Trail Guide

Section
INDEX

Lake Aloha

Hiking the short length of trail South & up from Heather Lake a commanding view of Lake Aloha from its Northern shore abruptly opens before us as we approach the Rubicon Trail Junction to Mosquito Pass. It's a very nice transition.

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit
Backpacking Trail Miles and Elevations

North Shore of Lake Aloha

We're a total of 21.16 miles South of the TYT Trailhead on the North end of Desolation Wilderness at Meeks Bay.

We're 7.55 miles North of the Trailhead on the South end of Desolation Wilderness at Lower Echo Lake.

A stunning view of expansive granite surrounding the pure blue waters of Lake Aloha, all under vast expanse of granite running up to the hard spire of Pyramid Peak, comes into view as we 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 running a trail leading West to the Mosquito Pass entrance into the South end of Rockbound Valley meet up here with the Southbound route on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, on the far North Shore of Lake Aloha.

Note: This trail guide is traveling North to 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!

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Forum

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

top of page

Time for Sunglasses

This section of the Tahoe to Yosemite trail hiking along the East shore of Lake Aloha is flanked to our West by the crystal blue remnants of Lake Aloha, now retreating during Fall into many crystal-blue pools. It looks like the original crystal blue Sierra lake has been shattered into a thousand blue shards.
Fall had robbed Lake Aloha of its great expanse of water. Late in the season and during dry years Lake Aloha recedes into a series of pools.

Check out the differences between these two USGS maps. The 30 minute map shows Lake Aloha during Fall, the 15 minute map shows Lake Aloha as it appears during Fall.
Behind Lake Aloha Pyramid Peak rises to our West above this massive expanse of shining granite, dominating the scene. On our side of this granite valley, rising to our Right above us, 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 it down into lakelets, and each lakelet is sparkling as a powerful lens of reflected sunlight. The intensity of sunlight and beauty will push tears out of our eyes along this segment of the trail.

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

Caught within this cocoon of reflections off rock and water, all based on 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 North at Jacks Peak rising above Lake Aloha, above the channel through the terrain to Heather Lake, while backpacking South along Eastern side of Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness.

comments

top of page

Mosquito Pass, North Side Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness.

That's the way over into the South end of Rockbound Valley. The route from the trail junction on the North Shore of Lake Aloha to the Camper Flat trail junction in Rockbound Valley is 6.12 miles.

Camper Flat is 1.43 miles West of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail junction near Middle Velma Lake. The Middle Velma Lake trail junction is 8.74 miles North along the Tahoe to Yosemite/Pacific Crest Trail route.

This means that the Rockbound Valley Loop from Mosquito Pass back to Mosquito Pass is 16.29 miles before you figure out how many miles it you are going to hike in and out to the loop...

We can see that the trail over Mosquito Pass into Rockbound Valley, then North up to the Velma Lakes Trail at Camper Flat opens up interesting backpacking loop possibilities around the North-Central Desolation Wilderness.

comments

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.

top of page

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

comments

Pyramid Creek falls down the West flank of the Sierra down to Twin Bridges along Highway 50. In the picture above we are looking that way.

When you drive across the Bridge at Twin Bridges, look North up the mountain flank to see Pyramid Creek flowing down the mountain from Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness. This is where it came from.

In the far distance we are seeing the peaks around Kirkwood on Highway 88. I think that's Thunder Mountain on the Right and Thimble Peak on the Left in the far far distant South.

Note how the USGS maps depict Lake Aloha both full with Spring Thaw and withdrawn into a multitude of pools.

Which is correct depends on what time of year you observe Lake Aloha.

comments

top of page

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.

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit
Backpacking Trail 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.

comments?

Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Forum

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

top of page

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.

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

top of page

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.

Backpacking Trail Guide

North

Heather
to
Susie Lakes

Backpacking Trail Guide

South

Trail Junctions South
of
Lake Aloha