Trail is short, but the climb is rocky. You need a permit to camp. While in Tahoe on business, I was able to get out for an afternoon and took to the trails around Desolation Wilderness. Trip Overview: ~12 mile relaxing backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. We are all Desolation Wilderness virgins, and boy, we were amazed! Pretty lake. 441. 1 year ago. Please also keep dogs on leash - the trail is narrow and rocky. Great hike with terrific views - so fortunate to have clear skies with no smoke! For our own enjoyment and for the consideration of others please wear face coverings. This permit must be purchased before you get to the Echo Lakes Trailhead. The trail is about 20% shaded; with breeze the heat it bearable in the earlier half of the day. 50 and turn R at Johnson Pass Rd. 20.7k. Day hikers, pick up your permit at the self serve area at the trailhead. Please note that the water taxi does not run when water levels are low. Desolation Wilderness Backpacking Trip Day 1: Echo Lakes to Tamarack Lake 7/15/16 It's been a little over two weeks since our backpacking trip to Desolation Wilderness and I … 50 southwest towards Placerville/Sacramento (and eventually Echo Summit) -- do not turn onto Hwy. Once you reach Echo Summit (sign), continue another mile on Hwy. Mosquitos were more active in a few patches of trees. Trailheads on El Dorado National Forest (West) Side. TAMARACK LAKE DESOLATION WILDERNESS Starting off at echo lake and hiking along the PCT you run into many smaller lakes. Not the usual Sierra afternoon story but a persistent hard rain with hail. Desolation Wilderness backpacking loop. 89. For both backpackers and day hikers. We weren't expecting that so we got to hear lots of screaming kids into the night or have them running into our camp site during their exploration. Tamarack Lake is a 7.4 mile out and back trail located near South Lake Tahoe, California that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. From South Lake Tahoe, take Hwy. Desolation Wilderness boundary sign. Note: A permit is required to stay overnight. We headed out the Glen Alpine Trailhead with plans to visit Lake Aloha and come back… We are all Desolation Wilderness virgins, and boy, we were amazed! Need good ankle support. Tamarack Lake is a perfect destination for beginners, small children, or the 1st overnight hike trip. I didn’t make the side trip down, only admired it from above. Heading back, we did the loop towards Glen Alpine Trailhead via the Tamarack Trail. Who: Allie, Miranda, Sarah, and me What: Backpacking When: 5/23/14-5/25/14 Where: Desolation Wilderness Mileage: 13.5 Elevation gain/loss: +1700ft/-1700ft More photos: here A different kind of trip for me—short distances, not much elevation gain, and a lot of great company. we had to cross through many little streams and mud. PCT: CA Section K - Echo Lake to Highway 80, Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT): Big Meadow to Echo Summit Loop, Lake of the Woods via Pacific Crest Trail, Echo Lake to Emerald Bay via Pacific Crest Trail, Lake Aloha and Ralston Peak via Pacific Crest Trail, Echo Lake to Emerald Bay via PCT and Mount Tallac Loop, Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT): Echo Lake to Barker Pass. This trail has some gorgeous views of upper and lower echo lake all the way to Tamarack lake. Make reservations for camping well in advance, and the boat taxi only runs Memorial day to Labor day! USFS Eldorado NF Desolation Wilderness (Camino, CA) at (530) 644-6048. A lot, Every afternoon. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Tamarack Lake frozen over and covered in snow on Dec. 22, with no one else around. Some of the rock sections were a pain, but overall it was a good hike. Horses are allowed but trail is very rocky, with large boulders & many smaller, loose rocks covering the trail (hard on dog paws). ... Tamarack Lake is the closest lake to the end of the water taxi route and suffers from over use. Overnight permits are available to book starting Nov. 10, Desolation Wilderness: General Information and Regulations. For little effort/distance you can find some impressive views and lakes. There is some elevation gain, but it is doable. It's a small wilderness near large population centers, but it has a lot of beauty and some feel of the much higher Sierras to the south. The water taxi is great fun, but waiting for it may add up to an hour to your hike. Lundy Canyon Trail, Hoover Wilderness. +/- 3,000 feet of elevation with a starting elevation of 6,970 feet and a peak elevation of 9,660 feet. Tip: We hiked past Susie and Heather Lakes, uphill to Aloha Lake where we camped the first night. Lake of the Woods was particularly. If that's something that will bother you, you may consider the other lakes further into Desolation Wilderness. share. 1:27:07. From Highway 50, take Johnson Pass Road to Echo Lakes Road. Archived [4800 x 3200] Desolation Wilderness, Tamarack Lake. Or, walk to the boat docks at Echo Chalet and pay $7 pp to take the water taxi (7 a.m. - 7 p.m., 2 hikers minimum) to upper Echo Lake and hike uphill to junction with Tahoe Rim Trail. Take Echo Lakes Rd. ... Random unnamed mountain on a hiking trail during a moody afternoon in Kyrgyzstan (1281x1920)[OC] OC. 8 mi/13 km round-trip, 4-6 hours, moderately strenuous The out-and-back Lundy Canyon Trail follows the side of Lundy Lake and is beautiful in autumn. 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