The view of the lake from the parking lot is absolutely beautiful. It looked like a day-use permit is usually required to hike here, but there was a sign saying no permits were needed the day we went -- so that's definitely something to check before your trip. The restrooms are pretty rough, so I'd recommend stopping somewhere nearby first if you need to go. I heard the full hike is around 5 miles, but we turned back at about 3 because there wasn't much shade and it was getting really hot. The trail runs right along the lake, so the scenery is gorgeous the entire way. I'd call it an easy to moderate hike, depending on how wet or snowy the trail is. read more

This was a very scenic hike with a mix of sun and shade. I absolutely would love to do it again and explore further. I love how it was pet friendly and you can hike for as long or as short of a hike as you want. There is a little store by the trailhead which is cute, but the bathrooms are not up-kept at all and extremely gross and unsanitary. So use the restroom before coming to hike. Also they allow fishing and if i knew that i would have brought my pole!! read more

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My cousin and I hiked Upper and Lower Echo Lakes back in August. The trail and road leading up to the trail were moderately smoky due to wildfire season. We almost turned around and headed back when we were half way to the trail. We pressed on and made it to the parking lot which is above the trail. You have to hike down the road to the marina, which is where the trail starts. I was instantly in awe of the gorgeous reflection of the lower lake and the sun bouncing off the waves. It was really pretty even with the smoke. We headed out on the trail and it was pretty hot but the winds blowing into the lake kept us pretty cool. The winds were actually pretty strong. We used the Alltrails app to navigate the trail and there are plenty of stopping points to just marvel at the scenery around you. We didn't run into any wildlife other than birds and there were only maybe 3-5 people we passed on the trail. I think everyone was trying to get out before the fires came. I do believe that there are some people that have houses around the lake though or maybe they are just camps or yurts for passersby. There were several small boats at the marina though so I think there are some permanent residents. The trail is about 5-6 miles roundtrip. You can go further to reach Keiths Dome and Lake of the Woods but due to the fires, many trails were closed. I would say the trail was relatively easy. There wasn't a lot of incline or elevation gain and it's relatively flat without a lot of hazards. Once you get to the end of the trail, there is a pier where you can go out and look straight down in the water because it's so clear. You could even swim or just chill out and enjoy the absolute silence. It's very peaceful and there is literally no sounds other than the rustling trees and wind blowing. I don't even think there were waves. Everything was just so still. If you don't want to hike roundtrip, there is a boat/ferry that you can call once you get to the end of the trail and it will transport you back to the main marina. At the time of writing, the price was $18 per person with a backpack and a minimum of 3 people have to be present. You also would need to have cell signal in order to call the boat. We were lucky enough to visit Upper and Lower Echo Lakes during the wildfires and actually finished the trail just as the alerts were popping up on our phones that the Desolation Wilderness was being closed due to the Caldor Fire. We actually had to rush down to the exit because they were closing Highway 50 as the fire was coming in fast. I hope the area didn't get too damaged and hope to go back if I'm ever in the Tahoe area. read more

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It is clean and the view is nice. We came here to sit down and eat our sandwiches. We saw people walking their dogs, hiking, kayaking as well as fishing. The bathroom is closed off. The drive here was scary, we stopped by here after leaving South Lake Tahoe. The drive was wavy and one lane. Also, you have to be super careful as one sudden wrong turn can have you off the cliff. Safe driving & have fun! read more

Echo Lake - View - Lakes Near Me

Looking to do some hiking and beat the heat in Sacramento, my fiancé and I made our way to Echo Lake Trail on a Friday morning. We hit the road relatively early to avoid Fourth of July weekend traffic and any sort of crowd. Unfortunately, pretty much everyone else had the same idea as us and we had to park about a mile from the trail head. Once we parked and got to the trail head, it was pretty straightforward -literally and figuratively. The trail was initially fairly crowded but once we hit a switch back, things started to spread out a little bit more. The trail is clearly marked and offers a mix of sun and shade. The trail can get very narrow at points, which made it challenging when you are trying to pass someone and socially distance at the same time. Everyone was very respectful and most people would cover themselves with their face masks as we were passing each other. We didn't realize that this trail is part of the larger Pacific Rim Trail, so we got to chat with several people along the way who were hiking from Canada to Mexico. Very cool! We turned off where the water taxi usually drops off at the smaller of the two Echo Lakes. We ate our packed picnic lunch at the end of the pier. Since we had the whole spot to ourselves, we ended up jumping in the lake for a wonderfully refreshing swim. Gorgeous hike, fairly easy! We would highly recommend. read more

Echo Lake - Echo Lakes Trail - Lakes Near Me

The Lower Echo Lake trail runs right along a ridge on the north side of the lake. Because it's so elevated, we never got close to the water except at the beginning of the trail when we crossed over the dam. Based on how much water was flowing over the dam and the raging current below, the water level in May was quite high. We arrived in late May, thinking that all the snow would be melted by the trailhead and the road to the trailhead. We were wrong. There was a big pile of snow about a mile from the trailhead in the road. It had a backcountry no maintenance sign right next to the pile. We decided to park there and walk. After the fact, we noticed that the only tricky part of the road was right next to the sign. Then, as long as no one was driving the other way, the road easily led to the lake. This little walk from our parking spot to the lake gave us the opportunity to see the vacation rental homes that were still boarded up for the winter and the fire destruction that had snaked its way through the homes. The homes did not appear to be damaged, but it was hard to tell if they were saved or rebuilt after the fire. Some unfortunate sections of the mountainside were completely denuded of vegetation and life. The trees were completely black and soil barren from any nutrients. The trail along the lake was extremely beautiful. When looking closely, it's possible to see the houses on the opposite end of the lake, but they are almost camouflaged into the granite and trees. The trail leads right by many of the homes, which are a woody-Japanese style structure. None of the home were old lake cabins; instead, they all appeared to be expensively built. read more

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We came here after I found out about it from my Yelp friend, Peter. When we came here, we were fortunate enough to find a parking spot down below close to the lake. We hiked only about three miles but it was breathtaking, regardless. There was a trail that ran along the lake and there's endless views everywhere. The water taxi wasn't available when we had gone probably because it was in October. We saw a lot of hikers with their gear and even families with young children. The hike overall was really easy and worth it. Take your usual necessities: water, sunscreen, first aid kit, bug repellent, hiking poles, etc read more

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What a gorgeous lake Echo Lake is.... Bring a light jacket even in the summer. The lake has great fishing and great hiking trails. Parking can be tricky, but the lower level by the lake they have 2 hour parking. If you were thinking of doing a day hike you need to park in the upper portion. Bring a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and lots of water this lake is at a nice altitude. The trail is dog friendly, but dogs must be on a leash. There are several trails for day hikes or longer trails for a few days adventures into the wilderness. If you decide to camp or go on a several day hike you must check in first. read more

Echo Lake - Beautiful Echo Lake - Lakes Near Me

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Went on a 6 mile hike here, and it was BEAUTIFUL. It was snowing a bit, so it was just so magical! The view is amazing. Get here early, as it starts to get busy as it gets later in the day. The trails are a bit narrow and rocky, but definitely doable. I've seen people with their kids and dogs, so it's a good hike for everyone! The lake is huge, perfect for fishing too! It was a pretty easy-moderate hike, so if you're not in shape, this is perfect. I would say bring water! read more

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This lake is absolutely beautiful. The drive getting there from Reno was by far the most beautiful drive. There's a cute quaint little town. Nice little deli nearby. One year when we were there, there was a thunderstorm and being so close to the water. You can actually feel the electricity in the air so we got a little freaked out and left a little early but by far the best experience read more

Great little hike with lake views the entire way. This is the perfect hike for those who want a view without having a set amount of miles required to access it. You can literally turn around at any point during the hike and feel like you saw something great and it was worthwhile. We hiked up to see the second lake but turned around before the third. With next to no elevation gain this was a very relaxing and fun hike. I wore my keens without socks and only had to get some minor irritants out of them a couple of times - all in all a pleasant day! read more

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Echo lake is a short 15-20 drive from S. Lake Tahoe, and promised some killer views with a 5 miles round trip in and out path. Unfortunately, we went the first week of June and there was still quite a bit of snow from the winter. We only made it in about 1/2 mile before turning around and heading back out. Despite that, there were some good spots to look over the lake itself and see Tahoe in the distance. Not a total loss, but I highly recommend coming here when everything is 100% thawed out to maximize the experience. Parking is limited (~15-20 cars?) so plan your travels accordingly! read more

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Echo Lake is awesome! I would have to say Echo Lake is probably one of my favorite places to hike and camp. I love hiking from Echo Lake to Aloha Lake. This is a good day hike or camp the night there at Aloha Lake. Just a beautiful place. I highly recommend going here. Even if you just go to the parking lot and do a super short hike it's well worth it. Also if you take the boat taxi to the other side of Echo Lake that is pretty cool on its own. I think it's $10 for the boat taxi. It might have changed. But if you can't hike very long this would be a cool way to explore Echo Lake. By the dock they have a store. They have food, snacks, water, souvenirs, t-shirts, sweaters, etc. It's a cool store. Echo Lake is cool but if you could ever make it to Aloha Lake, I highly recommend that hike. It is an amazing hike. During spring it is beautiful when all the flowers come out and everything is green. It is also beautiful during fall and winter. Really it's beautiful all year long. Just go there and check it out for yourself. Thanks for reading my review. read more

Echo Lake - Lakes Near Me

A bit harrowing to get to and involved driving down a narrow one lane road which is not for everyone. A couple things to note about launching here. It's $7 to launch off the boat ramp which was funny because there was almost no one launching. You can launch for free by walking past the break wall and launching off a rocky "beach" or off some rocks on the break line wall. A bit irksome but not a deal breaker. They also will not let you launch if your paddle board or kayak has been in any other water within 7 days. They then inspect you vessel. Bathrooms were open but very dirty. No toilet paper so make sure you bring a napkin or tissue. The lake was gorgeous but it was WINDY. Definitely a workout paddling out and into the wind. Some motorized watercraft made it a bit of a wild ride for paddle boarding. The hike looked pretty but very sunny and exposed. Might come back for the hike but probably not for paddling. read more

Thanks Chip for the very warm hospitality and filling us in with all your info regarding the area. read more

Echo Lake - Nothing but beauty here! - Lakes Near Me

I recommend this hike! It's fairly easy. No too inclined. It is long (3 hour round trip) from beginning to between the two lakes. The view along the way is spectacular! We will come back to echo lake next time we return tonLake Tahoe' read more

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Echo lake is another one of those trailheads that are a door to the amazing desolation wilderness. The trail around the lake and into the back country is a section of the pacific crest trail. Today we met a someone who started hiking in Mexico and will end in Canada. Pretty cool! The trail around the lake contains a mix of terrain from gravel to dirt , to granite to larger granite chunks. In the summer the trail around the lake gets hot -- and mid day only provides intermittent shade. Today we climbed echo peak. We started about 7:15 am and ended about 2:00. The end of our hike got pretty hot .. our poor dogs ! Also . The trail to echo peak can be ambiguous, especially right now. There was still some snow up there. I'm surprised we didn't get lost. Theres an option to use the water taxi on you way back in -- but I think it's $14 per person and $10 per dog. Anyways back to echo lake. There's a bunch of hellllla cute cabins around the lake itself and I'm jealous of the owners. We do see boats and kayaks on the lake as well. Echo lake is beautiful! read more

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This is an easy/moderate, nearly 2.5 mi (1-way) SCENIC hiking trail, winding above and along the shoreline up on the hills, overlooking the charming Lower and Upper Echo Lakes! - The trails consist of sections of dirt path, gravel, rock steps, and flat granite rocks. Some sections of the trails go through wooded areas. The charming lakes are visible off most of the trails. During summer and fall, there's water taxi service ($12ea) running between the Lower Echo Lake and the Upper Echo Lake docks. Over the years, we have enjoyed our hikes here, with or without taking the water taxi. Taking the water taxi is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of both lakes close and personal! At times, it's a thrill to go through the short, narrow channel connecting the two lakes! We once saw a boat in the channel coming towards us with a dog sitting up in the front, as if that dog was piloting the boat! I highly recommend taking the taxi one way, and hike the other. If you hike up north from the lower lake, about 1.5 mi up, start looking for the small water taxi sign on a tree. From there is a narrow, rocky path leading down to the water taxi dock. By the dock is a shaded ground covered by tall trees, where there is a small shed with a direct phone line to the water taxi dispatcher, as well as a payphone. - BTW: our ATT cell signal had only one bar on most of the trail, and my MapMyfitness hiking app could not even register! Of course, instead of taking the water taxi, you can continue on the trail northward to see other lakes, such as Tamarack Lake, Lake of the Woods, and Aloha Lake (2+additional mi from the upper Echo water taxi dock). You can always take the water taxi on the way back from Aloha Lake. On our hikes in Echo Lakes, we have run into young hikers coming from the direction of Fallen Leaf Campground via Sussie Lake, Mt. Tallac..which is a 10 mi moderate/difficult trail 1-way towards the lower Echo Lake. The Echo Lake Trail is actually part of the Pacific Rim Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail system. If so desired, one could enjoy hiking/camping for weeks/months in the wilderness through here! GETTING TO THE TRAILHEAD From Lake Tahoe, OFF HWY US 50 (SR 89), exit to Johnson Pass; follow the signs carefully through the narrow residential roads to the Echo Chalet Dock. On top of the hill, about 0.5mi above the Echo Chalet Dock, there is a small, crowded parking lot. You can take a chance, skip it, and keep driving down the winding road to the Dock below, where there are a few more parking spaces in front of the general store. There is a nice public restroom building, as well as a picnic area. Go around the general store along the lake, you'll find a nice, short bridge, where one can rest and/or do some fishing. This leads to another short, narrow bridge over a dam across the water to the other side where the trailhead is. The trail info board describes the Pacific Rim and Lake Tahoe Rim Trail system. To explore beyond the Echo Lakes, it's recommended to fill out the Desolation Wilderness Permit here. One can pick up some extra necessities before the hike. And...AFTER the hike, it's nice to pick up a few beers, ice creams, etc, to relax in the picnic area by the dock and take in the gorgeous view of the lake! ADDITIONAL NOTES You Can Skip Along the shoreline, there are many small, charming houses, accessible only by boat or hiking! We once ran into a 80+yr young lady, who was hiking towards the lower Echo Lake Dock. She told us that she lived in one of those gorgeous houses, and she walked to/from her house and the general store EVERYDAY for mail and newspaper! And her pace was at least 2x faster than mine! On the trail above the water taxi Dock at the Upper Lake, we also ran into two ladies coming back from Lake Aloha, with full camping gears on their back. The night before, they had enjoyed themselves camping out by Lake Aloha, some 3mi farther up! They told my wife that they were in their 80's and had been enjoying hiking and camping for decades! How wonderfully inspiring! The lower Echo Lake is quite large, calm and absolutely beautiful! The water is pristine with shades of light and dark blue, due to the difference in depth and vegetations on the bottom. It is connected to the smaller Upper Echo Lake via a very narrow, short (50ft), a bit rocky channel. Along the lake shores are many charming houses of various sizes, which can only be accessed by boats or via hiking trails. In the middle of the lake there is a tiny island on which there is one nice, large house visible from the lake. The mountain ranges all around are high and majestic. From the Lower Lake, nearby the main dock, one could see the mountain tops with lots of trees that have their tree tops tilted on one side due the constant wind blowing from one direction, thus affording an amazing sight! Go experience the beauty yourself! July 2015 read more

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Such an amazing view in the winter, but beware! You need a 4WD truck to get to the bottom where the trail begins. My boyfriend and I arrived at noon today and we ended up walking to the trail. I can't say too much about the hike, because he had in an injury and we had to turn around right when we got to the end of Lower Echo Lake. With that said, the trail is a bit convoluted; I suggest wearing long bottoms, regardless of the season. There's lots of brush and foliage that rubs against your legs. The view is gorgeous and it even started snowing. What was really cool was the clear divide between the water and ice. The mountains were snowy and the skies were blue. The sound of the ice cracking is super cool too! In the winter, I don't think you can make it to Lake Aloha from Echo Lake unless you've got yaks and some major sticks that will help you balance yourself. I heard it's completely frozen in the winter, but a nice hike during the spring. Echo Lake is another one of California's gems and I'll be returning in the summer! read more

Echo Lake - Lakes Near Me

Breathtaking views on the trail to Lake Aloha. The "public restrooms" at Echo Chalet are literally holes with a toilet seat and the smell is utterly horrific. It took us 6 hours (12 mile round trip) to hike to Lake Aloha, and I'm definitely going to be super sore for the next few days. Many of the hikers eventually used the boat-taxi for the trip back from Lake Aloha to Echo Lake. I regret not taking the boat-taxi to enjoy the scenery but the hike was well-worth it. Echo Chalet has everything you need for a hike so stop before you head out. I highly recommend visiting Echo Lake and especially Lake Aloha. If you really have to use the restroom for any reason, your best bet is to take care of business in the wild , not joking at all. Parking isn't bad if you get there right before 8am. read more

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My forever entertaining parents spent their honeymoon in Desolation Valley....and I finally got to see the beautiful lake that is the starting point of that trek. It was a particularly cold May 26...and a snow surrounded the area...most folks had moved on by the time we got here...probably because it was snowing lightly and late in the afternoon at the end of a hoilday weekend. I felt like I was on another planet...or at least in another country. read more

We parked at the sno-park and went across the street and followed the trail to the lower lake. A few of us were on snowshoes and the others were on skis.. It was actually my first time snowshoeing and I really enjoyed it. There were probably a total of 10-12 other people out and about on a Sunday it was nice to say Hi as they passed by.. We went all the way across lower Echo Lake and back, which took us a total of four-five hours or so. The lake was pretty frozen over except for the edge nearest to upper Echo Lake, you could see the water there which was a little unsettling for me, I'm not sure when it starts to thaw here. It was quiet, beautiful, and the trails were clear and easy to follow. I can't wait to see what this place looks like in the summertime! read more

Echo Lake - Lakes Near Me

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Great place to spend your Fourth! We took our little inflatable kayak out there. Inspection is free, fishing is free, and also using the boat ramp will cost you $5, or you can launch a few hundred yards away for free albeit more of a hassle. We paddled across the diameter of the lake and then came back and caught two fish: a rainbow trout and what we think might have been a baby Kokanee salmon. Had to release them though since we were ill-prepared to store or cook them. : ( Parking is a hassle, as others have said, but we got lucky. While we were in the 15-minute parking spot assembling our kayak and packing up our bags, we caught some people leaving and were able to move my car. Oh, did I mention that the parking is free too? You just have to be able to find a spot, that's all. Echo Lake is also on the way to Tahoe and you can use it to cut through 50 as a small shortcut. read more

Echo Lake in winter with snow is beautiful! There's a trail that starts opposite the parking lot entrance that goes down to the lake: no cars, nice views, wide, pretty flat, around 1.5 miles one way. I think the trail is the regular road that leads to the lake but since everything is closed in winter, it becomes a hiking trail in winter. Because the trail is a road, it's wide enough to accommodate a group of people walking together so you don't have to go single-file with no chatting. At the end, there's a large open area which I think is the lake resort parking lot, where you can play in the snow/hang out and walk out on the lake if it's solid enough, super fun. Dogs allowed. There's a port-a-potty in the parking lot, no parking fee but you do need a snow-park permit as the parking lot belongs to the Echo Lake Snow Park. Tip: if there's no snow lakeside in Tahoe, go to Echo Lake (or Kirkwood) as there's usually snow at higher elevations. read more

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All of the reviews talk about hiking around the lake. No one mentions kayaking on the lake. Yes, the area is very beautiful. I'll have to go there for some hiking later. However I'm here to warn kayakers away from this lake. I parked in the upper lot, and carried my foldup kayak down to the lake. While I was setting up near the boat ramp, someone came out and started asking a lot of questions. Finally, I was informed that it would cost me $7 to launch my kayak at the boat ramp. This is outrageous. $1 or $2 for a kayak would be fair, but not $7. I was told I had to go to the far left, beyond the rock wall. Now, I could understand the $7 fee if it was combined with all day parking at the lower lot, as I understand the lower lot has a short time limit, normally. I told the person who queried me that I had parked in the upper lot, so there was no mistake about that. Beyond the rock wall, there is no decent place to launch a kayak. I had to precariously launch from a large boulder, while the water bounced the kayak around. It was even worse, when I tried to get out. I may return for hiking some day, but never again will I go there for kayaking. And I certainly won't patronize the shop there, who seems to own the boat ramp area. BTW, the entire time I was there, no one launched a boat from the ramp, so I certainly wouldn't have inconvenienced anyone. The only boat on the water had launched from one of the piers. read more

Echo lake is a great find. We walked all the way up to the end of upper echo lake and back for a wonderful morning walk. Trail was great and fantastic views Next time we go, we will hike in for overnight camping. There were a lot on the trail that were going for the weekend. read more

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The most beautiful and magical hiking trails start here. It is a gateway to paradise. read more

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Echo lake is a great high elevation lake that has beautiful views all the way around. This is a great place to picnic, swim, or hike. You can take short hikes round part of the lake or do an all day hike and head all the way around. The little resort is open about 7 months out of the year and has some basic supplies in case you forget something to your picnic or bbq. read more

We returned again when it was a bit warmer. Labor Day weekend actually. By 10:00 the parking was pretty much full and we got one of the last spots before it was time to park on the road. We took the water taxi ($10 per adult each way, 3 person minimum) and then hiked the 3+ miles back to the parking lot. It was a beautiful and easy hike. Beware the restrooms here can get NASTY. I nearly puked when visiting the facilities here. read more

If you wonder why John Muir described the Sierra mountain range as God's Cathedral, take a hike along Echo Lake and you will see why. Just breath taking scenery. You have the crystal clear lake, the beautiful forest trees and the sheer granite cliffs above you. Here is a web page that has many photos so you can see what is in store for you when you plan to take the hike: http://www.echocamp.org/activity/hike/eldorado/EchoLake/EchoLake.html We hiked the trail from the marina docks since the water taxi had already closed down for the season. During the summer months, you can take the water taxi which takes you to the far edge of the upper Echo Lake. From there, you can hike further into the Desolation Wilderness with the great peaks and many glacial lakes. We made it to the far edge of the lower Echo Lake. We hiked for 1.5 hours to get to that point. The trail is rated as moderate, but except for a few steep areas, it was pretty easy to hike along. Cannot describe the scenery, you just have to try this one out. The trail along the right side of the lake and into the Desolation Wilderness is part of the Pacific Rim trail. This was the best and most scenic hike I have ever taken in coming to Lake Tahoe for over 20 years. Highly recommended! read more

My husband and I went camping at south Lake Tahoe and we decided to check out Echo lake to do a little hiking with our dogs. That lake is beautiful. In my opinion better than Lake Tahoe. The trail was clean and there were beautiful views. Ow and the water super clean. I dipped my feet in the water when we were dine hiking. It was so relaxing. They have a little shop near the parking where you can grab ice cream, sandwich or other snacks. Totally recommend! read more

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Echo Lake is a great beginner trail for snowshoeing. The first mile is a road that leads to the lake that is not plowed. It's pretty packed so we saw plenty of people hiking in boots. We would go off trail to play in the powder, search for views, and explore the area around the summer cabins. Once we got to Echo lake, it was quite breathtaking to see it completely frozen white. We walked down to the shore then across the dam. Snowshoes were definitely required to go up the trail that connected to the Rim Trail. We snowshoed north along the ridge until we couldn't go any further. Along the ridge were stunning views of Lake Tahoe. We bought the $5 snow park permit at the Chevron in Meyers, right before the agriculture check point. The road off Hwy 50 to the snow park can be easy to miss. The path to the lake is across the road from the parking lot. I'd love to check out Echo Lake in the summer but like most Tahoe sites in the summer, I know it'll be packed. I definitely prefer off-season adventures. read more

I visited Echo Lakes on September 20, 2013. The weather was crystal clear and absolutely perfect for a hike. Perhaps due to the time of the year I was afforded a mosquito-free fantastic hike. I hiked to Aloha Lake which was absolutely gorgeous with it's multiple rocky mini-islands. On the return I also went to Lake in the Woods and very glad I did. There were few people on the trail which made it very serene - again I think my timing was perfect as I also did not experience parking difficulty though clearly it's limited. At the beginning the sign indicates the trail to Aloha Lake is 5 miles, the map paper map adds up a total of 7 miles and an on-line map showed 7.25 miles. I didn't engage my GPS so don't know how far I went but it was worth every step. I chose not to take the lake taxi. It was a perfect day, I highly recomment it. read more

Well I don't think we ever really made it to the lake...we also parked at the sno-park because we had no idea where else to park. IT was snowing like a crazy blizzard and we tried very hard to go on the trial however kept losing out foot into the snow. Very fun. Took our pup with us too and he struggled since that was his first time in the snow. Got lots of photos of course. I think we drove by this place initially on the way to Tahoe and then ended up diving back after we went to the hotel because we wanted to walk a trail. Too bad we only made maybe 100feet because we gave up...!! read more

What a wonderful view at Echo Lake. Most people frequently visit lakes in Tahoe at the peak of summer. Spring and fall are best times to come here. It is not too crowded and the weather is still good. Last Sunday, the weather was great and it is so serene here at Lake Echo. It is always fun to stop here on our way back to East Bay. read more

Echo Lake - Fantastic view of Lake Echo - Lakes Near Me

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Fantastic relaxing place. Highly recommend, go to lower and upper lakes, beautiful views, easy hike.

A longtime favorite of ours. We try visiting here whenever we are in the area. My husband has been coming for 50 years. It's great fun to take the water taxi to the end of the lake, although it is not cheap ($14 one way). You can also hike. The trail along the lake takes you along the side of the mountain overlooking the lake for much of the hike. The views are stunning. The trail is moderately difficult with some drop offs and rock scrambling. At the other end of the lakes there are trails that will lead you throughout Desolation wilderness. My husband has gone for extended backpack trips here. However, I usually just day hike to Tamarack Lake. That hike is moderately difficult, about a mile and a half. There's not a lot of elevation, but the trail has large rocks that can be trying. Lots of great views and pretty lakes. I saw a family with young kids (6 to 9 maybe). Lots of whining on the trail. It was warm and a little rough for them. read more

Echo Lake - Tamarack Lake - Lakes Near Me

This is a really great place of hiking. Recently took the water taxi and hiked back to the start with my 7 yr old grand son. Beautiful lake scenery in a pristine setting. Can be hot in the summer so start early. I would come back to try more hiking and kayaking. read more

Natural beauty that will take your breath away. From the view atop Pyramid Peak in Desolation Wilderness, to the crystal clear (and bracing) water of Echo Lake, to the rustic cabin I was lucky enough to get invited to...my Echo Lake experience was made up of one delightful surprise after another. read more

The views from the lake, the clear cool water of the lake itself, and the hikes up to nearby mountaintops, make this one of the epic places of California. It's free and easy to park, there's a little store with supplies and ice cream, there's a fairly expensive boat taxi service for you and your dog that can take 3 miles off your hike each way, and there's lots of hiking of all lengths, terrains, and skill levels (from an hour round trip to mult-day hiking) in the vast Desolation Wilderness beyond. Echo Peak is a nice 3-4 hour choice. The trails are pretty rough, you're hiking on granite, hopping over fallen trees, small boulders, drainages, so I'd recommend a GPS and some sturdy hiking shoes rather than sneakers. The puppy had no problem with any of it, though, but it does get hot and dry in the summer so bring plenty of water. read more