population center(s). © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. This 26 mile loop meanders through some of the most primitive trails in Desolation Wilderness. This hike is not for those without map and compass skills. The arrow is pointing us to our Southbound Right, South along the marked PCT route towards Fontanillis Lake and Dicks Pass beyond, while we can also see the arrow pointing Northwest back up the PCT-TYT-TRT towards Phipps Pass, the way we came South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. In any case, both of these trails are a hard climb into Desolation Wilderness, with the route over Maggies Peaks from Bayview Camp being the easier way both in and out. I've gotten over that now. Right below the pass is Doris Lake, which is where we camped in our short 30 hour adventure. The Desolation Wilderness Schematic Map in conjunction with the Full Desolation Wilderness Maps above show us that the trail West to Camper Flat in Rockbound Valley opens up the full range of Western Flank trails, backpacking trips, and trailheads. 4-Q's Lakes was heavenly, unlike anywhere else out there. Less than two miles past Doris Lake is Lake Lois, which also has nice camping spots (although close to the trail), small but sandy beaches, and a historic dam. Backpacking Forums, North TYT: South of Middle Velma                                                  South TYT: Fontanillis Lake. "If you spend enough time on the trail everything possible will happen to you out there.". Discover the best RV Rental and Motorhome options in China Flat Campground, CA! Phipps Pass to Heather Lake From here, take the trail or bushwhack another mile until Camper Flat, where the trail picks up again. The 30 minute North Desolation maps below shows this potential alternative route through Rockbound Valley in relation to the main TYT-PCT route. Sierra We've just got to keep a foot on the trail. I've studied the terrain and the maps, but I've always found myself looking at Desolation as the place the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail begins out of Meeks Bay Trailhead. find our next and last chance to hike East to connect with this same Bayview-Eagle Falls trail route seen above, but from its Southernmost access trail along our combined TYT-PCT-TRT routes. South Since it is far from towns and highways, it’s the perfect place to “get away from it all.” ... Campers … North TYT: South of Middle Velma                                                                 South TYT: Fontanillis Lake, Backpacking South Big Flat Campground is a small, quiet campground bordered by Hurdygurdy Creek. 15 minute backpacking map. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most visited wilderness areas in the country. A quarter mile South of the first Camper Flat-Bayview trail Junction we come to the second Camper Flat/Bayview trail junction pictured above and below. Long and Short Balance Geologic mapping in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness identified approximately 731 kmS of epizonal plutonic granitic rocks within the Bitterroot lobe of the Idaho batholith. Or further North. Desolation Wilderness, California. Right next to Desolation Wilderness, you’ve … We created it, now we have to live in what we created. ? of Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Also per usual, we … Crystal clear water up past Maud lake. 15 minute topographic backpacking From Rockbound Valley we hike South to the end of the valley over Mosquito Pass to the North Shore of Lake Aloha. 15 minute topographic backpacking Depending on your speed, summit should only take 20 to 40 minutes from this point as its only 700 feet. Recommended to you based on your activity and what's popular • Feedback 3.85 miles to Eagle Falls at Highway 89. First Junction TYT The first trail junction Tees off to our Right, our South, up to dead-end at Upper Velma Lake. The trail to the Bayview Camp Trailhead splits off East from the Eagle Falls Trail to cross over to Bayview Camp by climbing, Your guide to the High Sierra Crest, including the Tahoe to Yosemite, Pacific Crest, and John Muir Trails, © Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail, Schematic Trail Map of Bayview and Eagle Falls Trailheads, Schematic Trail Map of North Desolation Wilderness, El Dorado National Forest Trip Overview: ~38 mile backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness near South Lake Tahoe. The Desolation Wilderness originally came onto my radar back in 2013. Using these Federal resources in conjunction with the full Desolation Wilderness Map opens up the full potential of West Side Trailheads into Desolation Wilderness. Check out the map: Meeks Bay to Dicks Pass This peak is rather unattainable as a day hike since its difficult to access, so if you're up for a scramble give it a shot! It was truly a desolate experience on a super hot weekend, especially out in the open rockbound areas. From here, take the left fork to Leland Lakes. The marsh-like water is very slow moving, and even though it is indeed beautiful, it is also a prime location for p... To get to the Twin Lakes Trailhead from the Bay Area/Sacramento, head east on HWY 50 past Kyburz for 4 miles until you see the left-hand turnoff for Wrights Road. Definitely recommend the views up Red Rock and a compass. Check out the 15 minute hiking map: Phipps Pass to Heather Lake It was a bit early in the season to get super far, but we did well. We see access 1.45 miles West to Camper Flat in Rockbound Valley. It had monstrous, ungainly protrusions of skin and cartilage protruding from its round head, and it had blue eyes! To the East This trail from Lake Tahoe to Camper Flat opens up grand backpacking loops around the Northern Desolation Wilderness for local backpackers and an alternative route South than the TYT-PCT route for long-distance backpackers. North of Camper Flat the Rubicon Trail exits Desolation Wilderness on the North shore of Rockbound Lake. I just could not accept so many people. Time ticked by & it slowly crept up the list & the time was finally right. 3.81 miles hike East to Bayview Camp on Highway 89. As one of the most rugged terrains in California, Desolation Wilderness has earned its name. 12.69 miles South of Meeks Bay trail head. This is a trail that hikes South and dead-ends at Upper Velma Lake. We will not see that, as we turn South here. Upper Velma Lake From our position at this second Bayview Trail junction we have a 3.81 mile hike East to bail out to Bayview Camp or 3.85 to Eagle Falls Trailhead on Highway 89, if we are so inclined. Overnight Recreation Fee: There is a per person fee for a Desolation Wilderness Overnight Permit. Plus, these Eagle Falls and Bayview Trailheads are great entrances into the North Desolation Wilderness for short and medium distance backpacking loops around Desolation Wilderness, as well as a good emergency exit for fading/broken backpackers. Hiking Southbound That is actually the old route of the PCT. Where: Desolation Wilderness is about 3 1/2 hours southeast of Chico. This leads you up a steep pass for .75 miles. Head to the Wrights Lake entrance, which is about 8 miles up Wrights Lake Road from Highway 50. There is also another trail junction a short bit East down the Bayview-Camper Flat Trail if we hike a short distance East up the trail towards Eagle Falls/Bayview Camp. The map below-Right expands on the detailed view to show the alternative route to the TYT-PCT we can hike through Rockbound Valley, and the remainder of our Southbound route through Central and South Desolation Wilderness. The third and last junction to Lake Tahoe South of here is East of the gap separating the South Shore of Fontanillis Lake from the North Shore of Dicks Lake. Mileage West 230.00 USD 40% 138.00 USD Tyra. 7960 feet Second Trailhead : Miles One Way: Difficulty: Twin Lakes to: Grouse Lake: 2.1: Moderate/Difficult : Hemlock Lake A Wilderness Permit is required to enter Desolation Wilderness. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El … We had a tough time locating the cairns, but as long as you have a map and can determine location through topography you should be fine! Elevation There are no conditioning regimes that can run us to the level of fitness backpacking trails walk us up to. The trail from Schmidell to Camper Flat … of 230.00 USD 40% 138.00 USD Formiga. Scott Campbell is on Facebook. 4.14 miles South to Dicks Pass, +1400 feet, junction to pass. Fontanillis Lake, South It runs from midpoint on the Blakely Trail between Schmidell and Camper Flat, southward towards the Rubicon Trail. But, they are excellent access points for local backpackers into the North Desolation Wilderness, and could be key trail junctions to unlock excellent local hiking loops and trailhead to trailhead backpacking trips around the North Desolation Wilderness. Combining the Rubicon Trail South from Camper Flat to Mosquito Pass over to Lake Aloha with the Northbound TYT from Lake Aloha back up to Middle Velma Lake opens up the North-Central Desolation Wilderness to some impressive local long-distance backpacking loops. Follow the well-marked Blakely Trail for 2.5 miles back to Lake Schmidell. The trail to Bayview Camp entails a moderate climb over Maggies Peaks, followed by a moderate descent between our current position at the Second Bayview Trail Junction and its trailhead on Highway 89, while our other trail option to Eagle Falls descends steeply. Blue as … Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Camper … A faint trail exists for the first five minutes and then a decently exposed rock scramble is required. The trail is difficult but definitively worth while. somewhere between "not injured and not quite fit," then these trailheads would be great exit points for a 3 to 5 day trip through the North Desolation Wilderness out of Meeks Bay Trailhead. At the third Bayview trail junction we turn South, just as we did at this second Bayview junction, to the Southbound Backpacker's Right, to begin the final segment of our climb up to Dicks Pass. McConnell Loop is by far the coolest trail in the Desolation Wilderness that not too many people know about. +40' elevation increase from Middle Velma Lake. ENE-trending microdiorite dikes filled extensional fractures, perpendicular to the direction of shortening, in all … The pictures looked amazing & it went onto the list. Continuing East past the Upper Velma Lake trail junction towards Highway 89 we next come to a Y in the Bayview-Camper Flat Trail splitting our trail East between two routes. Eagle Falls or Bayview Trailhead access to Middle Velma, Fontanillis, and Dicks Lakes along the combined route of the TYT-PCT-TRT. It's definitely one of the highlights of the trail. Bayview Campground is located near Emerald Bay and sits at an elevation of 7,100 feet. I've never come in to the main trail from either Eagle Falls or Bayview Camp. It is exactly as described by Kira's review. MAP. A lot of the areas we explored over the three days required reliance on compass direction back to our packs. Loved the truly desolate experience. MAP. Imagine being surrounded by water all around you. Alternative Route Pay very close attention to this part of the trail, "Shortly after Horseshoe Lake, the trail disappears onto a large granite slab marked with cairns. On the way up, you'll pass Maud Lake, which could be a great spot for camping about 4 miles in. Main MAP, miles hike East to Bayview Camp on Highway 89, Remember when we were looking at this gorge and its gap Eagle Creek flows through down to Lake Tahoe through from the. The route to Eagle Falls turns North tracing out its route down along the curving Northwestern flank of Maggies Peaks. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. Its route passes through the gap between the base of Peak 9195 next to Phipps Peak and the steeply descending North flank of Maggies Peaks. From Lake Aloha we follow the Tahoe Yosemite Trail North back to this series of Bayview/Eagle Falls trail junctions. MAP, 15 minute topographic backpacking Maps A month ago, a couple of friends and I decided on a three day backpacking trip in the Desolation Wilderness. 1.17 miles South to the North Shore of Fontanillis Lake, +400 feet. This was a really cool 4 day hike in the Desolation Wilderness with Steph's brother, Ian, and Steph and I! TYT The climbs West out of these lakeshore trailheads around Emerald Bay are fierce, especially the climb out of Eagle Falls. Mileage North It is also one of the most popular wilderness areas in the country due to … Honestly, I started avoiding Desolation Wilderness years ago. A Wilderness Permit is required to enter Desolation Wilderness. While the name Airport Flat doesn’t exactly conjure up an image of an idyllic, nature-filled paradise, this campground actually lies deep in Eldorado National Forest. Pristine Lakes. Fed links can be unreliable. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. The one fitting this situation goes something like this; Day 3 we continued on the loop with the intention to go through 4Qs lakes and Let's imagine coming in from Meeks Bay and turning West from the Northernmost Bayview-Camper Flat trail junction at Middle Velma Lake and hiking to Camper Flat in Rockbound Valley. The trail to the Left takes a steep descending bee-line route down-mountain almost directly North to the Eagle Falls Trailhead. Shortly after Horseshoe Lake, the trail disappears onto a large granite slab marked with cairns. Middle Velma Lake, (The first junction is the Camper Flat/Bayview trail junction just to our North). The Left of the two Federal links below from El Dorado National Forest list the West Flank Trailheads they administer, and the Right link maps their position in Desolation Wilderness hiking zones. of I highly recommend it later in the season and prepare to be alone. Middle Velma Lake, Topo The nights were dead silent and the stars were absolutely stunning. At the bottom of this slab is a drainage area, where the trail cuts back south instead of continuing on north east. After 2 miles or so, you'll arrive at 4-Q's Lakes, an iconic destination with lots of options for camping. I am inclined to take a Right and walk all the way through the length of the Desolation Wilderness South to Tuolumne Meadows, and then on down to Mount Whitney, if I can hike my preferred route. "F" is for Fontanillis Lake. Out here you can usually find true solitude compared to Desolation's busy Western Slope. The Northernmost Camper Flat-Bayview junction offers us access West into Rockbound Valley. This bit of the "Velma Lakes Trail" we encounter between these first two Bayview-Camper Flat trail junctions is a small piece of the trail tracking East and West starting out of two Highway 89 trailheads in close proximity to each other on the West shore of Lake Tahoe, and ends teeing-out into the Rubicon Trail at Camper Flat in Rockbound Valley. We only saw people hiking up the day we were leaving (though going midweek might have had something to do with that). Our TYT-PCT-TRT route shares the trail with this popular local route from Tahoe to Camper Flat through this segment of trail. Camper Flat shows us that we need to build more awareness about the Western Flank of Desolation Wilderness and its trailheads. Velma Lakes Trail Even day hiking requires a permit, and quotas limit overnight visitors in specific geographic zones. I definitely want to come back and explore other areas of Desolation Wilderness. We TYT-PCT-TRT hikers continue hiking South through all three of these trail junctions. TRAILHEAD, Central These trails accessing North Desolation Wilderness are short, but they are steep and bring us deep. Middle Velma, General Postings If you wake up before sunrise you can also catch the sun as it begins to hit the rock faces which makes for a truly amazing sight. The Camper flat and Desolation Valley granodiorites are the youngest plutons of the group. 18.02 South to Echo Summit. Meeks Bay to Echo Summit As I touched on in “Philosophy and Preparation“, this was to be my most ambitious outing to date: a 29-35 mile run (depending on which map/GPS/hearsay you choose to believe), an overnight at Lake Aloha, a summit of two of the highest peaks in Desolation Wilderness … I'd prefer entering through Meeks Bay and exiting through Bayview, as the climb in through Meeks Bay Trailhead is much gentler, if higher and longer. Although it stands only slightly higher than its neighbors, Pyramid Peak nonetheless dominates the Crystal Range atop which it sits. below. It has also been called the Blakely Cutoff trail. Lk. Second Camper Flat-Bayview Junction between Middle Velma and Fontanillis Lakes. Trailheads on El Dorado National Forest (West) Side. Join Facebook to connect with Scott Campbell and others you may know. South on the TYT Tree cover is sparse, and most of the Desolation Wilderness is laid bare to … Second Portions of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Tahoe Rim … We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. 15 minute topographic backpacking The group was traveling the Velma Lakes Trail from Camper Flat to Middle Velma Lake … These three trail junctions give Westbound hikers out of Eagle Falls and Bayview Camp reasonably direct access to Rockbound Valley, Middle Velma, Fontanallis, and Dicks Lake. Bayview Campground serves as a Trailhead for Desolation Wilderness. Short trips can also keep us active and fresh when we cannot find the time and money for extended backpacking trips. Punch Count TahoetoWhitney.Org, Backpacking Topics 3.81 miles hike East to Bayview Camp on Highway 89 63,960 acres of “subalpine and alpine forest, granitic peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes” cover Desolation Wilderness, which was declared a national wilderness in 1969. Overall, great trip! Northbound backpackers on the Pacific Crest or clockwise Tahoe Rim Trail coming down from Dicks Pass will turn "Left, Left, Right" through these same three trail junctions. The signposts are all clearly marked until Rockbound Pass. adventures and follow local regulations. Middle Velma Lake. If injured, exhausted, or out of food it is very good to know that the trail down to Eagle Falls is virtually all down-mountain, and makes a good in or out for rescue, or if you are not quite up to the rigors of long distance High Sierra Backpacking. It requires good navigational skills and endurance, but at the same time rewards the hiker with breathtaking views, solitude, and an opportunity to experience the wilderness in an intimate way. TWO ROUTES EAST This Junction If you are located A Jurassic age is also assigned to the Keiths Dome quartz monzonite and the Desolation Valley and Camper Flat … Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your We can hike East to Bayview Camp or Eagle Falls to end our loop, or we can hike North past Middle Velma Lake and stay on the TYT over Phipps Pass to Meek Bay. This second junction pictured here, and the third Camper Flat-Bayview trail junction further South both give us access East to Highway 89 on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe through the Eagle Falls or Bayview Camp Trailheads, depending on our route preferences. Trail Guide Desolation Wilderness is one of the largest wilderness areas near Lake Tahoe at almost 64,000 acres. At Horseshoe Lake, there is a signpost marking a trail that leads to Lake Zitella (if you're up for another excursion), although this isn't on the map. We Southbound Backpackers take a Right to continue South on the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails from this second, the middle Bayview-Camper Flat trail junction, in pursuit of our goal to continue South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail over Dicks Pass. Please explore responsibly! From here, you can decide whether to camp at Lake Schmidell, Lake Lois, or Lake Doris based on available energy and time. Not a whole lot of wildlife except birds, hawks, and chipmunks. This season’s collection of Flat Shoes, classic and contemporary models for women. The climbs can be pretty difficult but they are definitely worth the panoramic views you're rewarded with at the top. Pay attention to the map and topographic features here, because although cairns exist, they are small and seldom!" into the Lay of the Land The loop from Camper Flat around 4-Q Lakes, past Horseshoe, McConnell, Leland, and Schmidell Lakes is one of my favorite parts of Desolation Wilderness. I would start at the Echo Lake Trailhead and follow the Pacific Crest Trail to Middle Velma Lake and cut west to Camper Flat… Rained one night and froze the other so be prepared for some funky storm systems over the pass (weather the night before we left predicted sunny skies the whole time). Bayview Trail-Camper Flat junction It is mostly well-marked, and an … Fairly long hiking routes can take us to the Northeast back to Lake Tahoe at Tehoma through … All Desolation Wilderness Permit Information. Remember when we were looking at this gorge and its gap Eagle Creek flows through down to Lake Tahoe through from the North side of Phipps Pass? Go explore yourself some Desolation Wilderness trails and terrain. A great moderate level trip with very few people. Bayview-Camper Flat Trail Junction. Hiking West to Camper Flat then South along the Rubicon Trail in Rockbound Valley to Lake Aloha via Mosquito Pass roughly parallels our Southbound route along the PCT-TYT over Dicks Pass South down to Lake Aloha. Trail Schematic. It finally drops down through the gap between the North Flank of Maggies Peaks and the South Flank of Peak 9195, where Eagle Creek drains the whole of this Velma Lake basin into Lake Tahoe through Eagle Falls. The Camper flat and Desolation Valley granodiorites are the youngest plutons of the group. I'm just letting you long distance backpackers know where these trails go. The Desolation Wilderness map gives us our biggest picture of the Central Desolation Wilderness terrain. Trip taken late Sept. 2016, Get away from Desolation's crowds for the true desolation experience. I drop down from Meeks Bay. The next Bayview Trail Junction along our Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route, the third Bayview junction, is 2.49 miles South of this trail junction just beyond the Southern Shore of Fontanillis Lake. Southbound backpackers on the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trail routes will veer right towards Fontanillis Lake and Dicks Pass at this second Bayview Trail junction. Though the Bayview Camp Trailhead is close to Eagle Falls, it is perched high up on the base of the Cascade Lake side of the ridge arm dividing it from Emerald Bay. The trail from Horseshoe Lake to Camper Flat is nearly nonexistent, with the exception of small cairns often a few hundred yards apart. The Desolation Wilderness can be a busy place, so a permit system was established in an effort to spread people out and preserve the quality of the experience for everyone. Our short hikes get and keep us in the mountains, keep us in "mountain" conditioning, and allow us to explore terrain closely. Hike some of the most primitive trails in Desolation Wilderness on this 2-3 day backpacking trip. .27 of a mile South of the first Camper Flat/Bayview trail Junction is our next junction, the second of the three Bayview Trail junctions we encounter hiking South from Middle Velma Lake along the TYT-PCT route.