Desolation Wilderness
Rockbound Trail Near Wrights Lake: Guide to the Trailhead, Hikes, Fees, Permits, and What to Expect
Rockbound Trail is one of the more challenging Desolation Wilderness routes in the Crystal Basin as it gives hikers direct access to some of the deeper, more rugged scenery and destinations. Located near Wrights Lake, the trail begins at Rockbound Trailhead which offers basic amenities. While there is a quick trail option to Beauty...
Twin Lakes Trail Near Wrights Lake: Complete Hiking Guide, Fees, Permits, and What to Expect
Twin Lakes Trail is one of the most popular trailheads in the entire Crystal Basin. Located near Wrights Lake, this trail gives hikers a straightforward path to reaching alpine lakes, granite landscapes, and Desolation Wilderness without starting from one of the busier Tahoe access points. Starting at the Twin Lakes Trailhead, this trail...
Bayview Trailhead in Lake Tahoe: Parking, Permits, and What to Know Before You Go
Bayview Trailhead is one of those Tahoe access points that does a lot of work. For many visitors, it is simply where the Cascade Falls hike begins. But Bayview is more than that. It is also a practical jumping-off point for day hikes, Desolation Wilderness access, and some of the best high-scenery terrain near Emerald Bay. If …...
Maggie’s Peaks Hike in Lake Tahoe: What to Know Before You Go
If there is one hike near Emerald Bay that makes you feel like you earned the view, it is Maggie’s Peaks. This is not the quick, easy payoff of Cascade Falls, which begins at the same starting point – Bayview Trailhead. It is a steeper climb that pulls you up through granite terrain to one …...
Eagle Falls Trail to Eagle Lake and Beyond: Hiking Guide Near Emerald Bay
Eagle Falls Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Lake Tahoe area, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many visitors know it as the trail to Eagle Lake, and that short alpine hike is easily the route’s biggest draw. But the trailhead is more than just the start of …...
Eagle Falls: How to See Lower and Upper Eagle Falls at Lake Tahoe
If there is one waterfall stop around Lake Tahoe that blends easy access with dramatic scenery, it is Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay. In fact, the Lower cascade might be easier to access than even Glen Alpine Falls near Fallen Leaf Lake. Set along one of the most beautiful stretches of Highway 89, Eagle Falls …...
Modjeska Falls in South Lake Tahoe: Hike, History, and What to Know
Modjeska Falls is one of those South Lake Tahoe waterfalls that can be easy to overlook if you only know the lower falls along Glen Alpine Creek. Positioned above the more frequently photographed Glen Alpine Falls, this upper waterfall sits near Lily Lake and the Glen Alpine Trailhead, where the road narrows, the forest closes …...
Glen Alpine Trail: Guide to Hiking, Waterfalls and Wilderness Adventure
If you are looking for a South Lake Tahoe hike that gives you a little bit of everything, you would be hard-pressed to find an option better than the Glen Alpine Trail. This trail starts opposite of Fallen Leaf Lake near Lily Lake, quickly delivers waterfalls and serene creek scenery, passes through the historic Glen …...
Wrights Lake, CA: Guide to Hiking, Camping, and Kayaking
Wrights Lake in El Dorado National Forest is one of the best alpine destinations in Northern California for hiking, camping, and kayaking. Located near Placerville at over 7,000 feet elevation, this scenic mountain lake offers easy access to Desolation Wilderness and a peaceful escape from the valley heat. Whether you’re planning a...
Glen Alpine Springs Resort: Tahoe’s earliest resort, filled with history and adventure
Hidden near Fallen Leaf Lake and the Glen Alpine Trailhead, Glen Alpine Springs Resort is one of the most intriguing historic sites in the South Lake Tahoe area. What began as a mineral spring discovery in the 1860s grew into one of Tahoe’s earliest mountain resorts, tied to Nathan Gilmore, John Muir, Bernard Maybeck, and …...
