California · Hiking · Desolation Wilderness · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Aloha

AlohaPhoto: Phreakdigital (talk · contribs), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.0 mi
round trip
167 ft
climb
8,331 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Aloha open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Aloha is a short, easy hike in California's Desolation Wilderness, part of the Pacific Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that gains about 170 feet over a mile, with the high point at 8,331 feet and the low at 8,152 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass, Nevada, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 49°F and only about two wet days a month. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trail is open year-round. The Margery Trail starts about 0.2 miles away, and the Pacific Crest Trail passes within 0.4 miles. Climbers can find Troubled Waters Boulder about 2.2 miles off, and Lovers Leap Campground is about 4.2 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Stanford Sierra Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 3.1 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Baldwin Home

    Museum

    On your way back · 7 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Aloha

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      36° / 23°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 26°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

      5 wet

    5. May

      56° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 14.8 mi away at 7,334 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

      Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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