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Glen Alpine to Gilmore Lake

El Dorado · Managed by Eldorado National Forest (USFS) · Region: Desolation Wilderness
Difficulty /100 · out and back#alpine-lakes#desolation#mount-tallac-basecamp#fishing
Distance
7.8 mi
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

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 towering above. The classic basecamp for a dawn push up Tallac's southeast slopes — or a quiet lake camp on its own.

Highlights

  • Mount Tallac's pyramid hanging directly over the lake
  • A forested, moderate approach from Glen Alpine
  • The classic staging point for Tallac's summit route
  • Gilmore's fishing and clear water

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Glen Alpine Trailhead (Fallen Leaf Lake) · parking: Glen Alpine road end at Fallen Leaf Lake's southwest shore
  • Water: Grass Lake and Gilmore Lake; 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 lake sits at 9,000+ feet — pace the climb
  • Mosquitoes 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 — Glen Alpine. 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). Glen Alpine trailhead destination distances: Gilmore Lake 3.9 mi, Susie Lake 3.8 mi, Mount Tallac 5.7 mi, Lake Aloha 5.8 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.