Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Upper Echo Lake & Lower Echo Lake via Pacific Crest Trail
5 mi · ▲ 413 ft · 1 hr 52 min
Upper Echo Lake & Lower Echo Lake via Pacific Crest Trail is a 5-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Echo Lake, CA. The route passes Lower Echo Lake before reaching Upper Echo Lake at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 413 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Upper Echo Lake & Lower Echo Lake via Pacific Crest Trail
5 mi · ▲ 413 ft · 1 hr 52 min
Elevation 7,413–7,605 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Pacific Crest Trail · 38.83417, -120.04254
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 79°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · Transit-accessible: Water Taxi stop 177 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Echo Lakes Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Lower Echo Lake.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 2.5 miReach Upper Echo Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.5 miTurn left onto Echo Lakes Road, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- Transit-accessible: Water Taxi stop 177 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Pacific Crest Trail Trailhead
- Johnson Pass & Pacific Crest Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 473 ft
- Echo Pass viewpoint–Upper Echo Lake, 3 lakes 4.8 mi · ▲ 369 ft
- Angora Peak–Upper Echo Lake, 5 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,337 ft
- Echo Pass viewpoint–Upper Echo Lake, 6 lakes 10.6 mi · ▲ 1,564 ft
- Glen Alpine Spring–Echo Pass viewpoint, 10 sights 14.7 mi · ▲ 2,715 ft
- Upper Echo Lake–Lower Echo Lake, 7 lakes 14.8 mi · ▲ 2,400 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Echo Lake, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Echo Lake, California