This Scenic Sierra Nevada Trail Near Lake Tahoe Reveals Stunning Views Of California's Desolation Wilderness

Despite its somewhat fearful name, California's epic Desolation Wilderness is anything but desolate. As a sublime mountain wilderness preserve within Eastern California's Eldorado National Forest, the Desolation Wilderness hides breathtaking Sierra Nevada peaks and glistening lakes a short distance from Lake Tahoe. With such majestic mountain vistas, Desolation Wilderness is a hiker's paradise with extensive trails that showcase the otherworldly landscape of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. One such trail is the scenic Lake Aloha Trail, a challenging yet worthwhile trek through many of the wilderness area's most picturesque views, culminating in a visit to the shores of the trail's namesake lake. The trail's lush mountain scenery and wilderness heart make it the perfect hiking escape from the beautiful, but touristy, Lake Tahoe. 

Much of the Lake Aloha Trail's appeal comes from its superb offerings of Desolation Wilderness views. The wilderness protects around 63,960 acres of undeveloped Sierra Nevada landscape, with plenty of towering granite peaks, subalpine forests, glacial valleys, and over 100 lakes. As an official wilderness, the Desolation Wilderness has few amenities, which lets you experience California's mountains as they existed before human development. 

Ironically, as a reservoir created by the damming of Pyramid Creek, the gorgeous Lake Aloha arose from modern infrastructure. These artificial origins, however, are irrelevant when you get to take in the jaw-dropping beauty of the lake's crystal clear water reflecting snow-capped mountain peaks. Lake Aloha even has several small islands that add to its mystique. The Aloha Trail not only showcases the lake's beauty but also crosses lush pine forests and countless mountain observatory points. Add the trail's relatively manageable altitude, and you get an unforgettable hike.

California's Sierra Nevada mountains have no shortage of spectacular but formidable trails. However, while you can make the multi-day trek along the 72-mile High Sierra Trail to a secret mini version of Yosemite Valley, the Lake Aloha Trail provides a much more manageable hike through this gorgeous landscape. Though its mountain terrain is not ideal for inexperienced hikers, Lake Aloha Trail's 12.3-mile length is still short enough to be completed in a single out-and-back day hike. Conveniently, the Echo Chalet resort offers a boat taxi service across Lake Aloha during the summer season, which can take a good 3 miles off the hike! The first 3 miles of the trail are also the easiest, with a very slight incline that lets you get acclimated to the high-altitude mountain environment at your own pace. And if you need to cool off after your hike, Lake Aloha is also open for swimming!

Hikers will access the Lake Aloha Trail from the Echo Lake Trailhead near Desolation Wilderness's Echo Lake. Note that, as this is a designated wilderness area, you will need a Desolation Wilderness Permit to legally access the trail. Primitive camping is allowed along the Lake Aloha Trail with a permit, though you can ditch the full wilderness experience and enjoy the mountain luxuries of the Echo Chalet resort. The Echo Lake Trailhead is also only 24 minutes from South Lake Tahoe, so you can easily enjoy the myriad Lake Tahoe lodging options during your Lake Aloha visit, and maybe even explore Lake Tahoe's secrets like the charming Nevada town of Incline Village. If you plan to fly in, the Lake Aloha Trailhead at Echo Lake is only an hour and a half from Reno-Tahoe International Airport.