AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Upper Echo Lake–Lower Echo Lake, 6 sights

13.5 mi · ▲ 2,444 ft · 5 hr 43 min

Upper Echo Lake–Lower Echo Lake, 6 sights is a 13.5-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Little Norway, CA. The route passes Lower Echo Lake and Upper Echo Lake before reaching Lake of the Woods at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 2,444 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi7,281 – 8,409 ft · steepest grade: 19%14.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ridge Path 38.82329, -120.03366
Nearest town Little Norway, CA · Official trailhead info (ohv.parks.ca.gov)
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Upper Echo Lake–Lower Echo Lake, 6 sights

13.5 mi · ▲ 2,444 ft · 5 hr 43 min

Elevation 7,282–8,409 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Ridge Path · 38.82329, -120.03366

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 81°F / low 46° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 200 ftContinue straight onto Johnson Pass Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NE.
  4. 1.2 miBear left, heading N.
  5. 300 ftPass Lower Echo Lake.
  6. 150 ftTurn right onto Echo Lakes Road, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
  8. 2.4 miPass Upper Echo Lake.
  9. 0.6 miTurn right onto Triangle Lake Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.5 miTurn left onto Tamarack Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 0.6 miPass Lake of the Woods.
  14. 450 ftReach Upper Echo Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 1 miContinue straight onto Tamarack Trail, heading SE.
  16. 0.8 miTurn right onto Triangle Lake Trail, heading NE.
  17. 0.5 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  18. 3 miTurn left onto Echo Lakes Road, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
  20. 1.2 miSharp left onto Johnson Pass Trail, heading E.
  21. 450 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lake-margery-out-back

Trail surface

88% dirt12% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F46°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV9Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 81°56°
Wed 81°59°
Thu 86°59°
Fri 85°61°
Sat 86°61°
Sun 86°59°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Ridge Path Trailhead

Hikes near Little Norway, California