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      • Hiking the Horsetail Falls Trail into Desolation Wilderness
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      • Guest Post Criteria
      • Photographer Guidelines
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  • Active Sierra
    • Hiking and Backpacking
      • Yosemite Hiking and Backpacking
      • The Best Backpacking Destinations in Ansel Adams Wilderness
      • Backpacking the PCT across Desolation Wilderness
      • 10 Great Hoover Wilderness Day Hike Excursions
    • Camping The Sierra Nevada
      • Camping In Lake Tahoe
      • Camping Near Markleville California
      • Camping in Eldorado National Forest
        • Union Valley Reservoir Camping and Recreation
        • Loon Lake Camping and Recreation
      • Camping and Lodging Plumas National Forest
      • Camping Near Mono Lake – Inyo National Forest
    • Fishing the Sierra Nevada
      • Spring Fishing Near Bridgeport
      • Backcountry fishing Destinations
      • Backcountry Fishing in Desolation Wilderness
    • Skiing / Snowboarding
      • Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Guide
        • Diamond Peak Winter Recreation
      • Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort
    • Snowshoeing the Sierra
      • Snowshoeing Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing Donner Summit Region
    • California Sno-Parks
    • Rock Climbing Tahoe
  • Trails
    • The Pacific Crest Trail
    • Tahoe Rim Trail
    • The Half Dome Experience
    • Hiking Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
    • Taking In The Carson Valley By Trail
    • Best Lake Tahoe Day Hikes
    • Top 6 Bridgeport Day Hiking Trails & Destinations
    • Backpacking Trails Mokelumne Wilderness
    • Hiking the Rubicon Trail in South Lake Tahoe
    • American River Canyon Trails – Auburn State Recreational Area
    • Hiking the Horsetail Falls Trail into Desolation Wilderness
    • Exploring the Lakes of Pyramid Creek ~ A Desolation Wilderness Adventure
    • A Great Five Lake Day Trip into Desolation Wilderness
    • HIKING DESOLATION WILDERNESS GLEN ALPINE TRAILHEAD
    • WOLF CREEK TRAIL | CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS
    • FEATHER FALLS NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL – PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
  • National Parks
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      • Free Entrance Days for National Parks in 2021
    • Explore Yosemite National Park
      • Glacier Point – Yosemite National Park
        • Hiking Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
        • Skiing and Snowshoeing Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
      • Yosemite Hiking and Backpacking
      • Hiking Lyell Canyon and the JMT From Tuolumne Meadows
      • Hiking Yosemite’s Wawona Area
      • 25 Best Yosemite Hikes
      • Yosemite Routes / Travel
      • Mountain Passes in Yosemite
    • Explore Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Lassen Volcanic National Park – 1 Day Itenerary
      • Kings Creek Falls – Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Hiking Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Snowshoeing Lassen Volcanic National Park
    • Explore Kings Canyon National Park
    • Explore Sequoia National Park
    • Explore Death Valley National Park
      • Day Hiking Death Valley National Park
      • Discover Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park
  • Wilderness Adventure
    • Explore Carson Iceberg Wilderness
      • Wolf Creek – Carson Iceberg Wilderness
      • Deep in the Canyons of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness
      • WOLF CREEK TRAIL | CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS
      • NOBEL LAKE HIKE VIA NOBEL CANYON
      • Highland Lakes – Stanislaus National Forest
    • Explore Mokelumne Wilderness
      • Backpacking Trails Mokelumne Wilderness
    • Explore Desolation Wilderness
      • Backpacking Desolation Wilderness
      • Lakes of Desolation
        • Lost and Triangle Lakes
        • Dicks Lake ~ Desolation Wilderness
        • Ropi Lake – Desolation Wilderness
      • Trails of Desolation
        • Hiking the Horsetail Falls Trail into Desolation Wilderness
      • Desolation Wilderness Trailhead and Mileage
    • Exploring Hoover Wilderness
      • Top 6 Bridgeport Day Hiking Trails & Destinations
      • Discover Green Creek Canyon
      • 20 Lakes Basin – Hoover Wilderness
      • Explore Gardisky Lake
    • Explore Ansel Adams Wilderness
      • The Best Backpacking Destinations in Ansel Adams Wilderness
      • Explore Parker Lake
    • Explore John Muir Wilderness
      • Top 10 Backpacking Trails John Muir Wilderness
    • Emigrant Wilderness
    • Explore Granite Chief Wilderness
    • Explore Golden Trout Wilderness
    • Jennie Lakes Wilderness
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      • Chickadee Ridge
      • Explore Desolation Wilderness
      • Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Guide
      • Guide to Hiking Meiss Country in Lake Tahoe
      • Echo Summit Recreation
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    • Explore Bridgeport
    • Explore Alpine County
      • Lodging and Accommodations Alpine County California
    • Explore Mammoth Lakes California
      • Hiking/ Backpacking From Reds Meadow
    • Explore Calaveras County
    • Explore Desolation Wilderness
      • Desolation Wilderness Trailhead and Mileage
      • Dicks Lake ~ Desolation Wilderness
      • Lost and Triangle Lakes
      • Ropi Lake – Desolation Wilderness
      • Hiking the Horsetail Falls Trail into Desolation Wilderness
    • Explore Plumas and Lassen Counties
      • FEATHER FALLS NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL – PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
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      • 15 Great Outdoor Destinations and Trails in Toulumne County
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Home Day Hikes

Backpacking the PCT across Desolation Wilderness

Charlie REC magazine - Charlie Pankey ~ Publisher by Charlie REC magazine - Charlie Pankey ~ Publisher
October 13, 2021
in Day Hikes, Desolation Wilderness, Lake Tahoe Archives, PCT
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Bear Proof Your Backpacking Experience in Desolation Wilderness

Applications for PCT Long-distance Permits open soon

Caldor Fire Closure Area will be Reduced Beginning Friday, October 15

Summer Backpacking near Lake Tahoe has many options. The opportunity to backpack on the PCT into Desolation Wilderness is by far the most sought after experience for hikers in Lake Tahoe basin.

Backpacking into Desolation Wilderness provides visitors and locals alike a simple well earned separation from the bulk of the crowds. Staying on the PCT provides you an opportunity to check off one of the best segments of the famed long distance trail in the high Sierra.

Here our our tips and favorite lake backpacking locations along the PCT.


“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” ~ John Muir

Hiking to Lake Aloha 2018
Lake Aloha2018

Entering the Desolation Wilderness from the south is the most common route for most PCT visitors. The PCT crosses the Sierra on Echo summit at HWY 50 South West of Lake Tahoe.

For many PCT travelers Lake Tahoe is a natural stop along their journey. Hikers enjoy abundance of food and to take a day off from the trail. You can often find hikers seeking a ride into town from Echo Lake around the Forth of July.

Starting At Echo Lake

For beginner Backpackers leaving from Echo Lake provides and easy travel along the PCT to Lake Aloha or Lake of the Woods (note Lake of the woods is not directly on the PCT, you must be willing to venture off trial .5 miles) Roughly 7 miles from the lodge at Echo Lake this route can also be shortened by taking the Water fairy from the Lodge at Echo Lake.

DCIM100GOPRO

Dicks Pass

From Lake Aloha Backpackers will start to experience the various passes of the Desolation Wilderness Routes. Headed towards Dicks Pass backpackers are invited to visit Heather Lakes, Susie Lake and Gilmore Lake, with an optional 2.1 mile off route option to Half Moon Lake .

Once over the 9380′ Dicks Pass the highest Point on the PCT trail in Desolation Wilderness. Hikers will have their choice of overnight locations at Dicks Lake, Fontanillis Lake, or Upper and middle Velma Lakes.


“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” ~ John Muir

Middle Velma Lake

Once past the Middle Velma Lake backpackers will climb roughly 200 feet before being rewarded with a stretch of 10 miles of wilderness forest to the West of Phipps Peak, which gradually descends out of Desolation Wilderness and back into the Eldorado and Tahoe National forests by Richardson Lake and headed to the famed Barker Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness region.

Starting from Echo Lakes, it is technically 25 miles from the trailhead to the end of Desolation Wilderness. This hike would typically take 14 hours to accomplish in one piece, but it is recommended to break Desolation Wilderness into multiple day hikes to best see its full beauty.

Common routes

A Common Three Day trek: Backpackers staying at Lake Aloha on night one, Traveling over Dicks Pass to the Velma Lakes on day two, then on day three completing their trek out of the Wilderness to the north.

Popular route includes exit via Phipps pass to Meeks bay. This route includes 6 additional lakes. Stoney ridge, Crag lake and more.

crag lake
crag lake

Permits Required

Desolation Wilderness Backpacking does require a permit. Over night permits can be obtained from the Forest Service Visitor Centers in South Lake Tahoe. Please Note that no Campfires are allowed in the Desolation Wilderness. Portable Stoves are permitted. Because the Desolation Wilderness is one of the Most visited Wilderness areas in the nation, it is also in the most danger of being destroyed by over use.

You should not only expect to see many others on your journey but we hope you will help us keep the leave no trace principles in order to preserve this wilderness experience for generations to come.

  • Make sure to set up camp at least 100 feet away from the water,
  • use camp areas that have already been established if possible.
  • Many location in Desolation Wilderness have illegal camp areas which volunteers for years have been trying to repair.
  • Do you part by making sure you carry out what you bring in and only stay in designated areas.

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Charlie REC magazine - Charlie Pankey ~ Publisher

Charlie REC magazine - Charlie Pankey ~ Publisher

Avid hiker and Backpacker of the sierra. grew up exploring the Cascade mountains of Oregon, now find myself discovering new places weekly in the Sierra

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