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Van Vleck Trail to Forni Lake

El Dorado · Managed by Eldorado National Forest (USFS) · Region: Desolation Wilderness
Difficulty /100 · out and back#alpine-lakes#desolation#quiet#granite
Distance
9.8 mi
Elevation
6,516–7,661 ft
Days
2–3
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

Forni Lake is Desolation's northwestern outpost: 4.9 miles from the Van Vleck trailhead through granite and forest to a quiet lake most Tahoe-area hikers never visit. A two-day trip for those who measure quality in solitude.

Highlights

  • A quiet lake in Desolation's least-visited quadrant
  • Granite slab walking with the Crystal Range in view
  • Good fishing in a lightly pressured lake
  • Options to extend toward Shadow Lake and the numbered lakes

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Van Vleck Trailhead (Wrights Lake area) (6,516 ft) · parking: Van Vleck trailhead off the Wrights Lake road network
  • Water: Forni Lake and seasonal creeks; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; the Crystal Basin area has campground services.
  • 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 in the granite.

Bugs: Mosquitoes through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The Crystal Basin roads are slow — allow drive time
  • Trails in this quadrant are fainter — carry a map
  • 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. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Trailhead and destination elevations sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Desolation Wilderness Trails & Trailheads — Van Vleck. 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). Van Vleck trailhead destination distances: Forni Lake 4.9 mi (Moderate/Difficult), Shadow Lake 6.0 mi, Lake #3 6.3 mi.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.