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Eagle Falls to Fontanillis Lake

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

Overview

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 basin at 8,200 feet beneath the Velma Lakes country. It is Desolation's classic Lake Tahoe-area overnight with a view all the way back to the lake.

Highlights

  • Fontanillis Lake's granite benches and island views
  • Eagle Lake's deep blue on the way up
  • The Velma Lakes chain nearby for day hiking
  • Tahoe's shoreline glinting below the cliffs

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Eagle Falls Trailhead · parking: Eagle Falls parking on Highway 89 above Emerald Bay
  • Water: Velma Lakes and Fontanillis Lake, plus seasonal creeks; 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. Wood is scarce in this granite basin. 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; the lake sits at 8,200 feet.

Bugs: Mosquitoes at the lake through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The route is rated Difficult by the Forest Service — sustained climbing over granite
  • 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: Fontanillis Lake 4.9 miles one way (rated Difficult), Dicks Lake 4.3 miles.
  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.