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Glen Alpine to Susie Lake

El Dorado · Managed by Eldorado National Forest (USFS) · Region: Desolation Wilderness
Difficulty /100 · out and back#alpine-lakes#desolation#beginner-friendly#swimming
Distance
7.6 mi
Elevation
6,581–7,808 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

Susie Lake is the quick, beautiful Desolation overnight: 3.8 miles from Glen Alpine past Grass Lake to a clear tarn on the edge of the Lake Aloha basin — short enough for a first backpack, with world-class scenery either way.

Highlights

  • Grass Lake's meadow shoreline on the way up
  • Susie Lake's granite setting at the Aloha basin's edge
  • Easy access to Lake Aloha for a day trip
  • Short miles, big scenery — ideal for beginners

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Glen Alpine Trailhead (Fallen Leaf Lake) (6,581 ft) · parking: Glen Alpine road end at Fallen Leaf Lake's southwest shore
  • Water: Grass Lake and Susie 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 through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Camps fill quickly on weekends
  • 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. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. 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: Susie Lake 3.8 mi, Grass Lake 2.3 mi, Lake Aloha 5.8 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.