Meeks Bay Trailhead

About this place

Meeks Bay 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 Meeks Bay Trailhead is published. Seasonal Sierra trailhead access and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Seasonal Sierra trailhead access: Use the signed Meeks Bay Trailhead access in Meeks Bay, Lake Tahoe, California. Lake Tahoe trailheads differ in parking capacity, fees, winter controls, and seasonal road access. Use the signed lot for the selected entry and check current Forest Service alerts. 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: 39.037386° N
Longitude: 120.126456° W

Details

Approx. elevation: 6,270 ft
Land manager: USDA Forest Service
Overnight authorization: 39 — 39 American via Meeks Bay · 44 — 44 Avalanche via Meeks Bay · 05 — 05 Brown Mountain via Meeks Bay · 11 — 11 Camper Flat via Meeks Bay · 30 — 30 Cathedral via Meeks Bay · 22 — 22 China Flat via Meeks Bay · 23 — 23 Dick's Lake via Meeks Bay · 15 — 15 Dick's Peak via Meeks Bay · 18 — 18 Eagle via Meeks Bay · 02 — 02 General Creek via Meeks Bay · 03 — 03 Genevieve via Meeks Bay · 29 — 29 Gilmore via Meeks Bay · 35 — 35 Grass via Meeks Bay · 04 — 04 Grouse Lakes via Meeks Bay · 28 — 28 Half Moon via Meeks Bay · 36 — 36 Hemlock via Meeks Bay · 09 — 09 Highland via Meeks Bay · 24 — 24 Kalmia via Meeks Bay · 33 — 33 Aloha via Meeks Bay · 40 — 40 Lake of Woods via Meeks Bay · 13 — 13 Lakes #3 and #5 via Meeks Bay · 19 — 19 Lawrence via Meeks Bay · 10 — 10 Lelands via Meeks Bay · 21 — 21 Lois via Meeks Bay · 17 — 17 Lower Velmas via Meeks Bay · 43 — 43 Lyons via Meeks Bay · 25 — 25 Maude via Meeks Bay · 16 — 16 Middle Velma via Meeks Bay · 27 — 27 Mt. Price via Meeks Bay · 12 — 12 Phipps via Meeks Bay · 45 — 45 Ralston via Meeks Bay · 20 — 20 Red Peak via Meeks Bay · 01 — 01 Rockbound Lake via Meeks Bay · 26 — 26 Rockbound Pass via Meeks Bay · 06 — 06 Rubicon via Meeks Bay · 14 — 14 Schmidell via Meeks Bay · 37 — 37 Smith via Meeks Bay · 07 — 07 Stony Ridge via Meeks Bay · 34 — 34 Susie via Meeks Bay · 41 — 41 Tamarack via Meeks Bay · 08 — 08 Tells via Meeks Bay · 42 — 42 Triangle via Meeks Bay · 32 — 32 Twin via Meeks Bay · 31 — 31 Tyler via Meeks Bay · 38 — 38 Waca via Meeks Bay
Mapped access: Pinned official agency trail geometry
Permit entries: 39 — 39 American via Meeks Bay · 44 — 44 Avalanche via Meeks Bay · 05 — 05 Brown Mountain via Meeks Bay · 11 — 11 Camper Flat via Meeks Bay · 30 — 30 Cathedral via Meeks Bay · 22 — 22 China Flat via Meeks Bay · 23 — 23 Dick's Lake via Meeks Bay · 15 — 15 Dick's Peak via Meeks Bay · 18 — 18 Eagle via Meeks Bay · 02 — 02 General Creek via Meeks Bay · 03 — 03 Genevieve via Meeks Bay · 29 — 29 Gilmore via Meeks Bay · 35 — 35 Grass via Meeks Bay · 04 — 04 Grouse Lakes via Meeks Bay · 28 — 28 Half Moon via Meeks Bay · 36 — 36 Hemlock via Meeks Bay · 09 — 09 Highland via Meeks Bay · 24 — 24 Kalmia via Meeks Bay · 33 — 33 Aloha via Meeks Bay · 40 — 40 Lake of Woods via Meeks Bay · 13 — 13 Lakes #3 and #5 via Meeks Bay · 19 — 19 Lawrence via Meeks Bay · 10 — 10 Lelands via Meeks Bay · 21 — 21 Lois via Meeks Bay · 17 — 17 Lower Velmas via Meeks Bay · 43 — 43 Lyons via Meeks Bay · 25 — 25 Maude via Meeks Bay · 16 — 16 Middle Velma via Meeks Bay · 27 — 27 Mt. Price via Meeks Bay · 12 — 12 Phipps via Meeks Bay · 45 — 45 Ralston via Meeks Bay · 20 — 20 Red Peak via Meeks Bay · 01 — 01 Rockbound Lake via Meeks Bay · 26 — 26 Rockbound Pass via Meeks Bay · 06 — 06 Rubicon via Meeks Bay · 14 — 14 Schmidell via Meeks Bay · 37 — 37 Smith via Meeks Bay · 07 — 07 Stony Ridge via Meeks Bay · 34 — 34 Susie via Meeks Bay · 41 — 41 Tamarack via Meeks Bay · 08 — 08 Tells via Meeks Bay · 42 — 42 Triangle via Meeks Bay · 32 — 32 Twin via Meeks Bay · 31 — 31 Tyler via Meeks Bay · 38 — 38 Waca via Meeks Bay

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