Desolation Wilderness, Fallen Leaf

TOP RATED - Highly recommend this lovely boutique hotel, just opened in August 2022. The staff and management are incredibly friendly and helpful. The rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated. Great location within walking distance to beautiful Lake Tahoe and to all the main tourist attractions including restaurants, shops, entertainment, etc. in the Heavenly Tahoe area. A wonderful restaurant Maggies is conveniently located in the hotel with a wonderful menu, the octopus appetizer is delicious. They also have a full service bar with a big screen TV. Looking forward to our next visit.

Pretty desolate for a national forest, really. Mostly just rocks, some plants, and pristine placid lakes. If you're into that sort of thing. I heard a hiker got thrown off a cliff for stacking rocks away from the trail.

I've always loved the Desolation Wilderness. The easy access and the spectacular scenery of mountain lakes and granite peaks makes this my favorite destination in the Tahoe basin. And if you head out on a hike more than half a day from the road access points, you can usually find some solitude. And once you are a day away, it becomes more like real wilderness. The hike up Horsetail Falls is an amazing day hike and can be the start of exploring the south eastern lakes for several days.

Such an overcrowded place. People parking where they shouldn't and creating erosion. Highly suggest doing something else in the area or going when you know it won't be crowded. Great climbing and hiking if you do manage to find a legal parking spot and beat the crowd.

Backpacked to Middle Velma, research said it was 4 miles but it was more like 5.5 miles. Also you need to cross the river and find the hidden path. It was a beautiful trek but need clearer paths. Mosquitoes were horrible at this time(June) Beautiful place though.