Access Fallen Leaf Lake until heavy snow.  Echo Lakes Year Round.

Drive Time: 3.5 hours

Distance: 450 miles RT

Wilderness Permit: Call the visitor center below to order a permit

Fees: $5/permit & $5/person/night, $5/day snow park fee

Desolation Wilderness            (916) 644-6048

http://www.adventuresports.com/asap/backpack/backpinf.htm#desolation

El Dorado National Forest Visitor Center, 3070 Camino Heights Drive, Camino, CA 95709

Driving Route:

            Tricky intersections:

Hwy 50 to Tahoe Blvd

Left from Tahoe Blvd onto Fallen Leaf Lane

            Winter closures: Fallen Leaf Lane, carry chains

            Dinner suggestions:

Lots of places in S. Lake Tahoe, for example

The Cantina Bar and Grill, Hwy 89 & 10th, South Lake Tahoe, CA  (503) 544-1233

Hiking Route:

            Side trips and variations: Gilmore Lake, Mt Tallac, Stanford Sierra Camp

Dry Route--Fallen Leaf Loop:

                ½ Day: Parking Lot to Sussie Lake.  Lots of cobbles and roots on this trail.  Pass the soda spring.  Ascend through forest and meadows and about mid way up there are some ledges that catch the stream – a nice spot for a snack.

                ½ Day: Sussie Lake to Lake of the Woods.   The open forest is now mostly small needled firs and sequoias and the lakes are beautiful.  Lake Aloha is drained by about the end of October for the winter--it’s much prettier either full or buried in snow.

                ½ Day: Pyramid Peak.  Broken granite slabs dominate this area.  From Lake of the Woods, my preferred route is to go NW through a pass, cross American Lake at its middle, scramble over the middle of the ridge between American Lake and Pyramid Lake.  Descend down to the N side of Pyramid Lake and begin your ascent of Pyramid Peak just to the left of the large eroded joint that takes you to a bench ½ way up the Peak.  From the Bench, Pyramid Peaks S ridge is the easiest way to the summit.  The SE face is a steep scramble – it can be fun if there is a lot of firm snow.

                ½ Day: Complete the loop.  The route is easy going until the end -- you descend steeply back to the parking lot.  This route becomes treacherous after an ice storm or when snow turns into ice.  Make sure you return to the vehicles while there is still light – this steep section goes through a lot of brush the trail is easy to lose in the dark.

Snowy Route to Lake of the Woods or Aloha via Echo Lakes:

Echo Summit Snow Park.  Pick up a snow park pass at REI ($5/day) to put on your vehicle’s dash.

Full Day: Ski or snowshoe close to the (North) East shore of the lakes (or on the lakes if they are solidly frozen).  The 1^st part of the route borders a restricted zone where bombs are detonated to keep Echo Summit clear of snow, so stay close to the lake.  Besides, the slopes around the lakes are steep, full of brush, and will make walking difficult especially if you are on snowshoes.  Stay well above Tamarack Lake.  Ascend the ridge west of Haypress Meadow and drop down to Lake of the Woods or take the mostly flat but densely forested PCT to Lake Aloha.