- Echo Lake is the ideal place to get away from the crowds
- Only 10 miles south of Lake Tahoe
- The best times to come are from spring through fall
- Get out in the lower lake for great water skiing
- Catch some Kokanee salmon
- Hike into the Desolation Wilderness
Overview
Echo Lake CA provides many recreational activities for an enhanced Tahoe vacation. It’s just a short drive to a location free from crowds and surrounded with breathtaking scenery. This glacial lake sits at an elevation of 7,414 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains’ Desolation Wilderness.
Location & Information
Echo Lake California can be reached from Highway 50, south of Lake Tahoe. Take Johnson’s Pass Road on the north side of the highway, which is a half-mile west of Echo Summit.
The best times to visit Echo Lake are from spring through fall.
Contact information: Eldorado National Forest
Echo Lake number – 530-573-2600
Visitor information – 530-644-6048
Activities
- Camping
Unique Echo Lake camping is yours at this Sierra location. A traditional-style summer camp is open to everyone, with all the activities you would expect to find in a children’s summer camp. One section is reserved for kids and the rest is for everybody else. The camp is open from June to August every year. - Hiking
Hiking into the Desolation Wilderness is a thrilling affair. With hundreds of miles of trails, you’ll find the forest landscapes stretch before you. From Echo Lake to Lake Aloha, there’s a 15-mile out-and-back hike that will be an overnight trip. Day hikes are superb, too, taking you through meadows, past cascading waterfalls and fabulous lakes. - Fishing
Echo Lake fishing is very rewarding. You can find healthy populations of rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout as well as Kokanee salmon. - Boating
Echo Lake is a wonderful place to enjoy boating. All types of boating are allowed in the lower lake, but no water skiing in the upper lake. You’ll find a full-service marina and launching facilities here.
Fun Facts
Exploring the Desolation Wilderness Area starting from Echo Lake is a great way to discover this unspoiled forest. The wilderness area covers about 60,000 acres, with over 50 lakes and streams. You can leave from a trailhead at the far end of upper Echo Lake to get to other lakes within the wilderness.
