Lillies on Crag Lake, Desolation Trail in the Desolation Wilderness

Water lilies on Crag Lake

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The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Backpacking & Hiking to Crag Lake out of Meeks Bay #2

Meeks Bay Trailhead, North Desolation Wilderness, The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

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North: Crag Lake 1

South: Stony Ridge 1

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miles & elevations

Miles and Elevations Index

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

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Interesting sights on the South Side of Crag Lake, Desolation Wilderness

The South Shore of Crag Lake

From a distance it appeared the South side of Crag Lake had a rumpled green cover over part of the lake.

Hiking past showed the green to be a layer of Water Lilies. Very pretty. Very relaxing.

A gentle upgrade brings us across soft trails through this chain of lakes.

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Above: lilies on Crag Lake?	Above: Yes, Water Lilies on Crag Lake

Above and Below: There's something hypnotic about Lilies, and Desolation Wilderness is full of entrancing Surprises.

Every step brings another relaxing scene in the Desolation Wilderness

A fine Series of Terrains

In a very brief time and short distance we have passed through a series of divergent terrains since departing the Meeks Bay Trail Head. Our dry sandy meadow side trail to the ridge, through the forest into a little temperate zone, and now into this narrow valley containing a chain of lakes.

The series of sights, sounds, smells and feelings that you experience along these first miles on the trail are a fine sensory transition from "civilized" feelings.

Desolation Wilderness

Meeks Bay to Crag Lake to Phipps Pass

Crag Lake

Elevation

7440 feet

+1201' rise above Meeks Bay trail head

Mileage

4.77 miles from Meeks Bay trail head

4.11 miles to Phipps Pass climbing 1360 feet

miles and elevations

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North: Crag Lake South: Stony Ridge Lake1

Desolation Wilderness; Lake Genevieve to Phipps Pass

From Meeks Bay trail head to Phipps Pass you will be climbing 2561 feet of vertical elevation over 8.88 miles of distance. Only 400 feet of this elevation rise occurs between Lake Genevieve and the South side of Stony Ridge Lake.

Crag Lake is the second of the series of lakes along our way to Phipps Pass.

As the area between Lake Genevieve to Stony Ridge Lake represents the last relatively flat places before you begin climbing towards Phipps Pass at the South end of Stony Ridge Lake, you may want to stop at this scenic location for a snack or a bit of lunch, depending on your plans.

Crag Lake is 4.77 miles South from Meeks Bay & it is 4.11 miles further South to Phipps Pass.

Topo Hiking Map: Meeks to Genevieve Topo Hiking Map: Genevieve to Susie Lake

Miles and Elevations

Next page: Stony Ridge Lake1

Hiking North

Crag Lake I

Hiking South

Stony Ridge Lake1