Pacific Ranger District The Desolation Wilderness is located just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50. Desolation Wilderness: Home > PSD Limits > Map, List > Desolation Wilderness. In 1969, it became the Desolation Wilderness after the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964.[3]. There are many wet meadows throughout the wilderness, each unique due to the differences in elevation, exposure, soil composition and soil depth, resulting in a wide diversity of annual and perennial plant life. Manage dog waste by burying or carrying it out depending on the season. 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. Entering Desolation from the Echo Lakes trailhead, solid snow cover begins at Haypress Meadow (8,200 ft.). Access: Offering magnificent views of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe, this steep trail leads you up the side of Maggie's Peak into Desolation Wilderness. The El Dorado County Leash Law is enforced when dogs are harassing wildlife or impacting other visitors opportunities for solitude. Permits are available only online via recreation.gov; paper permits are not being issued in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Livestock are limited to two livestock per person, or 12 livestock in one group. A section of the Pacific Crest Trail/Tahoe Rim Trail traverses 17 miles of the Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness is located in the southwest corner of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Due to the Desolations fragile high elevation ecosystem Campfires are not allowed anywhere in the wilderness area. From Meeks Bay trail head to Phipps Pass we will be climbing a total of 2561 feet of vertical elevation over 8.88 miles of distance. The Desolation Wilderness is located just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50. Desolation Wilderness is open for foot traffic and equestrian use only—all means of mechanical transportation (including snowmobiles) will not be allowed. The Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail pass through the wilderness. It is accessible from the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin. Many other alpine and wooded lakes of various sizes are scattered throughout the area. Desolation Wilderness CA weather - local Desolation Wilderness, California weather forecasts and current conditions. What to do: Backpacking, hiking and camping. Desolation Wilderness is in north-central California along the eastern border, 3-1/2 hours northeast of San Francisco, 2 hours east of Sacramento, and 1 hour southwest of Reno, Nevada. GPS and/or map and compass are still recommended to find the trail along with proper footwear, clothing […] [1], Before European settlement in the mid-19th century, there is evidence this area was used by the Washoe. Solving the cold problem is pretty easy, just bring more warmer clothes. The most extensive forested areas are found on moist soils bordering lakes, streams, and meadows. Located three miles north of the Highway 50/89 junction The Desolation Wilderness Volunteers website is a great place to check trail conditions before you head out. Your best resource for Desolation Wilderness CA … Do not hitch, tether, or hobble a horse or other saddle or pack animal within 200 feet of a water source or within 100 feet of a campsite. This is until September 14 when conditions will be reevaluated. Popular wilderness ages well under the eye of devoted stewards . The last half mile of the hike can be difficult, as there is granite rock and boulders that require rock climbing and the trail is not well marked and hard to follow. Decomposed granite accumulations are often shallow deposits within glacially scoured basins. Meiss Country requires no permits, though these areas are a stone's throw from each other. Pets - Domestic pets are allowed in the Desolation Wilderness at this time. Use Permits. There are plenty of water sources from the southern border of Desolation Wilderness north to Middle Velma Lake. Desolation Wilderness is in a glory state that locals haven’t seen for many years – pumping waterfalls, high water levels in the lakes, and with the late start to the season, a pretty empty, crowd-free landscape. The Crystal Range is within the wilderness area, with Pyramid Peak as the highest point in the range and the wilderness at 9,985 feet (3,043 m)[5] in elevation. Within 7 days of your “Date of Entry”, you may print your permit yourself, or bring your confirmation email and photo ID to a Forest Service office to have them print it. Miles & Elevations Stop at Granite Lake for a short rest along the way. Desolation is a relative term. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. Desolation Wilderness Conditions Report: Wilderness Ranger, Kristine Koran, July 1 to 4, 2017. provided these great visuals on the snowy conditions that are still persistent in Desolation. A call center is available to assist daily from 7 am-9pm (summer) and 7am – 7pm (winter). County(s): El Dorado. Trailhead parking areas are closed in winter and many access roads are not subject to snow removal. In the summer, a quota system is used for overnight trips to limit the number of visitors on any given day in the wilderness. The limited tree cover in Desolation is valuable for watershed protection, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics. Supervisor’s Office 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. Eldorado National Forest 530-543-2694, Group size is limited to 12 people per party who will be hiking or camping together. By the end of that century, the first formal step to limiting its development when it was made a Forest Reserve, managed first by the General Land Office, and later, by the US Forest Service. All of these avalanches are thought to have occurred during the March 20-22 rain/ high elevation snow event. The crest of the Sierra Nevada runs through it, just west of Lake Tahoe. Permits may be difficult to obtain during the high Summer backpacking season. Weather: When planning your trip, be aware that snow can persist in much of Desolation Wilderness through the end of June. Expect snow on the trail. Due to its popularity and fragile ecosystem, permits are required year-round for both day and overnight visits. Winter: 8am to 4:30pm M-F, Taylor Creek Visitor Center It can be reached by taking Wrights Lake Road off of Highway 50. It has extensive areas of bare granite rock formations. The only location on the Tahoe Rim Trail requiring a permit for day use is Desolation Wilderness. Day hikers may obtain a free permit from one of the offices listed below, or may issue themselves a permit at most major trailheads in the summer. The Desolation Wilderness provides a home for many species of plants, fish and wildlife. A list of other trailheads that provide access to the wilderness follows.[4]. Snow often blocks the high passes until mid July. Parking is located at the far end of the campground. Pollock Pines, CA 95726-9602 Toilet paper must be buried or packed out. (530) 543-0956 (hearing impaired) 35 College Drive S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 70% of the daily quota for each individual zone can be reserved 6 months in advance thru recreation.gov. All trail users entering Desolation Wilderness or using a campstove will need to obtain permits. 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. (Open summer only) In 2.7 miles this trail intersects with the … Large amounts of snow and water from Bayview/Eagle junction onward, with limited dry ground for camping. During the winter, day permits are available at the Pacific Ranger Station. They used to be free, but now cost $5 a person for one night and $10.00 per person for two or more nights up to 14 days (non-refundable). S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 Mule deer are the largest of the game species found within the wilderness. Difficult to follow trail, with hazardous conditions. Had a nice report about fishing down the Rubicon from Clyde Lake as unchanged to better conditions than I have seen in the past. Desolation Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness of 63,000+ acres in Northern California. Permits are required for both day use and overnight camping. Includes details of wilderness areas, latest sierra wilderness news, resources for planning your trip, and notes from professionals in the field. Maps. 30% of each zone’s quota is available on the day of entry at walk up locations listed below. It’ll be helpful when reserving a permit. There are also a variety of mountain birds, including the Steller's jay, Clark's nutcracker, mountain chickadee, sooty grouse, mountain bluebird, American dipper, and occasional golden eagle. Summer Mon-Sat: 8:00am to 4:30pm M-Sat The Desolation Wilderness is located just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe, north of Highway 50. After, it was known at times as "Devil's Valley," and most often used for cattle grazing. Also found is a member of the rabbit and hare family, the pika. It is accessible from the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin. All of the avalanches seem to have wet snow characteristics with avalanches at lower elevations (below 8000') sliding down near the ground. Day visits are not subject to fees, maximum group size is 12. This wilderness straddles both sides of the Sierra Nevada, averages 12.5 miles in length and eight miles in width, and has elevations ranging from about 6,500 feet to over 10,000 feet. Desolation is a popular backpacking destination, with much barren rocky terrain at the edge of the tree line. 530-543-2600 (voice) Please respect the permit system to protect wilderness resources and mitigate wildfire risk. Always have a leash with you in an immediately accessible location. These hardy trees take root in excessively rocky and often nutrient-poor soils. 4260 Eight Mile Road Desolation Wilderness Hiking Lake Genevieve to Phipps Pass . Most forested areas occur between 7,400 and 9,000 feet (2,300 and 2,700 m) of elevation, becoming patchy to rare at higher elevations. (Why?) The Desolation Wilderness provides a home for many species of plants, fish and wildlife. Tallac on Mar. I have a permit for the weekend of the 3rd/4th, and hoping to hike Pyramid Peak, but a little worried the snow could still be pretty intense. by albanberg » Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:16 pm 2 Replies 1217 Views Last post by albanberg 27-up to at least 11 counted. [2] It was set aside as the Desolation Valley Primitive Area in 1931 with an area of 64,000 acres (260 km2). (530) 543-2693 (fax), A sea of glacially carved granite, alpine forests, and pristine peaks make this piece of the sierra crest one of the most popular wilderness areas in the region, Wilderness Volunteers Projects (National). Its largest body of water is Lake Aloha, a reservoir with shallow, clear waters sitting in a wide granite basin carved by glaciers of the last ice age. Dogs are to be under the owners control at all times. When camping and backpacking, visitors are required to bury human waste, pack out all garbage, and practice all Leave No Trace methods. Species of special interest that are very rare in the area are the fisher, pine marten, red fox, and wolverine. Here’s a map of all the managment zones in Desolation Wilderness. 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. FAX 530-647-5405, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit It is accessible from all sides, though most hikers begin their visit in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Wilderness sits on the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain’s Crystal Range, west of Lake Tahoe, and north of Highway 50. The … (Why?). (530) 543-2674, LTBMU Supervisors Office Group Size - Maximum group size is 12 people for both day and overnight use. Permits are available for all entry points from either the Eldorado National Forest or the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU). 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