Backpacking through the Second Trail Junction South of Middle Velma Lake

North: Middle Velma Lake

maps index

Above: Pointing North, back the way we came towards Phipps Pass.

The Lay of the Land

The Velma Lakes Trail tracks East to the trailhead at Bayview Camp above Emerald Bay on Highway 89 or to the Eagle Falls trailhead, also above Emerald Bay on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, but further North along the shore of Emerald Bay along Highway 89. The trailhead you exit through on Highway 89 ultimately depends on which way you hike at another, second trail junction further East from our position on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

MAP

Miles

Mileage East: 3.81 miles hike East to bail out to Bayview Camp on Highway 89, and 3.85 miles to Eagle Falls at Highway 89.

Both of these trail routes bend to the Northeast to navigate Maggies Peak. The route to Eagle Falls traces its route along the curving Northwestern flank of Maggies Peaks to pass through the gap between the North Side of Maggies Peaks and the South flank of Peak 9195 where Eagle Creek drains the whole of this basin holding the Velma Lakes, as well as Fontanillis and Dicks Lakes.

Remember when we were looking at this gap from the North side of Phipps Pass?

The trail to the Bayview Camp Trailhead splits from the Eagle Falls Trail to cross over to the South of Maggies Peaks over the crest line between the massif's two main peaks.

MAP

Mileage South: 1.17 miles South along the PCT-TYT route to the North side of Fontanillis Lake.

Second Bayview Trail junction South of Middle Velma

Desolation Wilderness

Meeks Bay to Second Trail Junction South of Middle Velma Lake

(The first is the Camper Flat trail junction just to the North)

COMMENTS-QUESTIONS-MORE INFORMATION

Elevation: 7960 feet, +40' elevation increase from Middle Velma Lake.

Mileage North: .37 miles South of Middle Velma Lake. 12.69 miles South from Meeks Bay trail head, 16.02 miles South to Echo Lake trail head, 18.02 South to Echo Summit

Mileage East: 3.81 miles hike East to Bayview Camp on Highway 89, and 3.85 miles to Eagle Falls at Highway 89.

Mileage West: 1.70 miles West to the Camper Flat junction to Rockbound Valley.

Mileage South: 1.17 miles South along the PCT-TYT route to the North side of Fontanillis Lake.

4.14 miles South to Dicks Pass.

miles & elevations

Backpacking South Past Middle Velma Lake

.27 of a mile South on the PCT-TYT-TRT past the Camper Flat trail Junction is our next junction, the first of two Bayview Trail junctions. Southbound backpackers on the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trail routes will veer right towards Fontanillis Lake and Dicks Pass beyond at this first Bayview Trail junction.

The next Bayview Trail Junction is 2.49 miles South of here just past the Southern end of Fontanillis Lake where we turn South to begin the last section of our climb towards Dicks Pass.

From this first Bayview Junction we have a 3.81 mile hike East to bail out to Bayview Camp on Highway 89, if we are so inclined. This would be a good in, or out, for a 3 to 5 day trip through the Desolation Wilderness up to Meeks Bay Trailhead or South to Echo Lake Trailhead.

I've never come in to the main trail from either Eagle Falls or Bayview Camp. If you've hiked either of these route into the Velma Lakes I'm interested in your impression of these trails.

Experiences-Comments-Questions

Hiking Topo Map North : Lake Genevieve to Phipps Pass

Hiking Topo Map South: Phipps Pass to Susie Lake

Mileages and Elevations

Next page South: Fontanillis Lake

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TahoetoWhitney.Org

Are you familiar with the Bayview/Eagle Falls Trails?

Add your experiences, comments, or pictures about this backpacking area between Middle Velma Lake and Dicks Pass.

Section: Meeks Bay to Echo Summit

Segment: Middle Velma Lake