Eldorado National Forest

An adventurous journey with 10+ mile hikes
Trek into the wilderness and sleep in the backcountry
Pups are welcome at camp and on hiking trails
Places we've visited and fallen in love with

Hiking to Ralston Lake and Lake Aloha in Eldorado National Forest

Hiking to Ralston Lake and Lake Aloha in Eldorado National Forest

Hiking to Ralston Lake and Lake Aloha in Eldorado National Forest

Hiking to Ralston Lake and Lake Aloha in Eldorado National Forest

Designed by
Share this itinerary
Last updated
March 8, 2022

Trip · 3-day backpacking trip

For · Friends and intermediate backpackers

Vibe · Challenging and hard

Distance  · 24.2 miles and 4,462 feet of elevation gain

Permits · Yep, select Tamarack as your destination zone for your wilderness permit and apply for a CA Campfire permit online

Drive · 3 hours from SF

Ideal dates · August to October

Pets · Welcome on trails and campgrounds!

Eldorado National Forest (ENF) is 596,700+ acres of granite peaks, alpine lakes, and lush meadows. The forest features Desolation Wilderness (and parts of Mokelumne Wilderness), which is one of the most-visited backcountry destinations in the country! Elevation in the area can range from 1,000 to 10,000+ feet so you can experience a diversity of wild ecosystems.

Check Current Forest Conditions

Official Forest Service Website

Directions To Trailhead​

Main image credit: Tessa Morris

Stuff to know

  • You'll need a wilderness permit so reserve and print yours ASAP. It costs $6.
  • Apply and print out a CA campfire permit too. It only takes a few minutes online.
  • Black bears roam ENF all year, but keep your site clean and store food, and scented items properly, and you'll rarely spot them.
  • Bring rain gear, camp below the tree line, and avoid afternoon hikes (when thunderstorms are most likely)
  • The lowest elevation you’ll be at is 7,500 ft. so make sure you’re comfortable and/or familiar with the altitude
  • Face masks and social distancing are required. Recreate responsibly!

Resources

Check the weather
View of Echo Lake
No items found.

Itinerary

Day One

Frescana Mexican Bistro
Frescana Mexican Bistro. Credit: Yelp

Leave SF by 8 AM

If you're okay with adding ~1 hour to your trip, go to Frescana Mexican Bistro

  • Located at 3141 US Hwy 50, Ste. C, in South Lake Tahoe
  • Order a breakfast/lunch burrito to get energized before your trek!
  • Open everyday · 8 AM - 8 PM

Drive to Echo Lake parking lot

  • There’s a general store for last minute needs and treats
  • Campsites are also available should you need to buffer either end of your trek

Enjoy the 4.1 mile hike to Ralston Lake

  • At 3.6 miles, you’ll see a sign to turn left towards Tamarack and Ralston Lakes
  • The last 0.5 mile, you'll hike along Tamarack Lake, cross a small stream (keep an eye out for a felled tree), then reach Ralston Lake
  • There is a fair amount of flat ground with trees for shade and privacy on the NE side of Ralston Lake
  • If the lake level is high enough, there are some awesome cliffs to jump off of on the eastern side of the lake
  • Ralston Lake is very secluded with low foot traffic. We had the lake all to ourselves!

Settle in and set up camp

Car to camp: 4.1 miles - 965 feet of elevation gain - 3 hours

Desolation Wilderness is part of Eldorado National Forest, one of eight national forests along California's Sierra Nevada mountain range

Day Two

Tahoe National Forest
Credit: Tessa Morris

Hike to Lake of the Woods or Lake Aloha

  • It's a 4.6 mile round trip hike to Lake of the Woods or a 4.8 mile round trip hike to Lake Aloha
  • Enjoy views of the notorious Aloha Lake!

Or if you're feeling ambitious, hike to Ralston Peak

  • It's a 7.4 mile RT climb with 1,395 ft. of elevation gain
  • This hike ventures you above the tree line so bring lots of water and sunscreen!
  • Roughly the last 0.5 mile of this trail is marked by cairns so keep an eye out
  • From the summit, you can see 11 lakes!
Washoe and Maidu Native Americans were the first to traverse ENF before the Gold Rush brought thousands of emigrants to CA.

DAY THREE

Ralston Lake
Ralston Lake. Credit: Tessa Morris

Pack up and pack out before noon

  • Sleep-in, cook a hot breakfast and check for any litter around camp
  • Top off your water supply before you head out

Return to Echo Lake parking lot

  • Breath big, dive deep, emerge anew.

Head home

Camp to car: 4.1 miles - 961 feet of elevation gain - 3 hours

10,000+ years ago, glacial ice sheets carved out the basins where Echo Lakes and nearly 130+ lakes formed in Desolation Wilderness
October 14, 2023

Bewilder Basecamp: Spooky Wonders

Visit Bewilder Basecamp, a family-friendly place to camp, bike, and play outside

Event in 2 days

Bewilder Basecamp: Spooky Wonders

Join Bezzi the Yeti on her first spooky camping adventure!

Shop curated gear

Subheading about gear and affiliate links.

Search icon
Price Range
Reset
Scroll
Price Range
Bezzi's Pick
$$$

Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV

You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.

Bezzi's Pick
$$$

REI Co-op Grand Hut 6 Tent

Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.

Bezzi's Pick
$$

Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove

A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.

Bezzi's Pick
$$$

FreeWheel Black Wheelchair Attachment

It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.

Bezzi's Pick
$$

Advantage Wallaby Wheelchair Down Under Catch All Bag

Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.

Bezzi's Pick
$

Purell Hand Sanitizer with Jelly Wrap Carrier

Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.

Bezzi's Pick
$$

Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L | 3500 CI

If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.

Bezzi's Pick
$

Ariceleo LED Battery Operated Fairy Lights

Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.

Bezzi's Pick
$

Coleman Camping Chair with Built-in 4 Can Cooler

Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.

Bezzi's Pick
$$$

Zpacks Duplex Tent

The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.

Bezzi's Pick
$$

Nemo Fillo Pillow

It's a heavier, bulkier pillow for ultralight backpackers, but you're guaranteed a good night's sleep.

Bezzi's Pick
$

TETON Sports Polara Sleeping Bag

It's not the fairest of them all, but this affordable sleeping bag delivers on warmth and comfort.

Woops! We don't have any results. Try resetting the filters and try again.

Meal and snack ideas

Subheading about meals and affiliate links.

Search icon
Dietary Preferences
meal Type
Bezzi's Picks
Reset
Dietary Preferences
Meal Type
Bezzi's Faves
Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Food For The Sole Blueberry Banana Crunch

Gluten Free • Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Packit Gourmet Diner Deluxe Eggs with Sausage

Bezzi's Pick
Dessert

Campfire cinnamon roll ups

Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Snack

Brookside Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries

Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Snack

Angie's Boom Chicka Pop

Gluten Free · Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
Snack

Santa Cruz Organic Apple Sauce

Gluten Free · Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
Lunch

Summer rolls with almond butter satay

Gluten Free · Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Dan dan noodles

Gluten Free · Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
Lunch

Asian chicken lettuce wraps

Gluten free

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Pho ramen

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Curry ramen

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Peanut butter cheesecake overnight oats

Vegetarian

Have feedback on this itinerary? Send us an email!
Spread the love
Explore our most popular trips
Explore our most popular trips
Explore our most popular trips
Explore our most popular trips
Self-Guided Trip

Catching desert sunrises and shooting stars at Joshua Tree National Park

Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.

Self-Guided Trip

Beachside backpacking and sea lion sightings at Santa Rosa Island

This winter trek on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park is a one of a kind itinerary for experienced backpackers.

Self-Guided Trip

Tidepooling and climbing Valencia Peak in Montaña de Oro State Park

Go tidepooling and camping in Montaña de Oro State Park, one of the largest state parks in California.

Looking for more?

View all itineraries