Lake Tahoe, CA: Susie Lake via Pacific Crest Trail
On this 16.2-mile weekend, you'll cross through a giant, glacier-carved basin with shimmering lakes and camp at first-class High Sierra campsites.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 13.0
Waypoints
SLT001
Location: 38.8353843688965, -120.04467010498
Head W from Echo Lake Resort past Lower and Upper Echo Lakes through pines. Flagpole Peak to N
SLT002
Location: 38.8473663330078, -120.07878112793
R @ Y; spur to L leads down to public lake access
SLT003
Location: 38.8473815917969, -120.087280273438
L @ T; enter Desolation Wilderness
SLT004
Location: 38.8488349914551, -120.095199584961
Turn R @ Y and climb 400 ft. above headwall of Tamarack Lake
SLT005
Location: 38.8529319763184, -120.102867126465
L @ T; skirt E fringe of wildflower-packed Haypress Meadows
SLT006
Location: 38.8549652099609, -120.108467102051
R @ Y. Spur trails lead to side lakes in Desolation Valley; stay with PCT
SLT007
Location: 38.8565673828125, -120.112785339355
Keep R @ Lucille Lake Trail junction, bearing WNW
SLT008
Location: 38.8576316833496, -120.118347167969
R @ Y
SLT009
Location: 38.8596496582031, -120.120918273926
Go L; bear NW into lake-fi lled Desolation Valley (once-empty basin was fl ooded for Sacramento’s water supply)
SLT010
Location: 38.8644676208496, -120.128448486328
Lake Aloha: Warm, shallow water, islands, and fi ne photo ops over the rugged, snow-clad Crystal Range. To continue, go R and ascend E shoreline past Lake Le Conte
SLT011
Location: 38.8763008117676, -120.14616394043
R @ T, heading E past ponds and a misty 20-ft. waterfall
SLT012
Location: 38.8782501220703, -120.139915466309
N shore of Heather Lake set in a deep bowl
SLT013
Location: 38.8790817260742, -120.123931884766
Susie Lake sits beneath crimson, metamorphic Jack’s Peak (9,856 ft.). Camp on NW shore; retrace route to trailhead
Crystal Divide
Location: 38.8683166503906, -120.136764526367
Lake Aloha’s shallow waters shimmer in front of the rugged, snowy Crystal Divide. ©Jack Haskel
Above the lake
Location: 38.8729400634766, -120.142929077148
Two 2006 PCT thru-hikers climb the rocky hillside of Lake Aloha’s northern shore. ©Jack Haskel
