Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness
14 documented trips · 3,200 total feet of climbing across all routes
Desolation Wilderness at a glance
CaliPeaks documents 14 backpacking routes in Desolation Wilderness, covering 134.0 miles of trail and 3,200 feet of cumulative climbing. Routes range from 4 mi (Pyramid Creek to Ropi Lake) to 13.4 mi (Loon Lake to Rockbound Lake), between 6,165 and 10,108 feet of elevation. The gentlest climbing is on Lake Aloha via Glen Alpine at 3,200 feet of total gain.
The area is managed by Eldorado National Forest (USFS). Wilderness permits are issued by Eldorado National Forest (USFS) — check each trip page for quota and reservation windows. The most-recommended months across these routes are July, August, September.
Bayview to Dicks Lake
The Bayview Trail is the steep, direct line from Emerald Bay to Dicks Lake: 5.3 miles of switchbacks past Granite Lake to the Velma basin, w…
Loon Lake to Buck Island Lake
Buck Island Lake is the Rubicon country's classic lake camp: a 6.1-mile walk from Loon Lake past the reservoir's granite shore into the Deso…
Meeks Bay to Crag Lake
Crag Lake is the first true lake of the Meeks Bay corridor: a 4.9-mile climb from Tahoe's west shore to a forested granite lake that most pa…
Eagle Falls to Dicks Lake
Dicks Lake is the deep-blue centerpiece of the Desolation high country: 4.3 steep miles from Eagle Falls, beneath the 9,974-foot peak of the…
Eagle Falls to Fontanillis Lake
Fontanillis Lake is the alpine reward at the top of the Eagle Falls corridor: a 4.9-mile, mostly uphill walk from Emerald Bay to a granite b…
Van Vleck Trail to Forni Lake
Forni Lake is Desolation's northwestern outpost: 4.9 miles from the Van Vleck trailhead through granite and forest to a quiet lake most Taho…
Glen Alpine to Gilmore Lake
Gilmore Lake is the climber's camp below Mount Tallac: a 3.9-mile climb from Glen Alpine to a 9,000-foot lake with the peak's massif towerin…
Twin Lakes to Island Lake
Island Lake is Desolation's answer to a quick overnight: a 3.5-mile walk from the Twin Lakes trailhead to a lake with a genuine island, sitt…
Loon Lake to Rockbound Lake
Rockbound Lake is Desolation's western granite gem: a 6.7-mile walk from Loon Lake past the Rubicon's pools to a deep-blue lake under Rockbo…
Pyramid Creek to Ropi Lake
Pyramid Creek is Desolation's steepest little adventure: 2 miles up granite slabs beside Horsetail Falls to Ropi Lake's swimming slabs. Shor…
Meeks Bay to Stony Ridge Lake
Stony Ridge Lake is the Meeks Bay chain's deepest lake: 6.3 miles up the creek corridor past Genevieve and Crag Lakes to a granite-ringed ba…
Glen Alpine to Susie Lake
Susie Lake is the quick, beautiful Desolation overnight: 3.8 miles from Glen Alpine past Grass Lake to a clear tarn on the edge of the Lake …
Lyons Trail to Sylvia Lake
Sylvia Lake is the quiet western Desolation classic: 4.6 miles from the Lyons trailhead past Bloodsucker Lake's meadows to a granite lake ne…
Lake Aloha via Glen Alpine
Lake Aloha is Desolation Wilderness's crown jewel: a shallow, island-dotted lake spread across granite slabs at 8,116 feet beneath Pyramid P…