Zitella was fabulous! North of Camper Flat the Rubicon Trail exits Desolation Wilderness on the North shore of Rockbound Lake … Also note, it can get pretty windy in Desolation, so if you can find a more protected spot with trees and rocks like we did, that will definitely work in your favor. After stopping briefly at the north end of Rockbound I skirted the shore on my way south and eventually hit the Rockbound Trail leading from the northern boundary of the wilderness all the way to Lake Aloha and on to Echo Lakes and the southern boundary near Highway 50. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor Portable Stoves are permitted. Down to the right are the normally exquisite Enchanted Pools, featuring many waterfalls plunging directly into the biggest pool. Physical Location. Take Highway 50 east out of Sacramento about 80 miles to Wrights Lake Road. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Find the Rockbound trailhead at the northeast corner of the parking lot. From here, take the trail or bushwhack another mile until Camper Flat, where the trail picks up again. In order to escape the debilitating heat, I head for the mountains; but even there the trails are mostly hot and dry this year. Overview. Rockbound Lake (ID 13780), El Dorado County, is located within the Desolation Wilderness on Eldorado National Forest (ENF) land approximately five miles west of Lake Tahoe (Figure 1). The Desolation Wilderness, located southwest of Lake Tahoe, above Emerald Bay contains 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, bald granite peaks, dramatic cliffs and glacially-formed valleys and more than 100 lakes. The nature reserve is located in the county El Dorado in California and is characterized by its innumerable picturesque mountain lakes, bare granite as well as by its individual conifers and bushes. Right below the pass is Doris Lake, which is where we camped in our short 30 hour adventure. Find the Bayview trailhead on your left across from Inspiration Point. The granite and glaciers of the Sierra Nevada have strongly affected this region leading to the formation of well over 100 lakes of all sizes. The signposts are all clearly marked until Rockbound Pass. Throughout the 3 and a half day trip we saw maybe 3 other hikers. At the 4.9-mile mark is Maud Lake, which is a lot more beautiful than Beauty Lake but is not the lake you’re looking for. Trail Conditions Disclaimer: Desolation Wilderness Volunteers provides this information free of charge as a public service to users of Desolation Wilderness, California and its immediate surroundings. 4 reviews | | MODERATE #34 hike out of 68 in Desolation Wilderness | MODERATE . This is a place that we backpack into quite often and are very familiar with the area. At the Mineral Spring near Camper Flat, be sure to take the south west trail (Blakely Trail) back towards Lake Schmidell (Not the trail towards China Flat). Seasonal Popularity. In contrast, today's trail does lead up and over Rockbound Pass into the depths of the wilderness, making it popular with backpackers. Get into your suit, take a deep breath, and dive. Rockbound Lake via Loon Lake Trailhead . Lk. From the trailhead we hiked into Rockbound Lake and camped near the outlet of the lake which goes down to Buck Island Lake. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Explore Desolation Wilderness Permit in Eldorado National Forest, California with Recreation.gov. This is sunrise at Maud Lake in Desolation Wilderness. Men’s Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Follow the signs to Wrights Lake and park at the Rockbound Trailhead. Rockbound Pass is a big day of hiking – it’s just under 14 miles, round trip, with 2,387 feet of elevation gain. You Won’t Know Until You Hike It, Taste Test: Our 6 Favorite Freeze-Dried Backpacking Meals, Dispatches: Bike, Hike, and Climb to Three Fingers Lookout, The Men’s Journal Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2021, Pick Up The Best Shoes To Alleviate Back Pain At Zappos Today, Workout In Style With The Great Activewear Options From Western Rise, Clean Up Your Skin With This Incredibly Effective Acne Spray, Nonalcoholic Beers That Taste Like the Real Thing, Iron Sharpens Iron: Why You Need an "Everyday Warrior Tribe" in 2021. The next mile and a half feature several steep rock and stair sections. We spent the night here on our way to lakes deeper in the wilderness, going over Rockbound Pass that morning, which is the dip in the ridge on the horizon. Rained one night and froze the other so be prepared for some funky storm systems over the pass (weather the night before we left predicted sunny skies the whole time). Every single step was step inward into the heart of the Desolation Wilderness… Plenty of food and water; there are numerous running streams from which you can filter or treat water, as well. I definitely want to come back and explore other areas of Desolation Wilderness. Follow this road about 20 miles to Loon Lake and the Desolation Wilderness Trail head parking lot. The marsh-like water is very slow moving, and even though it is indeed beautiful, it is also a prime location for p... To get to the Twin Lakes Trailhead from the Bay Area/Sacramento, head east on HWY 50 past Kyburz for 4 miles until you see the left-hand turnoff for Wrights Road. If you hit the town of Strawberry, you’ve gone too far. Layers. Maud Lake Desolation Wilderness: June 30, 2012. Trail is free of snow and trees from Rockbound trailhead at Wright's Lake to Doris Lake. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. It's definitely one of the highlights of the trail. Fogbound Lake is located … (The trailhead is near the restroom.) Desolation is located in the El Dorado National Forest. 6. We only saw people hiking up the day we were leaving (though going midweek might have had something to do with that). Not a bad place for a snack, though. +/- 3,000 feet of elevation with a starting elevation of 6,970 feet and a peak elevation of 9,660 feet. You’ll encounter several forks and go left at all of them, following signs to Rockbound Pass. Map Names I stitched together 4 USGS 7.5 maps to make this baby: NE: Meeks Bay (1992) NW: Homewood (1992) SW: Rockbound … The next day we cruised back over Rockbound and back to Wrights Lake TH. I brought 2 liters and I was … During the winter months, most of the trailheads are covered by snow and are not accessible. We pass Beauty Lake and the picturesque Maud Lake via a steadily ascending path which takes its course through light forests and rocky terrain. 8. ... Email; directions Driving Directions. A bit more downhill brings you to Lake Schmidell, a large and iconic lake with lots of space for camping. The climbs can be pretty difficult but they are definitely worth the panoramic views you're rewarded with at the top. Meeks Bay on Road Map. It requires good navigational skills and endurance, but at the same time rewards the hiker with breathtaking views, solitude, and an opportunity to experience the wilderness in an intimate way. Starting from Wrights Lake, the route proceeds over Rockbound Pass, loops around several lakes, and returns to Wrights Lake. We usually set up a base camp at Rockbound … Having ascended only 300+ feet thus far, I know that the climbing must begin in earnest now. To get to the trailhead you take Hwy 50 east out of Placerville and turn off on the Crystal Basin Lakes Road. Pristine Lakes. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. The nights were dead silent and the stars were absolutely stunning. Just below the pass, Lake Doris offers as picturesque an objective as you could hope to find this close to a city of a half million people – most of whom are far more likely to be wandering Desolation’s more popular hikes to the east of Rockbound. From Maud Lake, you can see Rockbound Pass. It is exactly as described by Kira's review. Pay very close attention to this part of the trail, "Shortly after Horseshoe Lake, the trail disappears onto a large granite slab marked with cairns. The loop from Camper Flat around 4-Q Lakes, past Horseshoe, McConnell, Leland, and Schmidell Lakes is one of my favorite parts of Desolation Wilderness. You can lose the trail in a few spots here if you’re not paying attention. Tallac, Bayview, Eagle Lake and Meeks Bay. The Desolation Wilderness, located southwest of Lake Tahoe, above Emerald Bay contains 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, bald granite peaks, dramatic cliffs and glacially-formed valleys and more than 100 lakes. 4 reviews | | MODERATE #34 hike out of 68 in Desolation Wilderness | MODERATE. Rock climbing courses at the International Wilderness Leadership School are dedicated to developing confident, competent, climbers. MODERATE 8.0 mi. The crystal clear lake which is surrounded by pines is a popular local recreation area and starting point for many hiking tours into Desolation Wilderness. Need to Know Parking is free at the Rockbound Trail (16E08) just west of Wrights Lake. If you’re bringing a dog (you should definitely bring a dog), they can be off leash once you get away from the campground, so long as they’re under your “direct control.” They are not, however, allowed in the water. 7. Fogbound Lake (Japanese: きりのみずうみ Foggy Lake) is a lake situated high above Foggy Forest and accessed after going through Steam Cave.It can be seen after the battle with the Groudon illusion created by Uxie.One Time Gear is placed in the center of the lake with Uxie guarding it. Nestled on the western edge of Lake Tahoe along the Tahoe Rim Trail, Desolation Wilderness is a hiker and backpacker’s paradise, brimming with thousands of natural wonders that have been protected for more than 120 years. 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