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Eagle Falls to Dicks Lake

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

Overview

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 same name. The classic route toward Dicks Pass and the jumping-off point for the Fontanillis and Velma lake basins.

Highlights

  • Dicks Lake's clear water beneath Dicks Peak's granite
  • The Velma Lakes chain nearby for multi-lake itineraries
  • A demanding climb that leaves the Tahoe crowds behind
  • Dicks Pass and the PCT corridor above for day hikes

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Eagle Falls Trailhead · parking: Eagle Falls parking on Highway 89 above Emerald Bay
  • Water: Dicks Lake and the Velma Lakes chain; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; South Lake Tahoe is 20 minutes away.
  • 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: Pleasant at 8,000 feet.

Bugs: Mosquitoes at the lake through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The Forest Service rates the climb Difficult
  • Mosquitoes at the lake through July
  • Bear canisters are required year-round in Desolation

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 — Eagle Falls. 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). Eagle Falls trailhead destination distances: Dicks Lake 4.3 mi one way (rated Difficult), Fontanillis Lake 4.9 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.