Desolation Wilderness Day Hikes, Overnight Camping & Backpacking. 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. To regulate traffic and protect this beautiful wilderness area, a quota system is in place, based upon the number of people entering the wilderness each day and their first … Trip Overview: ~38 mile backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness near South Lake Tahoe. Securing Your Wilderness Permit. Backpacking to Half Moon Lake. 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.. View fullsize. We completed this short distance backpacking trip over 3 days in July of 2018. West Linn 380 contributions 93 helpful votes +1. A list of other trailheads that provide access to the wilderness follows. Permit: Required for overnight stays. The worst season is probably … On an earlier trip, we enjoyed a dusty and hot family hike to Tamarack Lake (from Upper Echo Lake). Because of its beauty and accessibility, Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the United States. Hikers climbing out of the densely wooded Lake Tahoe basin are often startled by the Desolation Wilderness' sudden expanse of glacially polished scenery. Trip Overview: ~12 mile relaxing backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. There are many excellent swimming holes and wilderness campsites along the route, which will appeal to more experienced backcountry adventurers interested in a loop hike … A must hike if you need to get away from it all! This loop traverses over Rockbound Pass and Dicks Pass on its way to the beautiful Lake Aloha. I had been wanting to visit Lake of The Woods in Desolation Wilderness ever since I hiked out to Lake Aloha back in early June 2015. Dates: Jun 13 - Jun 14 Miles: 6.6 roundtrip Elevation change: 1,370 ft Trail type: Out and back Permit: Required Trailhead: Google Maps . Loosey wondering if she should wait for Liz to remove her pack or to just jump in yet another beautiful Desolation Wilderness lake. Eagle Lake trail is one of our favorites. View fullsize. This 24-mile loop offers some of Desolation’s best … The Hike. Permit Required : This hike takes you into Desolation Wilderness where a permit is required. The Desolation Wilderness requires all day-hikers and overnight visitors to have a backcountry permit — yes, even day-hikers. 5.0. Considerations for Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness: You absolutely need to have a permit from the Forest Service for backpacking through Desolation Wilderness. Please explore responsibly! Desolation is a popular backpacking destination, with much barren rocky terrain at the edge of the tree line. 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. For backpacking, Fontanillis and Dicks Lake are both in the same Desolation Wilderness zone - #23. Desolation Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness of 63,000+ acres in Northern California. We made our first stop at the bright green Granite lake for … Swimming at Susie Lake is a great reward after a three mile-ish hike in. Permits. You can reserve 11 spots ahead of time online at Recreation.gov, and 5 spots are available for … +/- 3,000 feet of elevation with a starting elevation of 6,970 feet and a peak elevation of 9,660 feet. Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of sub-alpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Advanced permits are required for all overnight backpackers, and day hikers do not need a permit. I’ve been trying to figure out how an area as beautiful as this 63,900+ acres could be named “desolation.” In 1899 this area was part of the Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve. You must have a permit and pay a fee for all overnight trips in Desolation Wilderness. Between Memorial Day and September 30 th the park has a quota for the maximum number of people on the trail. For the second leg of my trip to the Reno/Tahoe area I found myself in the Desolation Wilderness. Permit Required: Yes for overnight backpacking (issued for Desolation Wilderness), self issued at the trailhead for day hikers. GROUP SIZE. May 8, 2019. While my wife Liz, our dog Loosey and good friend Karyn had the privilege of spending 5 relaxing nights out in Desolation, my brother Joel, his girlfriend Nicole, their dog Gus and I only had the time to share … Desolation Wilderness. Even on the largest peaks, more difficult parts can be easily avoided. There are also a limited number of same-day permits available on a first-come, first-served basis at the … Desolation Wilderness Permits: Backpacking and Day Hiking. This is … Class 2 routes can get you almost everywhere in the wilderness area. The quota as of Jul 2020 is 20 people per day and can be reserved 6 … The Desolation Wilderness is laced with over 150 miles of trails, and offers many great options for both day hikes and backpacks. Only 36 overnight visitors are … Plenty of hiking trails; some to waterfalls and others to great views of Lake Tahoe. Desolation Wilderness was titled for its unforested, open stone landscape, and that starkness and open sky are what give the place its beauty. Ellis Peak Trail. For detailed description, see AMC's White Mountain Guide, P215 The 63,000 acre Desolation Wilderness situated just West of Lake Tahoe is a hiker’s paradise. Reserve on recreation.gov and search Desolation Wilderness, #32 Twin Lakes. One of my favorite hikes in the desolation wilderness. Permits. Of course I had seen from afar it from Pyramid Peak, which is one of the reasons that I wanted to see it up close. The wilderness … The Desolation Wilderness requires a permit, even for day use, which you can fill out at a self-serve station in the trailhead parking lot. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Backpack to Twin Lakes. For specific information on fees, permits, trail … View fullsize . Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. HIKING DESOLATION WILDERNESS GLEN ALPINE TRAILHEAD. The silvery granite peaks, glacially-carved valleys, and alpine lakes of Desolation Wilderness span the Sierra Nevada and make up some of the best scenery within California's expansive Eldorado National Forest. Photo about Hiking along a trail in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe, California. No description for Desolation Trail trail has been added yet! Lora shares her three-generation experience hiking in Desolation Wilderness. Hiking The Great Basin May 22, 2020 ; Assault(ed) On Mt. Image of path, rugged, tahoe - 142866210 Share. Date of experience: June 2018. It has extensive areas of bare granite rock formations.. It looks majestic from a distance so I knew it would be special to visit it directly. Desolation Wilderness • Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit • Wilderness Seeking Desolation Wilderness Volunteers. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future … Twin and Island Lakes are in area zone #32 of Desolation Wilderness, which allows 20 campers to enter … 6 months ago. Beautiful scenery, crystal clear, ice cold snowmelt lake waters. Desolation Wilderness is absolutely stunning and I almost don’t even wanna write this post about it because it’s so precious and pristine. Some of the lakes also contain rainbows or brown trout, and even a few golden trout, our California state fish. For the permit, you must enter on the day your permit … All the fish in the Desolation are wild since the stocking of hatchery fish was halted a few years ago to … It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. One of the best things about hiking in Desolation Wilderness is the many stunning alpine lakes you come across during your hike. The trail is primarily used for hiking & mountain biking and is accessible from June until … This map depicts the Tahoe to Yosemite trail from its Meeks Bay Trail … The Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail pass through the wilderness. Plan for the worst, hope for the … The Wilderness sits on the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain’s Crystal Range, west of Lake Tahoe, and north of Highway 50. In order to protect its unique beauty and wilderness character, human access is limited and certain activities are restricted in the Desolation. Backpacking Trip Info. Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe region Travel resources | Other California destinations | Other California trails. The low sierra around Lake Tahoe are a good introduction to the High Sierra for beginners. Whitney September 27, 2019 ; Pyramid Peak: The Gem of the Desolation Wilderness August 17, 2019 ; Tick Aware: Lyme Disease Awareness Month May 9, 2019 ; Little Trail Blazers February 21, 2019 Disclaimer. Both the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail and the 165 mile Tahoe Rim Trail share an approximately 22 mile … Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. Because Desolation Wilderness is such a popular recreational area, human access is limited and certain activities are restricted within. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. Desolation Trail is a 2 mile blue wilderness trail trail located near Mount Carrigain Region New Hampshire. We went after Labor Day in order to avoid crowds. Desolation Wilderness Permits and Quotas. The Desolation Wilderness backcountry area around beautiful Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places to hike in the summer and cross-country ski or snowshoe in the winter. This hike only trail can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating. Hiking in Desolation Wilderness. Highlights include alpine lakes, granite peaks, and expansive views of Desolation Wilderness. Submit one here. Mike L wrote a review Sep 2017. (Be sure to print it out and have it with you on your trip.) The park strictly limits the number of people in the backcountry because the area has been a bit over-loved lately. Helpful. The Desolation Loop is a moderately strenuous 41 mile backpack through the eastern half of the White Mountain’s Pemigewasset Wilderness, bounded by the Bonds, Ethan Ridge, Carrigain Notch, and Hancock Notch. The best season to hike around here is probably late spring, when the meadows overflow with flowers and the lakes have lots of water. Just west of Northern California's Lake Tahoe is a remarkable landscape, mostly devoid of dense vegetation but overflowing with alpine lakes. Leave No Trace. Along the route you are treated to amazing scenery with highlights including: alpine lakes, granite peaks, meadows, waterfalls, and expansive views of El Dorado National… 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 up to you. Distance: 5 Miles (out and back) Details: Ellis Peak Trail is a 5 mile out and back trail located near Homewood, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Read more . Desolation Wilderness is jointly administered by both the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. 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 meadows, and old growth forest in abundance. You need a camp stove permit from the Forest Service for Desolation Wilderness acknowledging that you know how to safely operate a stove in the backcountry. Backpacking • Desolation Wilderness • Destination reviews • Eldorado National Forest • Hiking / Backpacking Lake Tahoe • Lake Tahoe Archives • National Forest … We took a long weekend, hiked to Middle Velma Lake, and were blown away by the alpine lake dotted with fir tree covered islands, sparkling crystal clear waters, our own private swimming cove, and violet sunsets. As with most backpacking destinations, you’ll need to secure a wilderness permit for any overnight stays in Desolation Wilderness. This was our first time backpacking Desolation Wilderness in South Tahoe and we absolutely loved it! If you are a lover of nature and backpacking, then Desolation Wilderness in California is a destination worth looking at. It’s best to obtain your permit from www.recreation.gov. Whether hiking or skiing, the open terrain in many parts of Desolation make cross-country travel easy, pleasurable, and quite scenic.