Eagle Falls Trailhead, Mountain trail at Lake Tahoe Basin, California

Eagle Falls Trailhead sits on the western shore of Lake Tahoe in Emerald Bay State Park, El Dorado National Forest, at about 7,100 feet (2,164 m) on California State Route 89. From the trailhead, a flat bridge with a low metal railing spans a gap between two high rock masses above a steep rocky channel where white water descends between large grey boulders.

The trailhead lies within Emerald Bay State Park on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado National Forest. It serves as a starting point for routes into the Desolation Wilderness, including Eagle Lake and the Velma Lakes. Permits are required for wilderness access, and the site provides both summer and winter entry.

The path traverses the Desolation Wilderness, a federally protected area that serves to maintain the natural landscape of the Sierra Nevada while providing public access to alpine ecosystems.

The trailhead lies on California State Route 89 a few miles west of South Lake Tahoe, at about 7,100 feet in elevation, on the western shore of Lake Tahoe. It gives both summer and winter access to the Desolation Wilderness, and permits are required. From here trails lead to Eagle Lake and the Velma Lakes.

A stone staircase carved into bedrock marks the starting point and leads through several switchbacks, while hikers can observe views of turquoise Emerald Bay and surrounding peaks throughout their ascent.