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Meeks Bay to Crag Lake

El Dorado · Managed by Eldorado National Forest (USFS) · Region: Desolation Wilderness
Difficulty /100 · out and back#alpine-lakes#lake-tahoe#desolation#fishing
Distance
9.8 mi
Days
2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

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 parties reach in half a day. It is the gentlest trailhead entry into Desolation from the Tahoe side.

Highlights

  • Meeks Creek's cascades and pools the entire way
  • Crag Lake's island and granite shoreline
  • Lake Genevieve just below for extra camp options
  • A mellow, forested approach — good for first Desolation trips

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Meeks Bay Trailhead · parking: Meeks Bay Resort area on Highway 89
  • Water: Meeks Creek and the lake chain; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; Tahoma and South Lake Tahoe nearby.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Eldorado National Forest (USFS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Trailhead quotas apply for overnight entry during quota season.
  • Reservation window: Reserve via recreation.gov; some quota is released two weeks out.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed seasonally. Fires are restricted forest-wide in the Eldorado during high fire danger — check current restrictions before your trip. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: Usually snow-free by early July.

Heat: Mild at 7,200 feet.

Bugs: Mosquitoes near the lakes through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Camping is limited near the lake — arrive early on weekends
  • Mosquitoes at the lakes through July
  • Bear canisters are required

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Desolation Wilderness Trails & Trailheads — Meeks Bay. Eldorado National Forest (U.S. Forest Service). https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/wilderness/desolation-wilderness-trails-trailheads. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Meeks Bay trailhead destination distances: Lake Genevieve 4.6 mi, Crag Lake 4.9 mi, Hidden Lake 5.7 mi, Stony Ridge Lake 6.3 mi.
  2. Desolation Wilderness Permit. Recreation.gov / U.S. Forest Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233261. Accessed 2026-09-07. Overnight permit reservations for Desolation Wilderness entry zones.
  3. Desolation Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage Restriction. Eldorado National Forest (U.S. Forest Service). https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/alerts/desolation-wilderness-food-and-refuse-storage-restriction. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Bear-resistant food storage requirement in Desolation Wilderness.