Add Your Gems. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. The Desolation Wilderness requires all day-hikers and overnight visitors to have a backcountry permit — yes, even day-hikers. Desolation Wilderness Just west of Northern California's Lake Tahoe is a remarkable landscape, mostly devoid of dense vegetation but overflowing with alpine lakes. 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. Sneak in the side door for a private viewing of the finest in California's High Sierra real estate. If you're looking for a real adventure, you can try turning this loop into a day hike. Read more. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. 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. The hike to Lake Aloha is the ultimate day hike in Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness Permits are issued through a quota system and can be reserved through recreation.gov up to six months in advance or in person at a LTBMU USFS visitor center. Three Days in Desolation Wilderness | Planning & Packing In my last blog post all about the touchy-feely of my three-day solo backpacking adventure, I alluded to sharing the nitty gritty of my trip. The trail is only recommended for very experienced outdoorsmen. Backpacking the Desolation Loop in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. 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 … Recommended Routes in Desolation Wilderness - 12 Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. It's like being in an Ansel Adams photograph. If you decide to go, please practice Leave No Trace. This 4-day backpacking adventure through Desolation Wilderness was the second half of the mountaineering course. A practical application of the lessons learned in the first class, so to speak. #10 - Maggie's Peak, Eagle Lake, Granite Lake Loop. (Be sure to print it out and have it with you on your trip.) Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of sub-alpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. The walk up to the peak is the most challenging, but the view is so gorgeous! Dicks Peak and Dicks Pass ~ at 9,380 feet, the highest pass on the Pacific Crest Trail between here and the Canadian border ~ are worthy destinations for the view alone. A hiker's oasis in the hills and valleys of the Midwest. West Linn 380 contributions 93 helpful votes +1. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Parking Contact the park office for information. 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. Hiking Great! Now it is a popular hiking destination with a few dozens of trails and trail heads that provide access to the Wilderness. 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. It’s best to obtain your permit from www.recreation.gov. If you're looking for a weekend backpacking trip with the most bang for your buck, look no further than Desolation Wilderness. Facilities Camping is primitive in the wilderness area. 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. This wilderness area is in the Sierra Mountain range where rugged natural wonders rule. Or explore El Dorado National Forest's other wilderness area, Mt. … Gems in Desolation Wilderness - 1. Between June 15 and September 30, when a quota is in effect, overnight hikers should be sure to contact the Forest Service 90 days before their outing. Wildlife Deer, marmots, and a few bears make up the region's wildlife. Although this hike can be done as a … 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. Even though Desolation is a popular weekend destination, the northwest quadrant is the least used and can be explored cross-country for those proficient with map and compass. Helpful. It's bounded by logging roads and operations to the north and west, Lake Tahoe to the east, and US 50 to the south. Hiking and backpacking at its finest, through pastoral grasslands and forests of pine and fur. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. We completed this short distance backpacking trip over 3 days in July of 2018. A roadless wonder in California's Los Padres Wilderness. While visiting in late August, supposedly the warmest time of the year, my friends and I were chased out a day early by freezing temperatures and the threat of snow. For backpacking, Fontanillis and Dicks Lake are both in the same Desolation Wilderness zone - #23. Take the Glen Alpine Trail back to Fallen Leaf. Plant Life Cedar, pines, firs, mountain grass, and wildflowers characterize the area. This loop traverses over Rockbound Pass and Dicks Pass on its way to the beautiful Lake Aloha. Desolation Valley is a 5-square-mile granite bowl. The Wilderness sits on the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain’s Crystal Range, west of Lake Tahoe, and north of Highway 50. Desolation Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness of 63,000+ acres in Northern California. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay. Even on the most crowded of weekends, it's possible to venture off-trail a short distance and set up a remote camp amid the granite bowls and high alpine lakes. We headed into the Velma Lakes region out of the Bay View Campground entrance point. Every paradise has its downside, though; its proximity to urban areas and the Tahoe recreation scene made the Desolation Wilderness crowded and scarred long before its wilderness designation in 1971. Great Intro hike into Desolation Wilderness. At waterfall camp, you'll have the opportunity to explore over 50 waterfalls. #4 - Lake of the Woods via Pacific Crest Trail, #5 - PCT: CA Section K - Echo Lake to Highway 80. Ropi Lake (3) South L…, CA. It once was filled with glacial runoff that spilled into the southern end of Lake Tahoe and washed through canyons before draining into the American River valley to the west. No campfires, motorized vehicles, or bicycles are allowed in the area. For day hikers, you can self issue a permit at the trailhead. Date of experience: June 2018. As your Desolation Wilderness backpacking trip comes to a close, retrace your steps back to the Velma Lakes trailhead. © 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Little Known Fact: Desolation Wilderness is the most heavily used wilderness area per acre in the United States. Catch rainbows -- trout, that is -- in Rockhouse Basin's rivers, where you're more likely to see a wildcat than another human. Add Your Recommended Routes. The 15-minute USGS topo map Fallen Leaf Lake provides a view of most of the Desolation Wilderness area. 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. 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… A Guide to Desolation Wilderness is available from the Forest Service. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. The Desolation has been broken into 45 different “zones” with a quota system limiting the number of people in each one. Route Name: Bayview Trailhead Location: South Lake Tahoe, California Duration: 3 days minimum Length:22 km / 13.8 miles The glaciers disappeared 10,000 years ago, but the hard-edged granite gives the feeling that the Ice Age ended last week. A high point offering a year-round getaway for lovers of southern wildlife, lush forests, and redeye bass. 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. Mike L wrote a review Sep 2017. But be warned, Desolation's excellent trout fishing and relative accessibility draw a lot of visitors, making some areas less than desolate. You can reserve 11 spots ahead of time online at Recreation.gov, and 5 spots are available for same day walk in. This means packing out all your trash … The Glen Alpine trail is a relatively gradual climb and distance makes for a great day hike. Elevation Gain: 2100 Feet This was our first time backpacking Desolation Wilderness in South Tahoe and we absolutely loved it! Pemigewasset Wilderness Sign. This trail offers great views with a variety of terrains. Because of its beauty and accessibility, Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the United States. Trip Overview: ~12 mile relaxing backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. Plenty of hiking trails; some to waterfalls and others to great views of Lake Tahoe. But don’t let this scare you away from enjoying 64,000 acres (100 square miles) of subalpine and alpine forest, granitic peaks, meadows of wildflowers, 75 glacially-formed lakes with names, and countless ones without names. The middle section which is a long climb up from Echo Lake to the desolation wilderness is very rocky. 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. Permits are required in Desolation Wilderness. Just west of Northern California's Lake Tahoe is a remarkable landscape, mostly devoid of dense vegetation but overflowing with alpine lakes. Closest to the wilderness border is Bayview Campground (916 544-5994) to the east. The trail to the top of Dicks Peak is obscure at times, but the scree-scrambling left us standing on top of the world, looking down on a windswept granite-colored kingdom dotted with hundreds of blue puddles. Warm summer days, mild falls, and relatively low elevations belie the barren rock and harsh, windswept alpine winters and the sudden summer storms. Weekend wanderers, we managed to escape the crowds because the area is. Mile out and back trail located near Lake Tahoe basin Management Unit 870 Emerald Rd. Can do this as an out and have it with you on your trip. great backpacking! Like you this Wilderness area is Desolation Wilderness is one of the mountaineering course Highway 50 in Dorado! A quota system limiting the number of people in the area and heather lakes ( many stocked with trout.. Then Desolation Wilderness ' sudden expanse of glacially polished scenery first served.... 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