Tahoe Rim Trail: Echo Lakes to Barker Pass

Lake Tahoe

A section shared with the Pacific Crest Trail that tours many alpine lakes and incredible overlooks in the glacier-carved granite valleys of the Sierra Nevada’s Desolation Wilderness.

Hiking Difficult

Distance: 50 km
Ascent: 1.7 km
Descent: 1.7 km
Duration: 1 day +

Low Point: 2.1 km
High Point: 2.9 km
Gradient: 9˚

Tahoe Rim Trail: Echo Lakes to Barker Pass Map

The Desolation Wilderness is a land of sparkling blue lakes in granite basins beneath snowy peaks. It’s a postcard portion of the Tahoe Rim Trail, even though it features few views of Lake Tahoe itself. In a more-than-fair trade, this section swaps vistas over the big lake for the rugged shores of smaller lakes in the alpine.

Hiking past upper Echo Lake, entering the Desolation Wilderness Photo: Paul Wade

Elevated perspective on Susie Lake, Grass Lake, and large waterfall in between. Photo: Paul Wade

On the shore of Lake Aloha Photo: Sebastian Werner

Description

The entirety of this section is shared with the Pacific Crest Trail and intersects many other routes popular with day hikers and backpackers. Therefore, you are likely to encounter more hikers than on other sections, but no bikers because bicycles are not allowed here. The Desolation Wilderness also comes with permit regulations. Day use permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead, but overnight permits must be reserved online. The extra logistics are well worth the remote serenity of this section, however.

Lower Echo Lake is the first of many alpine waters you will tour. Though this one is lined by private property and popular with boat tours, the rest are in the wilderness area and are much more pristine. Beyond Upper Echo Lake, the trail climbs steadily among bare rock and twisted pines into a glacially-carved valley with lakes and streams below, and the snowy hulk of Pyramid Peak on the horizon above. Tamarack Lake, Ralston Lake, and Lake of the Woods are visible from the main trail and accessible on short side trails where you may find prime, unoccupied camping spots.

Lake Aloha is especially large and dotted by innumerable islands of polished granite. It’s so complex that you really can’t see the full expanse of the lake from any one point. Scramble up to an elevated perspective to more fully appreciate its scale.

The trail then turns away from Lake Aloha and drops downward, passing two smaller lakes and a waterfall before going uphill once more, beginning the trudge to Dick’s Pass. The steep climb rewards with lofty views of the valleys you just traversed, and at the pass comes a vantage over the next. Moving north past Dick’s Lake and Velma Lakes, the trail transitions again into a heavily forested landscape, where water sources are fewer. Traveling mostly in the shade of conifers but occasionally in the clearings of flower-filled meadows, the trail rolls on past the wilderness boundary to Richardson Lake. From there it climbs gradually to the road and trailhead at Barker Pass.

Sources: https://tahoerimtrail.org/maps-trail-info/ https://tahoerimtrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MapBrochELtoBP.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TahoeRimTrail

Difficulty

Difficult

Hiking trails where obstacles such as rocks or roots are prevalent. Some obstacles can require care to step over or around. At times, the trail can be worn and eroded. The grade of the trail is generally quite steep, and can often lead to strenuous hiking.