S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 Mule deer are the largest of the game species found within the wilderness. Large destructive deep slab avalanches in Desolation Wilderness seen from Mt. The crest of the Sierra Nevada runs through it, just west of Lake Tahoe. (530) 543-2674, LTBMU Supervisors Office Due to the Desolations fragile high elevation ecosystem Campfires are not allowed anywhere in the wilderness area. The hike over Rockbound Pass is far less crowded than many of the trails on the eastern side of the wilderness. There are many wet meadows throughout the wilderness, each unique due to the differences in elevation, exposure, soil composition and soil depth, resulting in a wide diversity of annual and perennial plant life. Maps. Note that only 400 feet of this elevation rise occurs hiking the 2.23 miles from Lake Genevieve to the South side of Stony Ridge Lake. Meiss Country Map Index . 530-543-2600 (voice) A list of other trailheads that provide access to the wilderness follows.[4]. Among the many waterfalls within the wilderness is Horsetail Falls. By the end of that century, the first formal step to limiting its development when it was made a Forest Reserve, managed first by the General Land Office, and later, by the US Forest Service. This Wilderness area is split up into 45 different zones, with each having a specific permitting quota. 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. A call center is available to assist daily from 7 am-9pm (summer) and 7am – 7pm (winter). Desolation Wilderness Map Index . Due to its popularity and fragile ecosystem, permits are required year-round for both day and overnight visits. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used protected areas in the United States. FAX 530-647-5405, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit A partnership of the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service. Expect snow on the trail. The limited tree cover in Desolation is valuable for watershed protection, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics. A section of the Pacific Crest Trail/Tahoe Rim Trail traverses 17 miles of the Wilderness. by albanberg » Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:16 pm 2 Replies 1217 Views Last post by albanberg The El Dorado County Leash Law is enforced when dogs are harassing wildlife or impacting other visitors opportunities for solitude. It is accessible from all sides, though most hikers begin their visit in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Its largest body of water is Lake Aloha, a reservoir with shallow, clear waters sitting in a wide granite basin carved by glaciers of the last ice age. Desolation also provides an ideal habitat for numerous alpine rodents such as the yellow-bellied marmot, golden-mantled ground squirrel and Douglas squirrel. Overnight camping will still be permitted in Desolation Wilderness and within 500 feet of the Pacific Crest Trail. Long recognized for its mountain splendor, Desolation Valley Primitive Area was established in 1931 and then granted Wilderness status in 1969. Most forested areas occur between 7,400 and 9,000 feet (2,300 and 2,700 m) of elevation, becoming patchy to rare at higher elevations. 4260 Eight Mile Road Trail Guide Section Index. 7887 Highway 50 The on-line reservation service, recreation.gov allows visitors to make reservations seven days a week. It’ll be helpful when reserving a permit. Follow Wrights Lake Road until you reach Wrights Lake. Manage dog waste by burying or carrying it out depending on the season. Camp stoves for cooking are permissible. "Desolation Wilderness: Trail Destinations", Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front, California State Mining and Mineral Museum, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, University of California Natural Reserve System, Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desolation_Wilderness&oldid=991693988, Protected areas of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Protected areas of El Dorado County, California, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 10:17. S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 This wilderness straddles both sides of the Sierra Nevada, averages 12.5 miles in length and eight miles in width, and has elevations ranging from about 6,500 feet to over 10,000 feet. Desolation Wilderness: Home > PSD Limits > Map, List > Desolation Wilderness. State(s): California. Located three miles north of the Highway 50/89 junction Your source for Sierra wilderness information. In 1969, it became the Desolation Wilderness after the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964.[3]. Desolation Wilderness CA weather - local Desolation Wilderness, California weather forecasts and current conditions. Within 7 days of your “Date of Entry”, you may print your permit yourself, or bring your confirmation email and photo ID to a Forest Service office to have them print it. A windy day atop Mt Agassiz in the Desolation Wilderness. (530) 647-5415 Pets - Domestic pets are allowed in the Desolation Wilderness at this time. Desolation Wilderness conditions in early August Hey all — what sort of conditions are anticipated for Desolation Wilderness in early August this year? Getting There Smith Lake is located inside Desolation Wilderness in El Dorado County. Aspen and willow are common to these wetland areas. Many other alpine and wooded lakes of various sizes are scattered throughout the area. Tallac on Mar. You can book a permit online at Recreation.gov or score one of the first-come-first-serve permits at the Tahoe South Visitor Center, … Trail Conditions. GPS and/or map and compass are still recommended to find the trail along with proper footwear, clothing […] (Why?) Desolation Wilderness is in north-central California along the eastern border, 3-1/2 hours northeast of San Francisco, 2 hours east of Sacramento, and 1 hour southwest of Reno, Nevada. The crest of the Sierra Nevada runs through it, just west of Lake Tahoe. All of the avalanches seem to have wet snow characteristics with avalanches at lower elevations (below 8000') sliding down near the ground. The Desolation Wilderness is a 63,960-acre (258.8 km2) federally protected wilderness area in the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in El Dorado County, California. During the zone-quota period permits are in high demand and trip-planning is important to secure your desired location in advance.. Placerville Ranger Station Desolation Wilderness is in a glory state that locals haven’t seen for many years – pumping waterfalls, high water levels in the lakes, and with the late start to the season, a pretty empty, crowd-free landscape. Less common, but also present are brown and golden trout. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the length of the wilderness, and its proximity to roads makes it one of the more easily accessible wildernesses in the Sierra. Stop at Granite Lake for a short rest along the way. Desolation Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness of 63,000+ acres in Northern California. The sparse woodlands of widely scattered western junipers and lodgepole pines are interrupted by patches of montane chaparral species such as pinemat manzanita, huckleberry oak, and mountain pride penstemon clinging to the expanses of barren rock. ... 0.02 when modeled against natural conditions. Clearly this is the largest fish I have heard in recent history coming out of the Desolation. The Crystal Range is within the wilderness area, with Pyramid Peak as the highest point in the range and the wilderness at 9,985 feet (3,043 m)[5] in elevation. Weather: When planning your trip, be aware that snow can persist in much of Desolation Wilderness through the end of June. They used to be free, but now cost $5 a person for one night and $10.00 per person for two or more nights up to 14 days (non-refundable). Desolation Wilderness is located in the southwest corner of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Includes details of wilderness areas, latest sierra wilderness news, resources for planning your trip, and notes from professionals in the field. Summer Mon-Sat: 8:00am to 4:30pm M-Sat Solving the cold problem is pretty easy, just bring more warmer clothes. During the winter, day permits are available at the Pacific Ranger Station. More common, yet seldom seen, are the smaller mammals like coyote, porcupine, badger, and bobcat. Parking is located at the far end of the campground. Permits are available for all entry points from either the Eldorado National Forest or the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU). Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. The Desolation Wilderness is a 63,960-acre (258.8 km2) federally protected wilderness area in the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in El Dorado County, California. Water Sources. at South Lake Tahoe, on Highway 89 Day hikers may obtain a free permit from one of the offices listed below, or may issue themselves a permit at most major trailheads in the summer. (Why?). The Desolation Wilderness Volunteers website is a great place to check trail conditions before you head out. After, it was known at times as "Devil's Valley," and most often used for cattle grazing. The … From Meeks Bay trail head to Phipps Pass we will be climbing a total of 2561 feet of vertical elevation over 8.88 miles of distance. Winter: 8am to 4:30pm M-F, Taylor Creek Visitor Center Day visits are not subject to fees, maximum group size is 12. Large amounts of snow and water from Bayview/Eagle junction onward, with limited dry ground for camping. [2] It was set aside as the Desolation Valley Primitive Area in 1931 with an area of 64,000 acres (260 km2). Desolation Wilderness 2016 - Conditions by strongfam1 » Mon May 09, 2016 8:22 am 1 Replies 1526 Views Last post by steeleman Mon May 09, 2016 5:46 pm South Desolation Wilderness Conditions? Pollock Pines, CA 95726-9602 Waste - Visitors are required to bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from water, trails, and campsites. Desolation wilderness is not so desolate Signed up for a meet-up hike to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower. The Wilderness sits on the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain’s Crystal Range, west of Lake Tahoe, and north of Highway 50. There are also a variety of mountain birds, including the Steller's jay, Clark's nutcracker, mountain chickadee, sooty grouse, mountain bluebird, American dipper, and occasional golden eagle. Dogs are to be under the owners control at all times. 35 College Drive Winter conditions are expected to persist in Desolation Wilderness from November through June. County(s): El Dorado. 30% of each zone’s quota is available on the day of entry at walk up locations listed below. 530-644-2349 Trailheads are accessible via Highway 50 on the west side and Highway 89 on the eastside. Decomposed granite accumulations are often shallow deposits within glacially scoured basins. Garbage must be packed out. Here’s a map of all the managment zones in Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness is open for foot traffic and equestrian use only—all means of mechanical transportation (including snowmobiles) will not be allowed. Desolation Wilderness Permits and Maps For overnight backpacking in Desolation Wilderness, a permit is required. Snow often blocks the high passes until mid July. The Desolation Wilderness is located just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50. [1], Before European settlement in the mid-19th century, there is evidence this area was used by the Washoe. Entering Desolation from the Echo Lakes trailhead, solid snow cover begins at Haypress Meadow (8,200 ft.). Desolation Wilderness is the busiest wilderness in the country. Trailhead parking areas are closed in winter and many access roads are not subject to snow removal. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the length of the wilderness, and its proximity to roads makes it one of the more easily accessible wildernesses in the Sierra. Desolation is a popular backpacking destination, with much barren rocky terrain at the edge of the tree line. The Desolation Wilderness is located just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe, north of Highway 50. Camino CA 95709 Black bears are increasingly common, with individuals being displaced from the Tahoe Basin and lower elevation western slopes into the higher country. Toilet paper must be buried or packed out. Desolation Wilderness Fishing Update 6 (2000) Well, the Wakabayshis have done it again. Desolation Wilderness/ Lake Tahoe, CA Trail Status Update by U.S. Forest Service – Lake Tahoe Basin Unit *** Desolation Wilderness Update: The report and photos below [and above] are from Forest Service wilderness ranger scouting expeditions on July 8 and July 12, 2017. The hike up was less than 4 miles with an elevation gain of less than 1,000 feet (you start high). Also found is a member of the rabbit and hare family, the pika. General Information. Use Permits. The Desolation Wilderness provides a home for many species of plants, fish and wildlife. As much of the ground surface in Desolation is bedrock granite: soils are limited. It's bounded by logging roads and operations to the north and … The only location on the Tahoe Rim Trail requiring a permit for day use is Desolation Wilderness. I have a permit for the weekend of the 3rd/4th, and hoping to hike Pyramid Peak, but a little worried the snow could still be pretty intense. Your best resource for Desolation Wilderness CA … Desolation Wilderness Hiking Lake Genevieve to Phipps Pass . From the Friday before Memorial Day weekend to the last day in September a zone-quota system is in effect for overnight trips into Desolation. It is accessible from the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin. The Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail pass through the wilderness. It can be difficult to find solitude, especially if you’re hiking to Lake Aloha or up Pyramid Peak on a summer weekend. 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