Tree, Poison Flat, Carson Iceberg Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Your Backpacking Guide to the High Sierras Yellow Flower
South Lake Aloha.
South Lake Aloha

 

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Backpacking
South Lake Aloha

Hiking through South Desolation Wilderness on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail & the Pacific Crest Trail

 

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North Lake Aloha

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Video
Backpacking past Central and Southern Lake Aloha

South Lake Aloha

Once we reach the North side of Lake Aloha we get clear views down our Southbound route through the wide open expanse of Desolation Valley for the next couple of miles.

We'll be hiking between the Northeast shore of Lake Aloha and the Southwest flank of Cracked Craig.

Dicks Pass to Echo Lakes
15 minute backpacking MAP
South Desolation Wilderness
30 minute backpacking MAP

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit
Backpacking Miles and Elevations

The open granite terrain and the shattered spattering of Lake Aloha's Fall configuration of lake-lets scattered over the terrain are visible down to the point where the our Southbound trail climbs a low rise to enter the forest, visible in the far distance, for our drop down to Upper Echo Lake.

This segment of trail finishes our hike South along Lake Aloha through Desolation Valley.

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Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Forum

Winding through the maze of great granite slabs, boulders, and rocks along the Southern Lake Aloha shore.

The Numbers

South Shore
of
Aloha Lake
in
Desolation Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness

Southern Shore of Lake Aloha

Lake of the Woods trail junction

Elevation
8160' feet.

Mileage

22.58 miles South from the Meeks Bay Trailhead.

6.13 miles to the Echo Lake Trailhead.
8.13 miles to Echo Summit Trailhead.

note: Mileage sign at Echo Lake trailhead states: Aloha Lake 5 miles. This is incorrect according to my measurements and experience.

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit
Backpacking Miles and Elevations

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South Shore of Lake Aloha

Hiking South along Aloha Lake.

The trail winds through a beautiful granite landscape on the East side of Lake Aloha.

The peak in the distance is one of the mountains on the South side of the Echo Lakes. Either Ralston Peak or Talking Mountain.

The Central and Southern Shores of Lake Aloha

The trail winds through, around, and by some beautiful, strange, and intriguing granite formations as we pass South along the East shore of Lake Aloha.
Trail through rock channel, Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail along great granite formation, Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness.

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Cracked Craig

Cracked Crag.
Shattered surface of Cracked Crag.

Continuing South

As we proceed South through Desolation Valley we can see the granite terrain reach far to the Southwest, further than we can actually see. Beyond our vision Pyramid Creek and the granite terrain create some fine falls where they run together all the way down to Twin Bridges on Highway 50.

But our trail does not go so far. Our trail keeps a Southeast line to enter the forest when we first encounter the forest fringe, bending gently Southeast and downward towards the Echo Lakes.

North: Aloha Lake 1                                                                               South: Trail Junctions S of Aloha

South Side of Lake Aloha

At the South end of Lake Aloha an expansive view to the Southwest opens up, flanked to the North by Pyramid Peak and its massive granite slab. The first trail junction on the South Side of Lake Aloha, the trail to Lake of the Woods, breaks off to our right. The Echo Lake trail head is 6.13 miles straight past this junction.

From here the elevation drop puts us into forest, which means shade and softer trail surfaces,, which will accompany us all the way to Echo Lake trailhead on the trail along the Norh shores of the Echo Lakes.

Passing Echo Lakes the forests deepen approaching and into the Meiss Roadless Area through the Echo Summit trailhead.

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Forum

Maps

North
Phipps Pass to Susie Lake   Lake Aloha  
 South
Dicks Pass to Echo Lake Trailhead

30 min Map
Phipps Pass to Echo Summit

Miles and Elevations

South Trail Guide
Trail Junctions S of Aloha

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Backpacking Trail Guide

North

North shore of
Lake Aloha

Trail guide navigation tools.

Backpacking Trail Guide

South

Trail Junctions South
of
Lake Aloha

Backpacker Forum

General Thoughts about backpacking:

TahoetoWhitney.Org

Add your experiences, comments, or pictures about Lake Aloha:
Section
Meeks Bay to Echo Summit
Segment
Lake Aloha

North: North Lake Aloha                                                                               South: Trail Junctions S of Aloha

Trailhead

Contact
Alex Wierbinski

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Backpacking Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

Your guide to the High Sierra Crest, including the Tahoe to Yosemite, Pacific Crest, and John Muir Trails

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