Desolation Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness is a protected area west of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, featuring granite summits, alpine lakes, and trails spread across roughly 63,960 acres. Elevations range from around 6,500 to 10,000 feet (2,000 to 3,000 meters), with open landscapes of rock and pine forests along lower slopes shaping the terrain.

Washoe communities traveled these mountains before the region became a Forest Reserve in the late 1800s. The valley was classified as a primitive area in 1931 and later gained its current wilderness status.

Day hikers and backpackers cross paths on rocky trails between high-elevation lakes, their routes often passing through snowfields and wide tundra landscapes. Many come here to fish in remote waters or camp beneath exposed summits, giving the area a distinct character shaped by these activities.

Visitors need permits for both day trips and overnight stays, with a quota system in place from late May through September. Trails can remain under snow in early summer, while high-altitude weather shifts rapidly and requires preparation.

Lake Aloha sits among broad granite slabs and forms a branching water system of shallow bays and small islands. Horsetail Falls drops nearly 500 feet (150 meters) over steep rock walls in multiple sections, drawing attention especially in spring.

Location: El Dorado County

Inception: 1969

Operator: US Forest Service

GPS coordinates: 38.91970,-120.17000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:36