The South side of Lake Aloha in late Fall.

The Trails

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Testing yourself and your gear

Backpacking Lake Aloha

Hiking The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail & The Pacific Crest Trail through Desolation Wilderness

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Trail guide section index

North: Heather to Susie Lakes

South: South Lake Aloha

Detail topo map

South Desolation Wilderness

Phipps Pass to Echo Summit

maps index

miles & elevations

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

All forest-wilderness

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Lake Aloha

After hiking the short length of trail South and up from Heather Lake, you suddenly arrive at Northern shore of Lake Aloha.

MAP

A stunning view of expansive granite surrounding the pure blue waters of Lake Aloha, all under the hard spire of Pyramid Peak, come into view as you hike around the last boulder.

It is a sudden transition from hiking up a narrow chute, to standing at the head of Desolation Valley's massive expanse of granite, running South, between Pyramid Peak and Cracked Crag.

This view, and a trail junction to the West, meet up here with our Southbound route on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, on the North Shore of Lake Aloha.

Note: This trail guide is traveling North and South through the Desolation Wilderness along the Pacific Crest Trail, the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, and the Tahoe Rim Trail.

We need to hear about your questions, comments and Experiences here!

Rubicon Trail & Mosquito Pass Trail Junction on the North Side of Lake Aloha


Northbound PCT, Desolation Wilderness	Northbound PCT, Desolation Wilderness

Video:The Pacific Crest Trail across the North and Central sections of Lake Aloha

The great crystal blue expanse of Aloha Lake, one of the Desolation Wilderness great beauties

Lets do The Numbers

Aloha Lake, Desolation Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness

Aloha Lake

Backpacking South from Susie Lake to Aloha Lake

Susie Lake is the low spot of this small section of trail up to the North side of Aloha Lake. It's all downhill from the North side of Aloha Lake to the Echo Lake trailhead.

Elevation: 8120' feet, a 320' rise from Susie Lake.

Mileage: 21.16 miles South from the Meeks Bay Trailhead. 7.01 miles South to the Echo Lake Trailhead. 9.01 miles to Echo Summit Trailhead.

mileage and elevations

Questions, comments, and Experiences?

Views North and South, at the half-way point passing by Lake Aloha

Time for Sunglasses

This section of the Tahoe to Yosemite trail is flanked on one side by the shattered crystal blue bits of Lake Aloha's many pools. Behind Lake Aloha Pyramid Peak, sitting atop a massive shining granite slab, dominating the scene. On the other side of this granite valley sits the massive shattered hulk of Cracked Crag, elements of who's base we are hiking along.

The shining glare off of Pyramid Peak's great granite slab is intense. The receded Fall water level on Lake Aloha has shrunk down all the lakelets, but each is sparkling with powerful reflected sunlight. Cracked Crag completes the East side of this great granite reflector oven.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, and your hat pay their freight for their weight in these conditions. They come in real handy here.

Caught within this cocoon of reflections off rock and water, all based and reinforced by the Sun itself, gave me the impression that I was cooking myself up in a solar furnace.

Let's look at the Pictures!

View of North side Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness

View North while backpacking South along Eastern side of Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness.

Lake Aloha in Pictures

Mosquito Pass across the North side of Aloha Lake.

Mosquito Pass, North Side Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness

South Side Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness. The Southbound trail enters the strip of forest at the Right base of the granite dome beyond the far end of Lake Aloha.

Hike through granite passages around Lake Aloha.

Trail Feature, winding our way around cool granite protrusions along Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness.

North: Heather to Susie Lakes South: Aloha Lake 2