Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

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Hiking Long Distances South from Lake Tahoe

Long distance backpackers heading Southbound on the main Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trail routes, or from any other trail head within the Lake Tahoe Basin, are in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (the "LTBMU").

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit administers all the watershed that drains into or feeds Lake Tahoe.

Southbound hikers on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail will be in the LTBMU from the trailhead at Meeks Bay until they climb out of the South Upper Truckee Headwaters to reach the Carson Gap in the far Southeastern corner of the Tahoe Basin. The Carson Gap marks the Southern extent of the Lake Tahoe drainage for Southbound Backpackers on the long trails South.

From the Carson Gap overlooking Highway 88 the hiker can see Elephant Back and the Round Top-Sisters massif. These features compose the respective terrains that both the Southbound PCT and TYT routes will cross as they continue their separate routes South.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail in the LTBMU

The Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Trail begins at the Meeks Bay trail head and takes you 28.71 miles down the length of Desolation Wilderness to Lower Echo Lake within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

The Desolation Wilderness is one of the busiest Wilderness in the United States, so make sure to check with the LTBMU about the permit situation at your desired trail head. As you can see from the maps tracing our route South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, there are many trailheads leading to the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trail from the Western Shore of Lake Tahoe. All of these trails are busy during Summertime.

It is wise to reserve your permit for your local or long distance backpacking trip, especially if you are starting at Meeks Bay, as far in advance as is necessary to get your desired start date.

2 miles South of Echo Lake on the combined TYT and PCT is the Echo Summit trailhead. The Echo Summit Trailhead is our portal into the Meiss Country Roadless Area. We will hike through Meiss Country for the last 12 miles of trail in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Starting South from other Lake Tahoe Trailheads

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is the permitting authority for all long distance backpacking trips originating from the Meeks Bay, Echo Summit, or the South Upper Truckee trail heads that I describe in this trail guide. These are all excellent options for beginning long-distance backpacking trips to Yosemite and on to Whitney, or for short trips around the Lake Tahoe Basin. (view trailheads)

But, you can start your long distance Southbound backpacking trip from andy of your favorite trailheads in the Lake Tahoe Basin! If you start your Tahoe to Yosemite or Tahoe to Whitney trip anywhere in the Lake Tahoe Basin it is a valid "Tahoe to..." backpacking trip.

You don't have to start at Meeks Bay to hike from Tahoe to Yosemite, and you can put together your own custom route from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite, and on down to Mount Whitney.

The LTBMU is a single authority and is not sub-divided into individual Ranger Districts, as are National Forests. Long-distance Southbound backpackers enter the LTBMU when they enter the Tahoe Basin.

Within the LTBMU

11.5 miles South of Meeks Bay the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail intersects with the Tahoe Rim and Pacific Crest Trails, which will accompany our Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route South to Meiss Cabin and the Carson Gap, respectively.

30.71 miles South of Meeks Bay the Tahoe to Yosemite, the Pacific Crest and the Tahoe Rim Trails exit Desolation Wilderness through Lower Echo Lake.

Two miles south of Echo Lake the Southbound backpacker enters the Meiss Country Roadless Area when passing through Echo Summit on the way South to the Carson Gap.

At the Carson Gap the Southbound hiker exits the Lake Tahoe Basin after 41.32 miles of hiking through the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, if you started your trip at the Meeks Bay trailhead. Wherever you started, passing South through the Carson Gap marks the end of your hike in the Tahoe Basin.

On Down the Trail

Passing South through the Carson Gap the Southbound backpacker on the Pacific Crest Trail will be entering the Toiyabe National Forest Administered section of the Mokelumne Wilderness (mostly, though we will also hike through a bit of the El Dorado at first), while the Tahoe to Yosemite backpacker will enter the El Dorado NF administered section of the Mokelumne Wilderness for the majority of the distance to Lake Alpine. At Camp Irene the Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite hiker exits the El Dorado and enters the Stanislaus National Forest.

But first, both Southbound routes pass through the tiny Carson Pass Management Area when exiting the LTBMU on both of their respective routes.

If you're backpacking trip South on the Pacific Crest or Tahoe to Yosemite Trail routes start at the Carson Pass Management Area, you should consult with the Amador Ranger District of the El Dorado National Forest prior to departing. They will tell you if the Carson Pass Cabin is open and issuing permits, and its hours of its operation. Or they will issue your permit. The Amador Ranger District administers the Carson Pass Management Area.

Here's some basic information about the Carson Pass Management Area.

The backpacker starting the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South from the Carson Pass Management Area should consult the El Dorado National Forest, if all else fails, as the El Dorado NF manages the Amador Ranger District.

Overall

This Trail guide, besides covering the Pacific Crest Trail between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney, also explores the Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, the John Muir Trail, and the various trail options that parallel those routes between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney that you may find interesting. As you will see, backpackers have many trail options coming out of Lake Tahoe heading South towards Mount Whitney.

Remember

Although parts of the LTBMU do not even require backpacking permits for trips within their limits, all long distance backpackers must obtain a valid permit from their starting trail head's Administrative Unit, the LTBMU in this case.

This is required for legal travel down the trail after you exit the LTBMU and begin to pass through all of the subsequent Wildernesses and National Forests your happy feet will hike through on your way to Yosemite and on down to Mount Whitney.

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LTBMU Trail Heads

Administrative Subdivisions in the LTBMU of interest to the long distance backpacker, the short distance backpacker, and day hikers too...

This site covers Southbound long-distance backpacking trips beginning at Lake Tahoe.

The reason is that Lake Tahoe is the Northern bookend for the High Altitude Sierra Nevada Range.

Though I have chosen three trailheads to represent a variety of experiences (the Meeks Bay, the Echo Summit, and the South Upper Truckee trail heads), you may begin your trip at your favorite trailhead.

All trailheads on Google Map

The point is to hike from one end of the High Altitude Range to the other. Where you begin is up to you.

Nonetheless, all of our Lake Tahoe trail heads originate in the LTBMU.

Call the LTBMU South Lake Tahoe office for more information or to order permits through the mail at (530) 543-2600. (more contact info)

Desolation Wilderness

Meeks Bay

Your Long (and short) distance backpacking trips beginning at the Meeks Bay trail head almost immediately enter the Desolation Wilderness, which is a fee area, and will require a payment for your permit if your backpacking trip remains within Desolation or the LTBMU.

If your backpacking trip spans more than one Wilderness Area the LTBMU does not charge for permits that start in the Desolation Wilderness. Yeah! Call the LTBMU South Lake office at (530) 543-2600 for more information.

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Echo Summit and Meyers

Backpacking permits, let alone fees, are not required for short distance backpacking trips beginning at the Echo Summit or the South Upper Truckee trail heads if the backpacker remains within the Meiss Roadless Area. Though backpacking permits are not required, fire permits are required for the use of a stove.

Long-distance backpackers beginning at either of these trail heads must obtain a permit to legally cross into other Wildernesses and National Forests. This permit must be obtained from the Administrative Authority of their starting trailhead.

At Lake Tahoe that is the LTBMU.

There is more information to the right.

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Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Country Roadless Area

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney and PCT through hikers are going to experience two subdivisions of the LTBMU Between Meeks Bay and the Carson Gap.

Desolation Wilderness

Starting the Tahoe to Yosemite at Meeks Bay requires you cross the length of the Desolation Wilderness Area. This is a highly used fee permit area. It is Beautiful. No fee for thru hikers.

Desolation Wilderness Map. LTBAU (bad link)

Desolation Wilderness Map. LTBAU pdf

Desolation Wilderness Maps, TahoeWhitney USGS 30: HUGE. Click along route for detailed underlying maps.

Desolation Wilderness Maps, TahoeWhitney USGS 7.5 and 30: Click colored points for detailed information.

Meiss Country Roadless Area

The Meiss Roadless Area. No permit is required for local backpacking in this area, but you must pick up a backpacking permit if you are starting a long-distance trip from this area into other National Forests or Wildernesses, as you will on your happy way to Mount Whitney.

On the other hand, you are required to obtain a fire permit for any open fire, including your stove, in the Meiss Country Roadless Area.

The reason for this is quite simple: the depth of the forest floor litter has built up to critical depths from Christmas Valley to Tahoe City in all the deep forests along the whole Western Shore of Lake Tahoe.

This buildup of forest floor litter represents the potential for a massive conflagration.

I can easily visualize the whole forest apron around the whole Western Shore of Lake Tahoe from Christmas Valley to Tahoe City going up in flames.

This is the result of decades of fire suppression.

The homeowners living within and along these ready-to-burn forests are freaking out.

Meiss Country Roadless Area map pdf

Meiss Country Roadless Area Map, TW USGS 7.5

The Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee trail heads are both entry points into the Meiss Roadless area, as well as portals to the main thru-trails to Yosemite and Mount Whitney.

The Meiss Roadless Area is also an excellent place for short backpacking trips to hone both your Summer and Winter backpacking skills.

Both Desolation Wilderness and the Meiss Country Roadless Area offer unique backpacking experiences for long and short distance backpackers, as well as day hikers.

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Office Locations/Contact information

The Federal Web Site

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

More Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Contact information

South Lake Tahoe Rangers

The Physical Location of the Lake Tahoe Management Unit Main Office

U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor's Office

35 College Drive

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Phone: (530) 543-2600

I've always had good results talking to the folks at LTBMU. They are always ready to make long distance backpacking trips happen.

Suzanne is especially helpful and friendly.

(See the Google Map Below to locate the LTBMU Main Office in South Lake Tahoe.)

Seasonal Offices

Taylor Creek Visitor Center

The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is three miles North of the town of South Lake Tahoe on Hwy. 89 (Also known as Emerald Bay Road).

It is a right turn (toward the lake), just past the Tallac Historic Site turnoff.

Phone: (530) 543-2674

Seasonal Permit stations

Meeks Bay

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North Shore Rangers

LTBMU North Tahoe Forest Service Office

3080 North Lake Blvd.

Tahoe City, CA 96145

Phone: (530) 583-3593

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Maps

NPS Website Map Links

Lake Tahoe

Maps page (not working)

Crappy html  LTBMU Map, West/South Lake. (not working)

pdf LTBMU map of low resolution.

NPS Desolation Wilderness maps

Crappy html Desolation Wilderness Map

Full pdf Desolation Wilderness Map, of low resolution.

Additional Information

Desolation Wilderness Area Info

Fee permit area.

NPS Meiss Country Maps

Meiss Country Roadless Area map pdf

LTBMU map of the Meiss Roadless Area. Pdf map.

My Maps are Better

Desolation Wilderness

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Other Great Trips in the LTBMU: Too many to list!

You don't have to just backpack through the LTBMU to points further South, you can enjoy short backpacking trips through the many miles of beautiful forests, valleys mountains and meadows that surround Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Rim Trail: The ultimate Lake Tahoe backpacking trip

Echo Summit to Carson Pass: from Echo Summit you can craft many short trips

South Upper Truckee to Round Top Lake and Back, mid-winter. Lake Tahoe is a Winter Wonderland for backpackers

Desolation Wilderness excursions: Busy in mid-Summer, but quiet in Spring, Fall, and Winter time.

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