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Lyons Trail to Sylvia Lake

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

Overview

Sylvia Lake is the quiet western Desolation classic: 4.6 miles from the Lyons trailhead past Bloodsucker Lake's meadows to a granite lake near the wilderness boundary. A gentle grade, light crowds, and a fine two-day out.

Highlights

  • Sylvia Lake's granite setting with the Crystal Range behind
  • Bloodsucker Lake's meadow stop at 2.9 miles
  • A gentle, beginner-friendly grade
  • The least-crowded corner of the Tahoe side

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Lyons Trailhead · parking: Lyons trailhead on the Wrights Lake road network
  • Water: Bloodsucker Lake, Sylvia Lake, and seasonal creeks; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; Wrights Lake and South Lake Tahoe have 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 trailhead is on a rough gravel road — go slow
  • 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 — Lyons. 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). Lyons trailhead destination distances: Bloodsucker Lake 2.9 mi, Sylvia Lake 4.6 mi, Lyons Lake 5.0 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.