Desolation Wilderness 2025 Itinerary

✅ Key Planning Checklist

1️⃣ Permits & Regulations

• ✅ TRT Thru-Hike Permit (Covers Desolation Wilderness camping)

  • Call Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) at (530) 543-2600 between July 9 – July 12, 2025 to request permit.

  • Permit obtained and downloaded.

  • Carry the permit on the trail.

  • Permit holders must camp within 300' of the Tahoe Rim Trail and at least 100' from any water source.

• ✅ California Campfire Permit (Required for using a camp stove)

  • Permit obtained and downloaded.

  • Valid for the 2025 calendar year.

• ✅ Bear Canister Requirement (Mandatory in Desolation Wilderness - Day 1 through Day 3).

  • Must use a hard-sided bear canister in this section.

  • Bringing a bear canister for the entire trip for ease of food storage.

2️⃣  Daily Mileages (Distance: 49.47 miles; Est. Moving Time: 30.91 hours; Total Ascent: 6,753 feet; Total Descent: -7,788 feet)

• ⛺ Day 0 (July 18): Highway 50 to Lake Audrain

  • 🛣️ Distance: 0.56 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 0.32 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 28 feet 📉 Descent: -105 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 7,249 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 7,164 feet

  • 🍽️ Dinner: Mountain House Beef Lasagna
    
    

• ⛺ Day 1 (July 19): Lake Audrain to Susie Lake

  • 🛣️ Distance: 11.0 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 6.6 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 1,539 feet 📉 Descent: -920 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 8,358 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 7,164 feet

  • 🍽️ Breakfast: Echo Chalet(?) 🍽️ Lunch: Tortilla + Tuna 🍽️ Dinner: Mountain House Spaghetti

• ⛺ Day 2 (July 20): Susie Lake to Middle Velma Lake

  • 🛣️ Distance: 6.59 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 6.59 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 1,744 feet 📉 Descent: -1630 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 9,385 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 7,682 feet

  • 🍽️ Breakfast: On the trail 🍽️ Lunch: Tortilla + Chicken 🍽️ Dinner: Mountain House Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese
    
    

• ⛺ Day 3 (July 21): Middle Velma Lake to Miller Meadows

  • 🛣️ Distance: 9.06 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 4.98 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 848 feet 📉 Descent: -1,603 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 8,148 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 7,156 feet

  • 🍽️ Breakfast: On the trail 🍽️ Lunch: Tortilla + Tuna 🍽️ Dinner: Mountain House Chili Mac
    
    

• ⛺ Day 4 (July 22): Miller Meadows to Barker Pass

  • 🛣️ Distance: 6.02 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 3.99 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 1,177 feet 📉 Descent: -283 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 8,050 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 6,909 feet

  • 🍽️ Breakfast: On the trail 🍽️ Lunch: Tortilla + Chicken 🍽️ Dinner: Enchilada Bowl
    
    

• ⛺ Day 5 (July 23): Barker Pass to Ward Creek

  • 🛣️ Distance: 7.88 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 5.18 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 967 feet 📉 Descent: -2,256 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 8,530 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 6,761 feet

  • 🍽️ Breakfast: On the trail 🍽️ Lunch: Tortilla + Tuna 🍽️ Dinner: Mountain House Pizza Bowl
    
    

• ⛺ Day 6 (July 24): Ward Creek to Tahoe City

  • 🛣️ Distance: 7.11 miles ⏱️ Est. Moving Time: 3.25 hours

  • 📈 Ascent: 450 feet 📉 Descent: -991 feet

  • 🔼 Max. Elevation: 7,004 feet 🔽 Min. Elevation: 6,220 feet

  • 🍽️ Breakfast: On the trail 🍽️ Lunch: Tortilla + Chicken
    
    

• Know where camping is allowed/restricted:

  • Desolation Wilderness: Only with a TRT Thru-Hike Permit.

  • No camping at trailheads.

3️⃣ Resupply & Food Strategy

• 📌 Echo Chalet Grocery Store (9900 Echo Lakes Rd., Echo Lake, CA 95721) (530-659-7207)

  • Grocery Store hours are 8AM to 5PM.

  • Located at the southeast end of Lower Echo Lake.

• 📌 Bear-Proofing Food

  • Required bear canister in Desolation Wilderness.

4️⃣ Water Resupply Plan

Here are confirmed water sources along the route:

💧 Reliable Water Sources (Confirmed July 15, 2025):

• Day 0 (Lake Audrain):

  • 💧 S. Fork American River - "There's water in a creek running along the highway, before crossing it." - July 5, 2025

• Day 1 (Susie Lake):

  • 💧 Echo Lake (Mile 125) - "Multiple water sources flowing on the trail from here to Aloha. The trail is a river, the river is the trail." - May 31, 2025

  • 💧 Tamarack Lake (Mile 128.7)

  • 💧 Lake Aloha (Mile 131.4)

  • 💧 Heather Lake (Mile 132.9)

  • 💧 Susie Lake (Mile 134.2)

• Day 2 (Middle Velma Lake): 

  • 💧 Gilmore Lake (Mile 135.8)

  • 💧 Dicks Lake (Mile 140.2)

  • 💧 Fontanillis Lake (Mile 141.2)

  • 💧 Middle Velma Lake (Mile 142.5)

• Day 3 (Miller Meadows): 

  • 💧 Middle Velma Lake (Mile 142.5)

  • 💧 Phipps Creek (Mile 145.2) - "Flow is great. Mosquito net is also great." - July 7, 2025

  • 💧 Richardson Lake (Mile 151.2)

  • 💧 Miller Creek (Mile 153) - "Good flow, nice sites. Less mosquitoes than Richardson Lake." - July 9, 2025

• Day 4 (Barker Pass):

  • 💧 Miller Creek (Mile 153) - "Good flow, nice sites. Less mosquitoes than Richardson Lake." - July 9, 2025

  • 💧 Bear Lake Outlet (Mile 154.8) - "Good water. Lots of flies. Some mosquitoes." -  July 8, 2025

  • 💧 Barker Creek (Mile 155.9) - "Good water. Couple campsites and mosquitoes." - July 8, 2025

• Day 5 (Ward Creek): 

  • 💧 Barker Creek (Mile 155.9) - "Good water. Couple campsites and mosquitoes." - July 8, 2025

  • 💧 N. Fork Blackwood Creek (Mile 159.4) - "Flowing." - July 11, 2025

  • 💧 Spur to Ward Creek (Mile 165.2) - "Good flow, slightly off trail." - July 7, 2025

  • 💧 Ward Creek (Mile 166.6) - "Flowing. Big enough pool to swim." - July 8, 2025

• Day 6 (Tahoe City):

  • 💧 Ward Creek (Mile 166.6) - "Flowing. Big enough pool to swim." - July 8, 2025

  • 💧 Ward Creek (Mile 168.7) - "Flowing. Full creek of water." - June 28, 2025

  • 💧 Truckee River (173.8 mi)

5️⃣ Final Key Dates to Track

• 📌 July 9-14, 2025 – Call for TRT Thru-Hike Permit.

  • Completed: July 10, 2025.

• 📌 July 13-17, 2025 –  Check FarOut App for water reports.

  • Completed: July 15, 2025.

•  📌 July 18, 2025 – Drive to Echo Chalet / Highway 50.

•  📌 July 18, 2025 – Start hike from Highway 50!

• 📌 July 25, 2025 –  Finish hike at Tahoe City. Eat. Ride home.