RT Lake Aloha Trail

Large shallow backcountry reservoir located at an elevation of 8,116 feet in the Sierra Nevada Range, west of Lake Tahoe

General Information

Length:

12.5 miles round trip

Elevation Gain:

Approximately 1,850 ft

Difficulty:

Difficult

Hours:

Open year-round, weather and trail conditions permitting.

Fees:

Day-use wilderness permit required (self-issued at the trailhead).
Overnight wilderness permits and fees required for backpacking and camping in Desolation Wilderness.

Pet Policy:

Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash.

Closest cities with hotels:

South Lake Tahoe, CA (about 15 mi)

Seasons:

Summer through early fall are the most popular times to visit. Snow may affect trail access in winter and spring.

Location:

Echo Lakes Trailhead, Echo Lake, CA 95721

Website:

visitlaketahoe.com

How to Get There

From South Lake Tahoe, CA (15 mi): Take US-50 west toward Echo Summit, turn onto Echo Lakes Road near Echo Summit, continue to Echo Chalet and the Echo Lakes Trailhead, then follow the Lake Aloha Trail through Desolation Wilderness.

Overview

Lake Aloha is a large, shallow backcountry lake at 8,116 feet in the heart of the Desolation Wilderness west of Lake Tahoe, ringed by granite and a starting point for climbs of Pyramid and Price peaks. The easiest approach is from Echo Lake on the Pacific Crest Trail, or from the Glen Alpine trailhead near South Lake Tahoe. Wilderness permits are required.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Lake Aloha", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Eldorado National Forest near Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness, California

Panoramic view of Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California

Lake Aloha with Pyramid Peak in the background, Eldorado National Forest, California

Lake Aloha backcountry reservoir, Desolation Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California