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

Aloha Desolation

Aloha DesolationPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.6 mi
round trip
168 ft
climb
8,212 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Aloha Desolation 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 Desolation is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.6 miles in California's Desolation Wilderness, within the Pacific Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest. The trail rises about 168 feet from a low point of 8,039 feet to a high of 8,212 feet, and the Forest Service manages the land. 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 one or two wet days a month. That station sits roughly 878 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trail is on natural surface and bikes are not allowed. It is open year-round, and the trip is short enough to fit into a day. The Margery Trail lies about half a mile away, and the Aloha hike is about 0.7 miles off. Climbers can find the Desolation Wilderness Bouldering area about 1.7 miles away, and Lovers Leap Campground is about 4.6 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Stanford Sierra Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 3.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Beacon Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 7 mi
  • 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 Desolation

    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, 15 mi away at 7,334 ft. The station sits about 900 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

Margery TrailPhoto: Phreakdigital (talk · contribs), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Margery Trail

Next door

1.00-mile out-and-back trail in California with 129 ft gain.

Lake of the WoodsPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake of the Woods

~2 min drive

4.86-mile out-and-back trail at Lake of the Woods in California with 273 ft of elevation gain.

Pacific Crest TrailPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pacific Crest Trail

~3 min drive

9.1-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,761 ft gain/loss and 9,372 ft max elevation.

Pyramid Peak TrailPhoto: Peter, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pyramid Peak Trail

~7 min drive

6.08-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,831 ft elevation gain and loss.

AlohaPhoto: Phreakdigital (talk · contribs), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Aloha

~1 min drive

Aloha is a 1-mile out-and-back trail in California with 35 feet of elevation gain.

Glen AlpinePhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Glen Alpine

~3 min drive

5.76-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,283 ft gain.

Tamarack Lake TrailPhoto: bsterling, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tamarack Lake Trail

~5 min drive

5.64-mile out-and-back hike to Tamarack Lake in California.

Pacific Crest TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pacific Crest Trail

~2 min drive

0.82-mile out-and-back trail on the Pacific Crest Trail in California.

Half Moon Lake TrailPhoto: Rick McCharles, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Half Moon Lake Trail

~3 min drive

3.00-mile out-and-back hike to Half Moon Lake in California with 771 ft gain.

Lily Lake TrailPhoto: Scorewith German, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lily Lake Trail

~6 min drive

3.72-mile out-and-back hike in California with 3,015 ft gain/loss.