10+ miles. Open all year. Subscribe . The lake sits within a granite cirque and drains northeast into the Rubicon River. A truly stunning view made especially sweet coming at the end of such a long day in the mountains. The trail in this section follows the old construction road left over from the hydroelectric project that was built in the 1960s just before official Wilderness designation was granted in 1969. Highland Lake Trail . I couldn't believe how much snow was still on the ground in late June. The jeep route continued to prove a slow and difficult walking surface as it steadily lost elevation along a series of switchbacks. Echo Lake and Ralston Trails: There are five lakes and one creek to consider. Turn at the Cheese Camp Sign. Rockbound Lake: 6.5 miles from Trailhead, 6400 feet. Brookies and Rainbows. A nearly full moon was just rising as the trail crosses an open expanse of granite with a view of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe. Goldens.Horseshoe Lake: 16.5 miles from Trailhead, 7600 feet. Backpacking South from Dicks Pass to Susie and Heather Lakes . Lake of the Woods is really beautiful with the view of the Crystal Range and all the trees around it. At waterfall camp, you'll have the opportunity to explore over 50 waterfalls. Cracked Crag is a minor peak within the Desolation Wilderness area and is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Aloha. Ascent to Vemla Lakes. Brookies and Rainbows up to 17".Ropi Lake: 7 miles from Trailhead, 7600 feet. Patches of snow and ice, from recent early season storms, glowed on the trail near the pass becoming less and less frequent as I lost elevation. Brookies and Rainbows.Upper Velma Lake: 3 miles from Trailhead, 7840 feet. Large pools in the Rubicon River glinted through the trees in the valley below, and farther on the peaks near Highland Lake were visible. Hiking. Summary of amphibian monitoring results near Highland Lake 2003-2014. From the northern wilderness boundary to the creek coming from Highland Lake, there are four downed trees, all between 25-32". Mostly Brookies, some Browns. Cracked Crag and Cracked Crag Jr. are a couple of obscure bumps on the skyline as you drive into Fallen Leaf Lake . From here the trail is basically one long traverse above Eagle Lake with great views. Trailhead starts at 7000 feet. Tallac, Cathedral Lake, and on to Fallen Leaf Lake and the Tallac Trailheads along Highway 89. Tagged With: CDFW, Fish and Wildlife, amphibian, biology, California, chytridiomycosis, Clyde Lake, Desolation Wilderness, ecology, El Dorado County, endangered, environment, frog, Highland Lake, Mussulman, science, Sierra Nevada, threatened, USFWS, Yellow-legged. share. Backpack to this secluded destination that's hidden from most of the traffic in Desolation Wilderness. Taken at Desolation Wilderness . A lot more walking laid ahead of me, and I set-off, hoping to reach Rockbound Lake before having my breakfast. Tahoe National Forest. There are seven major trailheads to access the Desolation Wilderness from Highway 89 and Highway 50. The lake sits within a granite cirque and drains northeast into the Rubicon River. Some Browns up to 17".Hidden Lake: 5.5 miles from Trailhead, 7300 feet. Trinity Alps. 6 Photos Lake Aloha. Picking a favorite lake in the Desolation Wilderness is no easy task either. Paradise Lake. By the time I was past the short spur trail to the Eagle Lake outlet and back into trees it was dark and I was happy that as a consequence of starting my day in the dark I had a flashlight. Route Name: Bayview Trailhead Location: South Lake Tahoe, California Duration: 3 days minimum Length:22 km / 13.8 miles The Desolation Wilderness is located just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50. There are several trailheads in the vicinity of South Lake Tahoe, with access from Highway 50 and Highway 89. Yay! surveyed lakes in the Meeks Drainage: Lake Genevieve, Crag Lake, Hidden Lake, Shadow, Stony Ridge, and Rubicon Lake. After a couple miles of gentle downward traversing on the PCT I met the OHV route through Barker Meadows that would take me to the Rubicon jeep trail a couple miles ahead. A rocky, shallow lake often fishless due to cessation of air drops. Lake Tahoe Truckee-Pyramid Lake Great Basin Internal Drainage-N.A. The Desolation Wildnerness is just west of South Lake Tahoe. I was happy to leave the Rubicon Trail and it’s mysterious jeep culture behind and set-off cross-country from the saddle above Buck Island. From the northern wilderness boundary to the creek coming from Highland Lake, there are four downed trees, all between 25-32". Big Basin Redwoods State Park. After crossing a narrow rock route between two of the lakes, from which you could almost touch water on each side, I resumed the march on to my ride at the Eagle Lakes trailhead. Wilderness. At this point my planned pick-up at Eagle Lake Trailhead began to loom, as I was beginning to lag behind my time targets. Desolation Wilderness has been my favorite destination for backpacking lately since it’s so close to home, and there are so many spots and trails I still want to explore. Canon 5D Mark II. Works awesome! Desolation Wilderness Permits and Maps For overnight backpacking in Desolation Wilderness, a permit is required. The crest of the Sierra Nevada runs through it, just west of Lake Tahoe. Desolation Wilderness backpacking loop. From this point on I would see only two hikers near the Velma Lakes. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Up and Over to Highland Lake. Ascent to Velma Lakes in the Desolation Wilderness. medium-sized lakes within a subalpine environment of granitic peaks and glacially formed valleys. “Whichever one I was most recently at, I really feel like every time I go I think, ‘Whoa, this is my new favorite lake,’” laughed Mullen. Cracking the Crags | Desolation Wilderness, Lake Tahoe, CA. Suggested Flies for Desolation Wilderness:Sierra Tahoe Hatch Selection, Dries:Clark's Little Yellow Stonefly #12-16Yellow Madame X #12-14Stimulator #6-12Royal Trude #12-14X-Caddis,Olive #14-18Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, Nymphs:Gold Ribbed Hares Ear #12-14Birds Nest #12-14A.P. Deep Lake.Lawrence Lake: 5.5 miles from Trailhead, 7800 feet. As I watched the headlights of the car sweep away I stood in the densely quiet pre-dawn gloom made bright by an almost full moon setting in the west. 6 hours ago. Lost Coast. Crossing the iron truss bridge on the far side of the Rubicon Springs camp was a relief as my time in jeeper territory was coming to an end. Meek's Creek Trail: There are six lakes to consider along this trail. Desolation Wilderness. The granite and glaciers of the Sierra Nevada have strongly affected this region leading to the formation of well over 100 lakes of all sizes. If you are going to camp at Snow Lake, the best site is on the southwestern edge of the lake. Also included on the new lakes list would be Lake Zitella, Horseshoe Lake and the 4-Q Lakes. Wilderness Area in Eldorado National Forest, Sierra Nevada, CA Leaving the Rubicon River and zigzagging up a series of switchbacks marked by lines of stones set on smooth granite I gained altitude quickly and got back into thick forest. A permit is required for both day hikes and overnights in Desolation Wilderness. Tahoe National Forest. Views to the left of the Eagle Lake drainage were constantly changing with the setting sun casting dramatic shadows and the fading light adding a soft mystery to this familiar place that I had never experienced before. shares. ... From the northern wilderness boundary to the creek coming from Highland Lake, there are four downed trees, all between 25-32". From the lake to the lookout down to Highland Lake and to the peak is basically just cairn to cairn. Rainbows and Brookies. 5 trout per day. If you decide to go, please practice Leave No Trace. This is accessed from Ice House Road off of Hwy 50 in Pollock Pines. Start at Echo Lakes Trailhead. The junction for the last 1/3 mile of trail to Lake #3. My plan called for leaving Rockbound about the time I stopped for breakfast, so I was past my self-imposed cut-off time for the longer route. I stopped here for lunch, and enjoyed the unseasonable warm weather. Makes sense. Leaving the 4-Q lakes area I was not able to find the trail and was again navigating cross-country through a mostly open granite environment on my way down to the Rubicon River and its trail. Eventually I had worked my way up the long drainage coming down from Highland Lake and arrived at a spot where a left hand course would take me up a boulder field and to a saddle in the ridge above Lake Zitella, and a route to the right would continue a quarter mile or so up to Highland Lake. Picking a favorite lake in the Desolation Wilderness is no easy task either. Highlights include alpine lakes, granite peaks, and expansive views of Desolation Wilderness. email. Day 1: PCT / TRT to Tamarack Lake – Lake Aloha – Heather Lake, Susie Lake. American River, South Fork, and their tributaries above Folsom Lake (Placer, El Dorado, Amador and Alpine cos.): Last Saturday in Apr. became a designated Wilderness in 1969 and is probably one of the most heavily used "Wilderness" The Echo Lakes Trailhead is off Hwy 50 at Echo Lake, south of South Lake Tahoe. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Fallen Leaf Lake Trail: There are five lakes and one creek to consider on this trail. Eagle Lake in Desolation Wilderness puzzle in Great Sightings jigsaw puzzles on TheJigsawPuzzles.com. After stopping briefly at the north end of Rockbound I skirted the shore on my way south and eventually hit the Rockbound Trail leading from the northern boundary of the wilderness all the way to Lake Aloha and on to Echo Lakes and the southern boundary near Highway 50. Easy walking along the trail/road took me to the southern end of Rockbound where I stopped for breakfast on the shore of the lake. Highland Lake is located in the Desolation Wilderness, northeast El Dorado County (Figure 1). -Highland Lakes are probably best fished late in the summer when mosquitoes have abated. Wright's Lake Trailhead: There are seven lakes to consider. A light dusting of snow persisted in the shade of rocks and trees here and crunched under foot on the climb up. In the early morning of October 19th, 2013 I was dropped off at the Pacific Crest Trail trailhead just over Baker Pass from Lake Tahoe. Zitella Lake: 17 miles from Trailhead, 7700 feet. The Desolation Wilderness is a 100 square mile federal "wilderness area" directly to the west of Lake Tahoe, a well-known recreational area on the California/Nevada border with many fishing opportunities. Maud Lake: 4 miles from Trailhead, 7700 feet. Rainbows in lower section, Goldens in upper section. All Photos; Share this. I did some long hikes in the city to get a feel for the distance and by mid-October I felt ready. But ignore the stated speed. Desolation Wilderness Volunteers ... Highland Trail Log-out: October 23rd, 2020. The granite and glaciers of the Sierra Nevada have strongly affected this region leading to the formation of well over 100 lakes of all sizes. The Dece Scouts website was created by KP, along with loving contributions from Ash, Eric, and LT. So, off to Forni Lake we go, via the Highland Trail leaving from Van Vleck. McConnell Lake … After a short time a large open granite area to the west opens up and must be used as a gathering place for the heavy summer time jeep traffic the Rubicon Trail attracts. through Nov. 15. It was even near the area where I was thinking of going anyway, but now we can go all the way into Desolation Wilderness. Highland Lake as seen from the ridge just south of Tells Peak in the Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness. The Pacific Crest Trail passes right at the foot of the peak on it's western side. Desolation Wilderness Fishing Update 1 (1995) Well, a number of things have happened since the Desolation Wilderness Fishing Guide was published. My cross-country route cut off a right angle elbow in the phantom trail on the maps and saved me some elevation change to boot. Desolation was my second choice for my first California trip back in June. As the PCT sets off to the south from Barker Pass it slowly loses elevation as it passes through high open meadows spaced between dense stands of trees. This route took me across large smooth sections of sloped granite and was very easy going. Originally, the native fish were Lahonton Cutthroats found within the Fallen Leaf Brookies, some Rainbows.Island Lake: 3 miles from Trailhead, 8200 feet. Brookies.Lake Aloha: 6 miles from Trailhead, 8100 feet. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay. By brennanl June 17, 2011 10:39 pm. Related Posts. The Eagle Falls Trailhead is off Hwy 89 at the end of Emerald Bay. Nov. 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in Apr. Desolation Wilderness Trails – Glen alpine trailhead is located at Lilly Lake approx a mile behind Fallen Leaf lake. The Rockbound Trailhead is from the northern portion of the wilderness and can be accessed by way of Ice House Road off Hwy 50 to Loon Lake. Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of sub-alpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Kibbie Lake. Highland Lake Trail . Desolation Wilderness is jointly administered by both the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Goldens.Pyramid Creek: 5 miles of Freestone Creek below Lake of the Woods. Rockbound Trailhead to Highland Lake. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. Hood . Desolation Wilderness Volunteers - This site is for public information, trail conditions, and communication related to Desolation Wilderness, CA. From Highland Creek to the junction of 4-Qs / McConnell Loop, there are two trees, 21" & 33" dbh. 2 years ago. Another quick jaunt brought me to the trail junction from which a left brings you down to Eagle Lake and a right takes you up and over to Granite Lake and on to the parking lot at Lakeview Campground. The area Permits & Fees: Parking is free, however, during November to May, a sign is posted stating that only residents are allowed to park on the neighborhood streets. First, The US Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Game are cooperating on the management of fishing -- including the study of Yellow-Legged Mountain Frogs. The Eagle Falls Trailhead is … No official trails access Highland Lake but a clearly marked user IF the recreation area is open, at the junction by the stop sign, turn right and follow it to the end where you will find a parking lot. As fall settled into the mountains Highland Lake began to appeal as a hiking destination. Just outside the Desolation Boundary. Meek's Creek Trailhead is at the north end of the wilderness area along Hwy 89 at Meek's Bay. Brookies, Browns, and Rainbows.Rubicon Reservoir: 8 miles from Trailhead, 6500 feet. Desolation Wilderness : Desolation Wilderness Meeks Bay to Susie Lake . If the recreation area is open, at the junction by the stop sign, turn right and follow it to the end where you will find a trailhead parking lot. Forest Orders 03-20-15 and 19-20-11 that closed Desolation to overnight camping have been rescinded. In fact, it’s so popular you’ll need a permit to enter, even if you’re planning just a day hike. The lake sits in a granite cirque at approximately 7,800 feet in elevation and drains northeast into Rockbound Lake (Figure 2). Updated: 2 weeks ago. In the open the moonlight was more than enough to see by, and my flashlight was only needed in the forested sections. 5 trout per day. 3 Photos Trail Clearing - Bassi-Millionaire Trail. And while permits can be hard to snag, getting here is easy. My last visit to the area was in the early spring and the creek was a completely impassable torrent, so I had been worried about this crossing. Highland Lake is located in the Desolation Wilderness, El Dorado County at approximately 7,800’ above mean sea level and is managed by the Eldorado National Forest. Paradise Lake. I took a break here to take advantage of the excellent view to the south and a good portion of the remainder of my days travels. Susie Lake marks the bottom of our descent from Dicks Pass. My next stop was at the creek crossing above Eagle Lake. Mt. Brookies and Rainbows.Phipps Lake: 9 miles from Trailhead, 8500 feet. Took my fiancé and our pup on their first backpacking trip this weekend. Close • Posted by 14 minutes ago. tweet. Desolation Wilderness is far from a hidden secret. This is the second year in a row that we have decided to skip the crowded beaches and head to the mountains for a very quiet Fourth of July. Despite hiking this section of trail many times, I was surprised by how steep the trail is, losing elevation in a hurry. Both crossings of the Rubicon River and of Phipps Creek were uneventful and fairly easy, according to the ranger who went there. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the length of the wilderness, and its proximity to roads makes it one of the more easily accessible wildernesses in the Sierra. The Trailhead is a paved parking that gives visitors direct access via rock road to the Historic Glen Alpine Spring Resort. From Highland Creek to the junction of 4-Qs / McConnell Loop, there are two trees, 21" & 33" dbh. Echo Trailhead starts at 7400 feet.Tamarack Lake: 3.5 miles from Trailhead, 7820 feet. I hit the trail just past the “crossing” and quickly met the wilderness boundary sign. Stopping and turning off my flashlight, I soaked in the sound of Aspen leaves and Eagle Creek rustling in the darkness below the trail. The area became a designated Wilderness in 1969 and is probably one of the most heavily used "Wilderness" areas within the U.S. Explore Desolation Wilderness - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The Tell’s Peak area is a rugged shortcut into Desolation Wilderness using the Forni Lake trail up to Tell’s peak where a faint abandoned trail goes off the NW side and down to Highland Lake. Brookies and Goldens.Smith Lake: 2.5 miles from Trailhead, 8700 feet. Reaching some of the famous Desolation Wilderness granite areas, the views open up to the east to show Silver Peak towering high above this area. Midges work great as well as Ants and Beetles. sms. By: Ralston Trailhead is southwest of Echo Lake along Hwy 50 and connects into the PCT for access to the same lakes and streams as the Echo Lake Trailhead. Having just resolved to visit each of the named lakes within Desolation Wilderness, Highland Lake especially appealed to me because it is one of the most remote. There are seven major trailheads to access the Desolation Wilderness from Highway 89 and Highway 50. Nymph #10-16Caddis Emerger #14-18Emergent Sparkle Pupa #14-18Burk's Hunchback Infrequens #14-16, The Desolation Wildnerness is just west of South Lake Tahoe. Brookies, Browns, and Rainbows. Timberline Trail around Mt. Many small, but very steeply sided, draws ran perpendicular to my desired track and required a lot of extra walking to get past. Rockbound Valley:There are six lakes to consider as well as the Rubicon River. areas within the U.S. Brookies, Rainbows, and Browns.Middle Velma Lake 4 miles from Trailhead, 7800 feet. Lake of the Woods: 5 miles from Trailhead, 8060 feet. Subscribe to receive Science Institute news by email. Downhill from here on, I braced myself to lose 1800 vertical feet over the next couple miles. It was clear that some fellow hikers come this way, but not many. Canon 24-70 L Series Lens, Sigma 12mm Lens. send. This means packing out all your … Rainbows up to 17".McConnell Lakes: 18 miles from Trailhead, 7750 feet. My worries were for not as there was essentially no running water between the two lakes, and the crossing was a simple step over a trickle running across water polished granite. It can be reached by taking Wrights Lake Road off of Highway 50. Brookies. You can book a permit online at Recreation.gov or score one of the first-come-first-serve permits at the Tahoe South Visitor Center, … Brookies and Browns up to 17", some Rainbows.Half Moon Lake: 5 miles from Trailhead, 8150 feet. Follow Wrights Lake Road until you reach Wrights Lake. Along the route you are treated to amazing scenery with highlights including: alpine lakes, granite peaks, meadows, waterfalls, and expansive views of El Dorado National… 6 Photos Lake Aloha. most prevalent since they can spawn within non-moving waters. Highland Lake as seen from the ridge just south of Tells Peak in the Desolation Wilderness. Brookies up to 17", Rainbows, some Browns. The Desolation Wilderness consists of 63,000 acres with over one hundred small- to Desolation Wilderness Twin Lakes Day 2 Map (pdf) On our second day, we kept our camp at Island Lake and just set off on a day hike. I just couldn't get permits in time for thousand lakes loop even though I tried to book 5 months out. Leaving the meadows and crossing Barker creek for the second time I quickly reached the junction with the Rubicon jeep trail. Rubicon River: 9 miles from Trailhead. All Photos; Share this. This portion sits on non-wilderness land, and passes by a bunch of seriously nice lake … 3 Photos Trail Clearing - Bassi-Millionaire Trail. 19 Photos 2 months ago by Janice Le Pouvoir. The Desolation Wilderness is a 63,960-acre (258.8 km2) federally protected wilderness area in the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in El Dorado County, California. Mostly Lake Trout. This lake is planned to be gillnetted by DFG under the Yellow-legged Frog Restoration Program.Ralston Lake: 4 miles from Trailhead, 7800 feet. On an earlier trip, we enjoyed a dusty and hot family hike to Tamarack Lake (from Upper Echo Lake). A gentle descent from the saddle to the northeast shore of Lake Zitella brought me to a nice shaded spot with a view of the lake and the large mounding of granite separating Lake Zitella from the elusive Highland Lake. Skip to content. share. Brookies, Rainbows, some Lahonton Cuts. Most of the waters within the Desolation area were barren. Brookies, Rainbows, and Browns. The familiar site of Barker Meadows was illuminated by enough daylight to stow my flashlight and down coat. The Desolation Wildnerness is just west of South Lake Tahoe. Meek's Creek Trailhead is at the north end of the wilderness area along Hwy 89 at Meek's Bay. After a short lunch and rest on the shore of the Lake Zitella, I headed east toward Horseshoe Lake. No restrictions. The Eagle Falls Trailhead is … Headwaters of Rubicon River. Maud Lake is the headwaters for the Jones Fork.Lake Lois: 6.5 miles from Trailhead, 8300 feet. Emigrant Wilderness. From Hwy 50, it's about 23 miles to the first turn. Deep Lake.Rubicon Lake: 7.5 miles from Trailhead, 8500 feet. 100% Upvoted. A few weekends ago I did a quick overnighter to Highland Lake from the Van Vleck trailhead. The trail began with a roughly 2 mile stretch along the northern shores of Lower and Upper Echo Lakes. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Browns, Rainbows, and Brookies. The route up to the saddle took me through a narrow boulder field against a cliffy wall to the right and sweeping views off to the left looking north back toward the beginning of my hike at Barker Pass. Meeting the well established trail at the bottom of Rockbound Valley was a relief after many hours of mostly trail-less hiking and route finding. The goal was to scramble up to the top of the Crystal Range mountain ridge near Mount Price. 10 trout in possession. On some maps a trail is marked here, but I saw little evidence of a trail on the ground. Follow Wrights Lake Road until you reach Wrights Lake. No restrictions. Brookies, some Rainbows. Crabtree Trailhead to Gem Lake. The middle section, connecting these two ends, would all be new to me and include the mysterious, and ultimately elusive, Highland Lake. VIEW FULL MAP. If you choose not to take the water taxi, add 5 miles to the overall trip. Location: Desolation Wilderness, Lake Tahoe, CA (West Shore) Distance: ~3.5 miles. 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