![]() Desolation Wilderness Sign on the Eagle Falls Trail |
Lake Sylvia Velma Lakes Half Moon & Alta Morris Lakes Dicks Lake Mt. Tallac |
Desolation Wilderness is one of California's most accessible wilderness areas. It's about a 3-hour drive from San Francisco and San Jose (The Silicon Valley), a 2-hour drive from Sacramento, and a few minutes from Lake Tahoe.
Don't let the name scare you away. Desolation Wilderness is far from being desolate. It's covered with lakes, wildlife, and wonderful vistas. Desolation Wilderness is also a Mecca for trout fishermen. It contains all major species of trout: Brook, Rainbow, Golden, Brown, Lake, and Cutthroat trout.
Desolation Wilderness uses a strict permit/quota system. The quota is 700 overnight users. Wilderness permits are required for BOTH overnight and day users every day of the year. Day-use permits can be completed at the trailhead, but overnight permits must be picked up in person or via snail-mail. You can reserve a permit in writing (3070 camino Heights Drive, Camino, CA 95709), phone (530-644-6048), FAX (530-644-3034), or at the Eldorado National Forest Information Center (open 7 days a week, 8am-5pm) just off highway 50, 5 miles east of Placerville.
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