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Desolation Wilderness

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  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. Tahoe National Forest
  5. Desolation Wilderness

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Gems in Desolation Wilderness - 1

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gem Favorite Ropi Lake Sunset

Ropi Lake

(4) South L…, CA

Recommended Routes in Desolation Wilderness - 12

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RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Lake Tahoe from Mt. Tallac
Difficult

Mount Tallac

9.9 mi 16.0 km • 3,266' Up 995.6 m Up • 3,266' Down 995.58 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Pyramid Peak with Lake Aloha in the foreground.
Intermediate

Echo Lakes to Lake Aloha

12.8 mi 20.7 km • 1,434' Up 437.09 m Up • 1,436' Down 437.71 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View of Sierra at Tahoe from the top
Difficult

Pyramid Peak - Rocky Canyon Trail

6.5 mi 10.5 km • 3,915' Up 1193.24 m Up • 3,913' Down 1192.8 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Stream crossings during extremely high water level period. Waterfall flowed down from Peak 8417 and flooded forest.
Intermediate/Difficult

Horsetail Falls

3.3 mi 5.4 km • 682' Up 207.94 m Up • 682' Down 207.8 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Ralston, Tamarack, and Echo Lakes from Ralston Peak summit.
Difficult

Ralston Peak

5.8 mi 9.3 km • 2,617' Up 797.59 m Up • 2,616' Down 797.42 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite The summit of Rubicon Peak offers phenomenal views out over Lake Tahoe!
Difficult

Rubicon Peak

3.6 mi 5.9 km • 2,087' Up 636.21 m Up • 2,085' Down 635.65 m Down

Tahoma, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Glen Alpine Falls during near-peak flow with the southwest face of Mount Tallac in the background.
Intermediate/Difficult

Glen Alpine to Lake Aloha Out and Back

11.9 mi 19.2 km • 1,845' Up 562.29 m Up • 1,845' Down 562.22 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite The view down to Leland Lakes from Schmidell Pass.
Intermediate/Difficult

Rockbound Trail to Leland Lakes

10.4 mi 16.7 km • 2,719' Up 828.65 m Up • 1,528' Down 465.84 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Fontanillis Lake, with Dicks Peak in the background
Intermediate/Difficult

Fontanillis Lake Loop

11.1 mi 17.9 km • 2,542' Up 774.82 m Up • 2,540' Down 774.09 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Emerald Bay from Eagle Falls Trail
Intermediate

Eagle Lake Out and Back

1.9 mi 3.1 km • 405' Up 123.45 m Up • 405' Down 123.4 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Grouse Lake Panorama
Intermediate/Difficult

Wrights Lake to Grouse Lake

4.5 mi 7.2 km • 1,212' Up 369.32 m Up • 1,212' Down 369.37 m Down

South L…, CA
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Sunset at Leland Lakes
Difficult

China Flat to Leland Lakes

8.3 mi 13.4 km • 1,424' Up 434.18 m Up • 785' Down 239.28 m Down

South L…, CA

Desolation Wilderness Running

  • 287 Miles 462 Kilometers of Trail
  • 12 Recommended Routes
  • 1 Gem Gems
  • 1 Easy Trail Easy Trails
  • 34 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 7 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
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Trails in Desolation Wilderness - 30

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2.5 mi 4.0 km #1Eagle Falls Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 20 
65.2 mi 104.9 km #2PCT: Echo Lake to Highway 80 (Donner Summit)
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 5 
3.2 mi 5.2 km #3Twin Lakes Trail #16E12
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 7 
6.5 mi 10.4 km #4Floating Island / Mount Tallac Trail (17E33)
Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 1 
2.4 mi 3.9 km #5Lake of the Woods Trail (#17E11)
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 1 
32.8 mi 52.9 km #6TRT: Echo Lakes to Barker Pass
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 7 
10.4 mi 16.8 km #7TYT: Meeks Bay Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
Tahoma, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
Tahoma, CA 8 
4.2 mi 6.7 km #8Bayview Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 7 
4.7 mi 7.5 km #9Ralston Peak Trail (17E41)
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 3 
0.7 mi 1.2 km #10Pyramid Creek Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Intermediate/Difficult
South Lake Tahoe, CA 2 

Photos of Desolation Wilderness - 172

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Lake Tahoe from Mt. Tallac
Oct 28, 2015 near South L…, CA
Pyramid Peak with Lake Aloha in the foreground.
Sep 10, 2017 near South L…, CA
Stream crossings during extremely high water level period. Waterfall flowed down from Peak 8417 and flooded forest.
Apr 8, 2018 near South L…, CA
View of Sierra at Tahoe from the top
Nov 13, 2018 near South L…, CA
The stunning view of the Desolation Wilderness from the summit of Pyramid Peak leaves nothing to be desired.
Jan 8, 2017 near South L…, CA
Jakes Peak from the snowy side of Maggies Peaks
Nov 24, 2017 near South L…, CA
Sunset looking west from the bank of the lower twin lake.
Oct 30, 2018 near South L…, CA
The view down to Leland Lakes from Schmidell Pass.
Aug 14, 2019 near South L…, CA