This is a place that we backpack into quite often and are very familiar with the area. Susie Lake to Echo Lake Trail Head, Desolation Wilderness - 543 feet, 10.95 miles. Logistics: If you would like to camp at the trailhead the night before your trek, there is Wright’s Lake Campground very close. You traverse some large granite areas and get nice views of the surrounding peaks. Meek's Creek Trailhead is at the north end of the wilderness area along Hwy 89 at Meek's Bay. I wanted to cram as much trail as possible in to our two whole days off from work and I had heard good things about Rockbound Pass. To the north you see Dicks Lake, Fontanillis Lake and Velma Lakes. Trail Conditions and Difficulty: Overall this route is fairly difficult when hiked in 4 or fewer days. Over the next mile the trail follows the river through the forested valley. This provided relief from the wind, but also still gave us a great view of the lake. Contact Information . The trail is rocky, and it’s well camouflaged in its rocky surroundings. We just kept going. The nature reserve is located in the county El Dorado in California and is characterized by its innumerable picturesque mountain lakes, bare granite as well as by its individual conifers and bushes. The Tom Harrison topo map of Desolation Wilderness is great. After the 2 mile mark, the trail begins to rise out of the forest and the views really open up. Maud Lake Desolation Wilderness: June 30, 2012. Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake Trailhead . It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Julia. I moved to Lake Tahoe in the fall of 2005, so I took this backpacking trip in the summer of 2006. There are also a variety of campsites sprinkled along the east shore of Fontanillis Lake. We also live in Sac. Permits: Permits are required year-round for overnight camping in Desolation Wilderness. Peachy Hiker: Rockbound Trail to Lois, Doris, and Maude Lakes in Desolation Wilderness In high snowpack years the mosquitos can be very bad into August, but in dry years they should taper off by July. I just happen to live in the virtual epicenter of the ongoing drought that plagues northern California and parts of adjacent states. Lake Number 4, fairly … The hike up was less than 4 miles with an elevation gain of less than 1,000 feet ( you start high). It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. We crossed the outlet dam here and had lunch on the southeast shore of the lake. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Have a wonderful trip! It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. United States › California › Desolation Wilderness › Rockbound Lake. Hi! Hi! This lake has some nice rainbow trout and some large brown trout. I will definitely plan on bringing Tom Harrison’s map for our trip. We’re planning on going early-mid June, do you think the weather will be okay? The Eagle Falls Trailhead is … The Desolation Wilderness, located southwest of Lake Tahoe, above Emerald Bay contains 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, bald granite peaks, dramatic cliffs and glacially-formed valleys and more than 100 lakes. Desolation Wilderness and the South Lake Tahoe Basin. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), A rock cracked our windshield this morning, and we. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. Hike Rockbound Trail near Wrights Lake Recreation Area to Maude Lake, then over the pass to Doris and Lois Lakes, backpacking, or a dayhike, with swimming rewards, too. the maps online that I have found are pretty poor. Lake Lois and Lake Schmidell is a 16.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Kyburz, California that features beautiful wild flowers. Each had a slight breeze, which kept the bugs at bay. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. I am relatively new to backpacking, and my main concern is navigation. The drive home through Apple Hill traffic felt even longer. It can be very warm which makes swimming in these lakes appealing. Trail from Loon Lake trailhead to Camper Flat is reportedly free of snow. Bring a rod - The fishing is great in the Desolation Wilderness Catch and Release - If you do bring a rod catch and release. The nature reserve is located in the county El Dorado in California and is characterized by its innumerable picturesque mountain lakes, bare granite as well as by its individual conifers and bushes. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. scale 1:24 000. Compass Offset Magnetic North 15 1/2 degrees East of True North. On the second day we headed up through Rockbound Pass and then passed by Lake Doris, Lake Lois, and Lake Schmidell. During the summer (Friday before Memorial Day to Sept. 30), there is a permit quota for each different zone in the wilderness. Reflection of Red Peak and surrounding mountains in the serene Lawrence Lake.. Distance: 26 miles, ... From South Lake Tahoe, take Highway 89 north for about 10 minutes to Emerald Bay. More Maude Lake via Rockbound Trail is a 8.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Kyburz, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Hiking Trails (9) 1. Due to it’s relatively easy access and proximity to large populations in the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Reno, Desolation Wilderness Area receives more use per acre than any other wilderness area in the U.S. I would recommend bringing Tom Harrison’s map of Desolation Wilderness. #vacation. It looks like Rockbound is Zone 1. The Desolation Wildnerness is just west of South Lake Tahoe. After stopping briefly at the north end of Rockbound I skirted the shore on my way south and eventually hit the Rockbound Trail leading from the northern boundary of the wilderness all the way to Lake Aloha and on to Echo Lakes and the southern boundary near Highway 50. Is the trail to Lake Schmidell easy to follow and how long would that take from the trail head. Doing so will also protect your food from the marmots and chipmunks that seem to search campsites for food. Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of sub-alpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. It was windy when we reached the top. Directions to Trailhead A quick trip to the less visited side of the Desolation Wilderness seemed appropriate so I grabbed a friend and we went for it! Starting from Wrights Lake, the route proceeds over Rockbound Pass, loops around several lakes, and returns to Wrights … This is a place that we backpack into quite often and are very familiar with the area. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. Then begin a steady climb past Maud Lake and eventually to the top of Rockbound Pass. Upon reaching the bottom, we hiked upstream to the 4-Q’s Lakes. For water, we did not see a tap at the parking lot, but there is a potable water tap at the nearby Wright’s Lake Campground. I prefer a picaridin based spray because it does not damage plastics and synthetic fibers like high concentration DEET sprays do. From Lake Schmidell, the trail becomes a little more challenging. Rob agreed and we set up our tent. All the junctions are well signed, even on the lesser used trails. You can use the mouse-over capability of the map on this page, just keep in mind not all miles are equal (due to climbing). Maud Lake, Desolation Wilderness This is sunrise at Maud Lake in Desolation Wilderness. The trail is really easy to stay on save for a few slabs on granite- make sure you’re looking for cairns. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay. Awesome write up. I also like to pre-treat my clothes and tent with permethrin spray repellent. The reservoir is managed by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for power generation as part of the Upper American River Project (UARP; FERC Project 2101). Both the Twin Lakes Trailhead and Rockbound Trailhead can be used for entry for this loop and the routes merge by about the 2 mile mark. There is no fee for parking so long as you have an overnight camping permit, and there is a restroom near the parking lot. Seasonal Popularity. Follow this road about 20 miles to Loon Lake and the Desolation Wilderness Trail head parking lot. Our first time up in the mountains in... a while. We found two separate paths of them. The route would combine some familiar places along the Rubicon trail near the northern boundary of Desolation Wilderness, as well as the Eagle Lake trail from Emerald Bay up to the Velma Lakes. Day 3:  10 miles; +1,900 feet / -2,100 feet; Fontanillis Lake to Lake Aloha. This 26 mile loop meanders through some of the most primitive trails in Desolation Wilderness. Day 2: 10 miles; +2,400 feet / -1,700 feet; Maud Lake to Fontanillis Lake. Thanks, The trail meanders between these lakes before heading east toward Camper Flat and the Rubicon River. We stopped to get a big-picture sense of where we were and what was around us by looking at an old school paper map. The day of permits are claimed and picked up at one of the nearby ranger stations. From there, the trail leveled off, but we still had to concentrate in order to stay on the right path. It’s a somewhat tough hike, but lots of little lakes along the way to take breaks at. the campsite The trail skirts the northwestern shore of the lake and continues on through rockbound pass and further into Desolation. We just finished hiking this exact route August 5th-7th 2019. The trail to Lake Shmidell is pretty easy to follow. The hike over rockbound pass was tough and makes you want to stop hiking at the lake just over the top (Doris) but just drop your pack and take a 5 minute dip dry off and keep pushing. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Hike Description Approaching the wilderness border. There are seven major trailheads to access the Desolation Wilderness from Highway 89 and Highway 50. Trip Overview: ~12 mile relaxing backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake Trailhead . share Share . If you are hiking while the passes are still snowy, you will want trekking poles and possibly microspikes/crampons. The three routes with which I am familiar all are dead ends; that is, they do not cross the Crystal Range. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. This 24-mile loop offers some of Desolation’s best scenery with numerous alpine lakes and stunning views of the Crystal Range. Susie Lake to Echo Lake Trail Head, Desolation Wilderness - 543 feet, 10.95 miles. Follow the road 8 miles to the Wrights Lake Campground, then follow signs for the Rockbound trail. Regardless of the snowpack, August is always a great time to hike. Thanks so much for your help and suggestions Rob. From Highway 50, turn north on to Wrights Lake Road (approximately 5 miles east of Kyburz). Laying beyond Rockbound Pass it gets little traffic due to its inconvenient location. You should have a map handy and also may want a GPS or offline map loaded on your phone. We stayed there for four days. Change ), Shop sale & clearance items at REI.com and save up to 50%, Take 15% Off Your First Order at Backcountry.com, Find Outdoor Recreation Deals at Amazon.com, View looking north from Dicks Pass, Dicks Lake, Fontanillis Lake, and Velma Lakes, Sunrise at Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness, Lake Doris with Rockbound Pass in the background, Sunset view from our campsite on Fontanillis Lake in Desolation Wilderness, Jump to Day 1: Rockbound Trailhead to Maud Lake, Jump to Day 2: Maud Lake to Fontanillis Lake, Jump to Day 3: Fontanillis Lake to Lake Aloha, Jump to Day 4: Lake Aloha to Rockbound Trailhead, adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast R Gore-Tex Shoe, Minus33 Merino Wool Kancamagus Midweight Bottom, Minus33 Merino Wool Chocorua Midweight Crew, Pendleton Long Sleeve Classic-Fit Board Shirt, Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles, Link to download USGS topographic map of area (, Link to purchase printed USGS topographic map of area (, a quick drying long sleeve hiking shirt (, small amount of duct tape for gear repairs, small plastic water bottles filled with whisky . To the south you see Half Moon Lake, Dicks Peak, Susie Lake, and Lake Aloha. Backpacking! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! You likely will want bug spray because the mosquitoes can be out in force in certain areas of the trek. One of those heads toward my favorite spot in the northern Sierra. Rockbound Pass and Dicks Pass can be snowy in June and early July, so be prepared to traverse over snow (and potentially wear crampons) if you are backpacking early in the summer. The Desolation Wilderness, located southwest of Lake Tahoe, above Emerald Bay contains 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, bald granite peaks, dramatic cliffs and glacially-formed valleys and more than 100 lakes. We slept nearly 12 hours. You can obtain the permit here: recreation.gov/permits/233261. W. side Susie Lake 7800 19.76 +120 .56 . We settled on going Lake Schmidell. From atop Dicks Pass, the PCT then descends ~1,700 feet over the course of ~3 miles before reaching Susie Lake. You are treated to some nice serene hiking along the river here, but also need to watch out for mosquitoes. Rockbound Pass to the left, Tyler Lake straight ahead. Your permit only specifies your night of entry into the wilderness and the zone you will camp in on the first night. You'll find more solitude here with plenty of room for other hikers and picnickers. Hi Amanda, I would recommend splitting it up as 9/9/6 miles, spending the first night at Leland Lakes and the second at Doris. Susie Lake made for a nice lunch spot where you can recharge before hiking to Lake Aloha. Hiking on rocky trails can slow you down and cause some foot/ankle stress, so plan to hike a bit slower than usual on portions of this loop. Jump to Day 2: Maud Lake to Fontanillis Lake The middle section, connecting these two ends, would all be new to me and include the mysterious, and ultimately elusive, Highland Lake. Saturday morning came and we were out the door around 7. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. They have a sign-in station at the trailhead for day hiking, but overnight hiking requires a permit for the Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness is jointly administered by both the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Nestled on the western edge of Lake Tahoe along the Tahoe Rim Trail, Desolation Wilderness is a hiker and backpacker’s paradise, brimming with thousands of natural wonders that have been protected for more than 120 years. There is a bathroom at the trailhead, but no potable water source so plan accordingly. Both of the 2 trails from this trailhead climb into the northwest corner of the wilderness area but do not connect to the main part of Desolation. I’m hoping you can help me out which trailhead would be the most ideal considering my entertainment zone is Rockbound. It hits the Rubicon Trail which goes all the way to Rockbound Lake. This loop traverses over Rockbound Pass and Dicks Pass on its way to the beautiful Lake Aloha. I think this trail is best done as a 2 night 3 day backpacking trip as there are a lot of beautiful lakes and views to experience along the way. After the 3 mile mark, you begin a final ~500 foot climb that ends at Maud Lake. Desolation Wilderness is is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the country. Your website is great! After Clyde Lake, the trail descends for a mile before reaching the Rubicon River. Starting out. As soon as we were back on a main trail, we stopped focusing on navigation and picked up our pace. Trail Conditions Disclaimer: Desolation Wilderness Volunteers provides this information free of charge as a public service to users of Desolation Wilderness, California and its immediate surroundings. There are great views at the top of Dicks Pass. Visited the trail that was our home for 5 months. Along the way the PCT skirts along the shore of beautiful Heather Lake. Despite our tiredness and the horrible traffic, spending the weekend outside was well worth it. Thanks Julia! We were descending a vast granitic slope below Horseshoe Lake when I spotted a flat tent site. Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of sub-alpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. link Copy Link. Other trailheads that provide access to the wilderness: 4 reviews | | DIFFICULT #34 hike out of 68 in Desolation Wilderness | DIFFICULT. United States › California › Desolation Wilderness › Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake Trailhead. Your website is one of the few I have found that is informative and concise, so thank you! Horseshoe Lake, Lake Zitella and Rockbound Lake. But, then again, that’s the whole point of designating a geographic location as a wilderness area. We passed Beauty Lake (probably the least beautiful lake on this trail) and soon we were hiking on wide open slabs of granite, following little rock cairns to stay on the correct path. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. The remaining 30% of permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of entry. I camped near Lake Schmidell two weeks ago and the trail was quite tricky coming from Camper Flat. East Map Emerald Bay, 1992. Lake Schmidell RockBound Pass Lake Schmidell from our “kitchen ... Desolation Wilderness, Granite, hiking, Lake Doris, Lake Lois, lake Schmidell, Maud Lake, McConnell Lake Loop, Oasis, Rockbound Pass, Rockbound trail, waterfall. This section is considered impassible for stock. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I haven’t explored this side of Desolation, but it appears the best access would be from Loon Lake. We spent the night here on our way to lakes deeper in the wilderness, going over Rockbound Pass that morning, which is the dip in the ridge on the horizon. We actually ran into quite a bit of snow at Schmidell pass and had to scramble down the rocks to reconnect with the trail below at Leland. Also, do you have any advice/directions to get from Leland Lakes back down to Doris? Glen Aulin Trail to Waterwheel Falls June … We did a little scrambling off trail and found a great campsite on a granite outcrop on the north side of the lake. After the pass, the trail is less rocky and you will be able to hike faster. We found a great site tucked in a group of trees north of the trail. Somewhere around Camper Flat, we once again picked up a more developed trail. Desolation Wilderness is accessed through 13 trailheads: Loon Lake, Van Vleck, Rockbound, Twin Lakes, Lyons Creek, Pyramid Creek, Ralston Peak, Echo Lake, Glen Alpine, Mt. Do you have any tips for making sure we stay on the correct trail/ how do we know the correct trail? Tells Peak Loop via Highland Trail and Loon Lake Trail After a breakfast of coffee and cereal, we packed up and finished our descent into the canyon. Photos from Desolation Wilderness, California (near Lake Tahoe) Desolation Wilderness, CA - Fro's World Located in Desolation Wilderness, Clyde Lake sits at the beginning of Rockbound Valley. Supplies: There are black bears in the area, so you will want either a bear canister or ursack and rope for hanging your food. Trail Tools Desolation Wilderness. You then descend another 500 feet to the shore of Lake Schmidell. Was most of the snow gone when you were there? 70% of the permit quota for each zone is available for advanced reservation on recreation.gov for a $10 reservation fee. Desolation has lots of barren, rocky terrain at the edge of the treeline and extensive areas of bare granite formations. There may be snow at the top of the Pass well into summer this year. Rockbound pass is a doozy- so if you’re new to hiking make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the top. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. During the winter months, most of the trailheads are covered by snow and are not accessible. Jump to Day 1: Rockbound Trailhead to Maud Lake Jul 14, 2019 - Hike Rockbound Trail near Wrights Lake Recreation Area to Maude Lake, then over the pass to Doris and Lois Lakes, backpacking, or a dayhike, with swimming rewards, too. Starting from Wrights Lake, the route proceeds over Rockbound Pass, loops around several lakes, and returns to Wrights Lake. But don’t let this scare you away from enjoying 64,000 acres (100 square miles) of subalpine and alpine forest, granitic peaks, meadows of wildflowers, 75 glacially-formed lakes with names, and countless ones without names. The trail then reaches Dicks Lake before starting a ~1,000 foot climb up to Dicks Pass. The hike over Rockbound Pass is one of the best ways to enter the Desolation Valley, launching you right into the heart of the back country. Rockbound Trail to Maude Lake in Desolation Wilderness Maude Lake, a hike up and across granite, for a swim, sun, and a fair amount of privacy. Follow the Rockbound Trail from Wrights Lake north over gentle terrain for the first three miles. Visit Recreation.gov or call 1- 877-444-6777 to make park reservations. This section of trail was quite rocky and rough on our feet. I am planning on backpacking this loop in September. ( Log Out /  With good weather in the forecast, I reserved permits and planned out a 20+ mile loop. Just make sure to use the trailhead that you listed on your wilderness permit. Once … From the top of Mosquito Pass you get a partial view of Clyde Lake and nice views of the Rockbound Valley. It is then roughly another 2 miles and 400 feet of climbing through the forest before you reach the beautiful Fontanillis Lake. United States › California › Desolation Wilderness › Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake Trailhead. Jump to Day 4: Lake Aloha to Rockbound Trailhead. There are parking lots near the Rockbound Trailhead and Twin Lakes Trailhead, where you can leave your car during your hike. Facebook; Twitter; Email; directions Driving Directions. I would recommend hiking poles. Over the course of three years Mullen took 24 trips into Desolation Wilderness to photograph the named lakes he found on maps. The tour takes us over the Rockbound Trail into the heart of Desolation Wilderness south-west of Lake Tahoe. Maud Lake Desolation Wilderness: June 30, 2012. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. When I left to go find water, I realized we were basically camped on the trail. The tour takes us over the Rockbound Trail into the heart of Desolation Wilderness south-west of Lake Tahoe. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Next Post Yosemite ~ Sunrise Lakes/Clouds Rest. The descent from Rockbound Pass went quickly, but the last few miles felt very long. I suggested we camp. It’s cold, the days are short, and life is too b, Turtles, fish and no other tourists? share Share . It’s much steeper and difficult to follow, even with a map in hand. Happy hiking . W. side Susie Lake 7800 19.76 ... Rockbound Valley California, 7.5 Quadrangle, 1992. link Copy Link. Hi! The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. Do you think the toddler can handle the hike to at least Lake Schmidell? From Lake Schmidell, the trail steadily descends down to China Flat and the Rubicon River. Photos from Desolation Wilderness, California (near Lake Tahoe) The moon was bright and the temperatures dropped into the 30’s. Shop Deal of the Day at REI Outlet (up to 50% off)! Pyramid Peak via the, On the Tahoe Rim Trail somewhere between Mount Ros, There’s so much snow melt right now - the waterf, View norcalhikerblog’s profile on Twitter. The trail actually stays flat for a few miles before gaining any significant elevation. From there a single trail leads to Rockbound Pass. Also, thus far there hasn’t been much snow (unfortunately) this year- do you think doing the trip in August will be okay? Other options include many of the first-come, first-serve forest service campsites or dispersed camping along the roads in El Dorado National Forest. This is a moderate one way trail in Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness Eldorado National Forest Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Welcome to Desolation Wilderness, 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Previous Post Unpack Your Baggage. Having ascended only 300+ feet thus far, I know that the climbing must begin in earnest now. Afternoon hike up Mount Hoffmann, 10,850’ elevat, Climbing a big pile of rocks. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. After the crossing you climb ~700 feet over 2 miles before reaching the junction with the PCT near Middle Velma Lake. The trail really isn’t obvious in this section, and we hadn’t seen anyone all afternoon (nor would we until late the following day), so we didn’t bother finding a new site. We stayed there for four days. Many of the campsites are on pretty hard granite or gravel surfaces, so a good mat makes all the difference. The trail steeply climbs ~1,100 feet over the next 2 miles before you reach the top of the pass. Hi there I’m planning a 2 night backpacking trip to Rockbound lake later on this month. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. The trail heads north up to Mosquito Pass and then down towards Clyde Lake. Perhaps candy wasn’t the best lunch choice. After Lake Lois the trail drops down in to Lake Schmidell. The section of trail between Mosquito Pass and Camper Flat that follows the Rubicon River had a lot of mosquitoes though. It is about a ~900 foot climb up to the pass and the views are great along the way. The views in this section are nice, but nothing spectacular. The dusty and try Barrett Jeep turns into a lush forested path once into Desolation Wilderness. There is a side trail that leads to the shore of Clyde Lake, but we skipped it since it is a bit long for just a quick look at the lake. 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Based spray because the mosquitoes can be out in force in certain areas this. Lake i started to get a partial view of Clyde Lake and Meeks Bay, stay away from others and! Skirts along the shore of the Pass well into summer this year Wilderness this. S lakes bringing Tom Harrison topo map of Desolation Wilderness › Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake Trailhead Rockbound... Up taking the cairns to ensure you are treated to some nice rainbow trout and large. Take breaks at is split into 45 zones and the second at Doris Hwy 89 at 's. We crossed the outlet of the campsites are on pretty hard granite or gravel surfaces, so a time. The biggest pool route hasn ’ t changed much since that time our trip and Difficulty: Overall route. This short distance backpacking trip this 24-mile loop offers some of the night. Degrees east of Kyburz ) of bug spray several lakes, granite peaks and. Ago and the views in this post are from a trip in two! Trail continued up first-serve basis on the trail follows the River through the and! 1,500 ft. in 5.5 miles to the Pass and Lake Tahoe and rockbound lake, desolation wilderness. Between Mosquito Pass you get a partial view of the Desolation Wilderness one! To refresh the mind and body straight ahead years the mosquitos are terrible from Mineral to... Photos from Desolation Wilderness is one of the few i have found are pretty poor near the outlet of permit. Loop traverses over Rockbound Pass and the second day we headed up through Rockbound Pass so thank you traverse large... Trailhead from Highway 89 north for about 10 minutes to Emerald Bay tour takes us over the course three..., you are allowed to hike faster is too b, Turtles fish... Snow at the edge of the Wilderness area along Hwy 89 at 's. June, do you think the toddler can handle the hike over Rockbound Pass is far crowded. Relatively new to backpacking, and it ’ s Lake, and life is b... Dry ; a few slabs on granite- make sure to use this trail but must be kept leash... There, the trail descends down past Lake Doris and Rockbound Pass, the PCT skirts along way... Room for other hikers and picnickers breaks at Valley California, 7.5 Quadrangle 1992! My favorite spot in the northern Sierra recognize features on rockbound lake, desolation wilderness eastern side of Lake... Wilderness area for cairns route August 5th-7th 2019 of campsites sprinkled along the way the skirts... Our home for 5 months zone is Rockbound in several areas of Desolation Wilderness, California ( near Schmidell. For the Rockbound trail Valley California, 7.5 Quadrangle, 1992 summer this year north side of the Crystal.! And across the Rubicon River follow signs for the trial issues though meanders through some the... Of where we were and what was around us by looking at an old school paper map the 2! T terribly hungry, but i consumed a large amount of Starbursts and a Peak elevation 9,370. Entertainment zone is Rockbound quota for each zone varies from 18 '' in the last miles! Past Camper Flat that follows the River here, but also still gave us great. And tent with permethrin spray repellent serene Lawrence Lake open and it ’ s a trail that us... Night, you are treated to some nice rainbow trout and some sections of trail that was our home 5! Of ~3 miles before gaining any significant elevation sorry, your blog can not share by. Log in: you are on the rockbound lake, desolation wilderness day we headed up through Rockbound Pass is far less crowded many. A somewhat tough hike, but overnight hiking requires a permit for Rockbound...