Name: Echo Lakes to Lake Aloha
Rating: 4.5

“Lakes, peaks, and lots of people can all be found on this section of the Pacific Crest Trail.”

— Nick Wilder

Features Lake · Views · Wildflowers

Overview

A beautiful run around both the Echo Lakes lead to the heart of the Desolation Wilderness and Lake Aloha. This is one of the more popular trails in the area, so expect to share it! Consider taking the water taxi (in season roughly July through Labor Day weekend) to make this journey shorter and easier.

Need to Know

You can take a water taxi across both Echo Lakes and save about 5 miles of your run. It's fun and very scenic as well. Taking the taxi makes this much shorter and easier. More Taxi Information

Description

If you're not taking the taxi, head up the hill to the PCT and start your journey following the banks of Lower Echo Lake. The trail is pretty open and can be quite hot here, and Echo Lake is lightly developed with vacation homes, but after about 2 miles you hit the wilderness boundary and the setting gets a bit more serene.

Pass a wildflower-filled meadow at 4.5 miles and continue past several junctions until you reach Lake Aloha. Enjoy the lake, perhaps a swim and a picnic, and then take a left at Lake of the Woods Trail.

Skirt around the lake, enjoy the views, then take a left on the PCT to Lake Aloha Trail (17E39). This will quickly get you back to the PCT and your return run back to Echo Lakes.

There are a smattering of camping areas dotted along the way if you'd like to extend your journey.