While summertime draws the most visitors, during the winter, the area is a popular playground for experienced backcountry skiers and snowshoers. The Tahoe Rim Trail also travels through Desolation. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses 17 miles through Desolation Wilderness, from Echo Lakes to the south to Richardson Lake just past the northern boundary. Horsetail Falls, which tumbles in stages for nearly 500 feet, is just one of the area's many waterfalls.

Pyramid Peak as the highest point, topping out at 9,987 feet. It straddles the crest of the Sierra Nevada range, encompassing 63,690 acres, and has elevations ranging from 6,500 feet to nearly 10,000 feet. Desolation Wilderness is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in California. Long recognized for its many lakes surrounded by glacial carved granite basins, Desolation Valley Primitive Area was established in 1931 and became a congressionally designated wilderness area in 1969. Forest Service office for current conditions. During the winter months, most of the trailheads are covered by snow and are not accessible by vehicle. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay.

Heavy snow may start as early as October and may persist through July.ĭesolation Wilderness is accessed through 13 trailheads: Loon Lake, Van Vleck, Rockbound, Twin Lakes, Lyons Creek, Pyramid Creek, Ralston Peak, Echo Lake, Glen Alpine, Mt.When selecting a campsite choose a durable surfaces at least 100 feet from water and trails.A digital or paper permit reservation confirmation is not a valid permit. A signed permit must be carried at all times by the group leader.Up to $5000 fine for non-compliance as per 36 CFR 261.58 (cc). Overnight Wilderness Visitors must store all food and scented items in a hard-sided bear-resistant canister. Maximum group size is 12 people who will be together at any given time during the trip.Campfires are not allowed within the area.A recreation fee is assessed during the permitting process. Overnight permits are available for reservation six months in advance. The system disperses visitors throughout the area, providing an opportunity for solitude and reflection. A quota system is in place for the 45 overnight destination zones from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30 th each year. Visitors must obtain a Wilderness permit for overnight camping as well as day visits, year-round. Use this Desolation trip planning guide (PDF) to make the most of your visit and learn more about the permitting system, trail conditions and Desolation wilderness stewardship opportunities. Visitors should use caution when travelling through areas burned in the Caldor Fire and be aware of dead and fire-weakened trees and other hazards present in the recently burned landscape.

'These continued dry conditions, with above normal temperatures through spring, will leave fuel moisture levels lower than normal, increasing the potential for wildland fire activity.Desolation Wilderness is open for overnight and day use. 'Extended dryness originating from January is expected to continue into the spring with little precipitation, leaving most of the state in moderate to extreme drought conditions prior to summer,' the state's firefighting agency said in a 2022 fire season outlook. The state is coming of one of its driest late winters on record, leaving hillsides covered in dry brush.Ĭalifornia continues to face longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change, according to CAL FIRE. Dry vegetation is one significant factor in the spread of wildfires. Investigators determined it was ignited by a vehicle’s catalytic converter.įuel moisture levels are well below historic averages in parts of Southern California, meaning vegetation is drying out more quickly this year. On the central coast, the 375-acre Camino Fire in San Luis Obispo County was 45% contained and no structures were threatened, Cal Fire said. The fire began in an “uninhabitable' building and the flames spread to vegetation, Cal Fire said. Bay Area Photographer Showcases ‘The End of the Dream' on California Billboards

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