Loon Lake Trailhead

About this place

Loon Lake 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 Loon Lake Trailhead is published. Ice House Road to Loon Lake and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Ice House Road to Loon Lake: Use the signed Loon Lake wilderness parking reached from Ice House Road. Check snow, road, and facility status before departure. 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: 38.980703° N
Longitude: 120.316900° W

Details

Approx. elevation: 6,470 ft
Land manager: USDA Forest Service
Overnight authorization: 39 — 39 American via Loon Lake · 44 — 44 Avalanche via Loon Lake · 05 — 05 Brown Mountain via Loon Lake · 11 — 11 Camper Flat via Loon Lake · 30 — 30 Cathedral via Loon Lake · 22 — 22 China Flat via Loon Lake · 23 — 23 Dick's Lake via Loon Lake · 15 — 15 Dick's Peak via Loon Lake · 18 — 18 Eagle via Loon Lake · 02 — 02 General Creek via Loon Lake · 03 — 03 Genevieve via Loon Lake · 29 — 29 Gilmore via Loon Lake · 35 — 35 Grass via Loon Lake · 04 — 04 Grouse Lakes via Loon Lake · 28 — 28 Half Moon via Loon Lake · 36 — 36 Hemlock via Loon Lake · 09 — 09 Highland via Loon Lake · 24 — 24 Kalmia via Loon Lake · 33 — 33 Aloha via Loon Lake · 40 — 40 Lake of Woods via Loon Lake · 13 — 13 Lakes #3 and #5 via Loon Lake · 19 — 19 Lawrence via Loon Lake · 10 — 10 Lelands via Loon Lake · 21 — 21 Lois via Loon Lake · 17 — 17 Lower Velmas via Loon Lake · 43 — 43 Lyons via Loon Lake · 25 — 25 Maude via Loon Lake · 16 — 16 Middle Velma via Loon Lake · 27 — 27 Mt. Price via Loon Lake · 12 — 12 Phipps via Loon Lake · 45 — 45 Ralston via Loon Lake · 20 — 20 Red Peak via Loon Lake · 01 — 01 Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake · 26 — 26 Rockbound Pass via Loon Lake · 06 — 06 Rubicon via Loon Lake · 14 — 14 Schmidell via Loon Lake · 37 — 37 Smith via Loon Lake · 07 — 07 Stony Ridge via Loon Lake · 34 — 34 Susie via Loon Lake · 41 — 41 Tamarack via Loon Lake · 08 — 08 Tells via Loon Lake · 42 — 42 Triangle via Loon Lake · 32 — 32 Twin via Loon Lake · 31 — 31 Tyler via Loon Lake · 38 — 38 Waca via Loon Lake
Mapped access: Pinned official agency trail geometry
Permit entries: 39 — 39 American via Loon Lake · 44 — 44 Avalanche via Loon Lake · 05 — 05 Brown Mountain via Loon Lake · 11 — 11 Camper Flat via Loon Lake · 30 — 30 Cathedral via Loon Lake · 22 — 22 China Flat via Loon Lake · 23 — 23 Dick's Lake via Loon Lake · 15 — 15 Dick's Peak via Loon Lake · 18 — 18 Eagle via Loon Lake · 02 — 02 General Creek via Loon Lake · 03 — 03 Genevieve via Loon Lake · 29 — 29 Gilmore via Loon Lake · 35 — 35 Grass via Loon Lake · 04 — 04 Grouse Lakes via Loon Lake · 28 — 28 Half Moon via Loon Lake · 36 — 36 Hemlock via Loon Lake · 09 — 09 Highland via Loon Lake · 24 — 24 Kalmia via Loon Lake · 33 — 33 Aloha via Loon Lake · 40 — 40 Lake of Woods via Loon Lake · 13 — 13 Lakes #3 and #5 via Loon Lake · 19 — 19 Lawrence via Loon Lake · 10 — 10 Lelands via Loon Lake · 21 — 21 Lois via Loon Lake · 17 — 17 Lower Velmas via Loon Lake · 43 — 43 Lyons via Loon Lake · 25 — 25 Maude via Loon Lake · 16 — 16 Middle Velma via Loon Lake · 27 — 27 Mt. Price via Loon Lake · 12 — 12 Phipps via Loon Lake · 45 — 45 Ralston via Loon Lake · 20 — 20 Red Peak via Loon Lake · 01 — 01 Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake · 26 — 26 Rockbound Pass via Loon Lake · 06 — 06 Rubicon via Loon Lake · 14 — 14 Schmidell via Loon Lake · 37 — 37 Smith via Loon Lake · 07 — 07 Stony Ridge via Loon Lake · 34 — 34 Susie via Loon Lake · 41 — 41 Tamarack via Loon Lake · 08 — 08 Tells via Loon Lake · 42 — 42 Triangle via Loon Lake · 32 — 32 Twin via Loon Lake · 31 — 31 Tyler via Loon Lake · 38 — 38 Waca via Loon Lake

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