Echo Lakes Trailhead

About this place

Echo Lakes Trailhead is a source-backed overnight access point in Desolation Wilderness. Kampilo publishes only the official trail geometry and permit or camp authorization options represented in the mapped catalog.

The mapped line is a planning reference rather than a guarantee of current access. Confirm road, parking, trail, weather, fire, permit, and closure conditions with the land manager before departure.

Seasonal access

Closures & seasonal access

Desolation Wilderness remains winter backcountry, but several summer trailhead roads and facilities close or become snow routes

Place closure

No recurring date-based closure of Echo Lakes Trailhead is published. Limited seasonal lake parking and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Limited seasonal lake parking: Use the signed Echo Lakes trailhead parking; summer demand is high and winter access may require snow controls or a Sno-Park plan. Desolation Wilderness remains winter backcountry, but several summer trailhead roads and facilities close or become snow routes. Highway snow controls, Sno-Park rules, and avalanche conditions can change access.

Before driving

Check Lake Tahoe Basin alerts, the exact access road, and current snow conditions; do not infer vehicle access from an open wilderness permit season.

Map

Loading map

Latitude: 38.833488° N
Longitude: 120.042916° W

Details

Approx. elevation: 7,582 ft
Land manager: USDA Forest Service
Overnight authorization: 39 — 39 American via Echo Lakes · 44 — 44 Avalanche via Echo Lakes · 05 — 05 Brown Mountain via Echo Lakes · 11 — 11 Camper Flat via Echo Lakes · 30 — 30 Cathedral via Echo Lakes · 22 — 22 China Flat via Echo Lakes · 23 — 23 Dick's Lake via Echo Lakes · 15 — 15 Dick's Peak via Echo Lakes · 18 — 18 Eagle via Echo Lakes · 02 — 02 General Creek via Echo Lakes · 03 — 03 Genevieve via Echo Lakes · 29 — 29 Gilmore via Echo Lakes · 35 — 35 Grass via Echo Lakes · 04 — 04 Grouse Lakes via Echo Lakes · 28 — 28 Half Moon via Echo Lakes · 36 — 36 Hemlock via Echo Lakes · 09 — 09 Highland via Echo Lakes · 24 — 24 Kalmia via Echo Lakes · 33 — 33 Aloha via Echo Lakes · 40 — 40 Lake of Woods via Echo Lakes · 13 — 13 Lakes #3 and #5 via Echo Lakes · 19 — 19 Lawrence via Echo Lakes · 10 — 10 Lelands via Echo Lakes · 21 — 21 Lois via Echo Lakes · 17 — 17 Lower Velmas via Echo Lakes · 43 — 43 Lyons via Echo Lakes · 25 — 25 Maude via Echo Lakes · 16 — 16 Middle Velma via Echo Lakes · 27 — 27 Mt. Price via Echo Lakes · 12 — 12 Phipps via Echo Lakes · 45 — 45 Ralston via Echo Lakes · 20 — 20 Red Peak via Echo Lakes · 01 — 01 Rockbound Lake via Echo Lakes · 26 — 26 Rockbound Pass via Echo Lakes · 06 — 06 Rubicon via Echo Lakes · 14 — 14 Schmidell via Echo Lakes · 37 — 37 Smith via Echo Lakes · 07 — 07 Stony Ridge via Echo Lakes · 34 — 34 Susie via Echo Lakes · 41 — 41 Tamarack via Echo Lakes · 08 — 08 Tells via Echo Lakes · 42 — 42 Triangle via Echo Lakes · 32 — 32 Twin via Echo Lakes · 31 — 31 Tyler via Echo Lakes · 38 — 38 Waca via Echo Lakes
Mapped access: Pinned official agency trail geometry
Permit entries: 39 — 39 American via Echo Lakes · 44 — 44 Avalanche via Echo Lakes · 05 — 05 Brown Mountain via Echo Lakes · 11 — 11 Camper Flat via Echo Lakes · 30 — 30 Cathedral via Echo Lakes · 22 — 22 China Flat via Echo Lakes · 23 — 23 Dick's Lake via Echo Lakes · 15 — 15 Dick's Peak via Echo Lakes · 18 — 18 Eagle via Echo Lakes · 02 — 02 General Creek via Echo Lakes · 03 — 03 Genevieve via Echo Lakes · 29 — 29 Gilmore via Echo Lakes · 35 — 35 Grass via Echo Lakes · 04 — 04 Grouse Lakes via Echo Lakes · 28 — 28 Half Moon via Echo Lakes · 36 — 36 Hemlock via Echo Lakes · 09 — 09 Highland via Echo Lakes · 24 — 24 Kalmia via Echo Lakes · 33 — 33 Aloha via Echo Lakes · 40 — 40 Lake of Woods via Echo Lakes · 13 — 13 Lakes #3 and #5 via Echo Lakes · 19 — 19 Lawrence via Echo Lakes · 10 — 10 Lelands via Echo Lakes · 21 — 21 Lois via Echo Lakes · 17 — 17 Lower Velmas via Echo Lakes · 43 — 43 Lyons via Echo Lakes · 25 — 25 Maude via Echo Lakes · 16 — 16 Middle Velma via Echo Lakes · 27 — 27 Mt. Price via Echo Lakes · 12 — 12 Phipps via Echo Lakes · 45 — 45 Ralston via Echo Lakes · 20 — 20 Red Peak via Echo Lakes · 01 — 01 Rockbound Lake via Echo Lakes · 26 — 26 Rockbound Pass via Echo Lakes · 06 — 06 Rubicon via Echo Lakes · 14 — 14 Schmidell via Echo Lakes · 37 — 37 Smith via Echo Lakes · 07 — 07 Stony Ridge via Echo Lakes · 34 — 34 Susie via Echo Lakes · 41 — 41 Tamarack via Echo Lakes · 08 — 08 Tells via Echo Lakes · 42 — 42 Triangle via Echo Lakes · 32 — 32 Twin via Echo Lakes · 31 — 31 Tyler via Echo Lakes · 38 — 38 Waca via Echo Lakes

Sources

National Forest System and USGS Trails — snapped official trail point Desolation Wilderness Permits Desolation Wilderness current conditions Desolation Wilderness permits and rules Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit — Desolation Wilderness Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit — current alerts