15. Dicks Lake, Gilmore Lake, and Lake Aloha

Length:	30 miles round trip
Hiking time:	4 days
High point:	9,280 feet
Total elevation gain:	4,700 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	late July to early October
Water:	available from lakes and streams; purify first
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Emerald Bay, USGS 7.5' Rockbound Valley, USFS Desolation Wilderness
Information:	Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Camp near clear mountain lakes, hike past beautiful wildflower displays, and gaze at expansive vistas of high Sierra peaks on this journey through the heart of Desolation Wilderness. You must obtain a permit for this hike. Call Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit for more information.

From the intersection of Highways 89 and 28, drive south on Highway 89 for 20 miles to Bayview Campground. From the intersection of Highways 89 and 50, take Highway 89 north for 9 miles to the campground. Turn into Bayview Campground, then drive 0.2 mile through the campground to the trailhead.

Begin climbing steadily through a mixed conifer forest past tobacco brush to a vista point at 0.6 mile of Emerald Bay and the stark, steep, south-facing slopes of Peak 9195. The deep waters of gray-green Granite Lake appear at 1.1 miles. Look for several white fir- and lodgepole pine-shaded campsites near the alder-clogged outlet stream.

Continuous views of Granite Lake, Emerald Bay, and Lake Tahoe accompany the steep climb to the boulder-strewn pass that splits the twin Maggies Peaks at 1.9 miles. From here you can admire white firs framing Lake Tahoe to the east. Eagle Lake shimmers to the northwest, and there are impressive views of Peak 9263 to the west.

Stroll level trail as statuesque Sierra juniper and shapely western white pine foreground numerous views, especially that of Mount Tallac's jagged walls to the south. Go left at a trail fork 1.2 miles past the gap as you briefly join the trails of Hike 16 (Eagle Lake and the Velma Lakes), then turn left again 0.7 mile farther. At 4.5 miles note an attractive, unnamed, grass-lined lake stashed at the bottom of granitic Peak 9190. Look for dwarf western white pine decorating the lake's numerous rock islands.

The trail then switchbacks past mountain spiraea and red mountain heather while showing off the Velma Lakes to the north. From a gap at 5 miles, look back for the best vista yet of scenic Lake Tahoe, then scurry westward up Peak 8619 for great views of Fontanillis Lake.

Regain the gap, find the trail fork, and bear right for a quick descent down to Dicks and Fontanillis Lakes, two of the most beautiful bodies of water in Desolation Wilderness. The high-usage campsites at Dicks Lake lie on the outskirts of a small meadow on the north shore. More exposed sites sit on a granite outcrop overlooking the lake above the east shoreline.

Although the east shore of Fontanillis Lake sports many campsites, more secluded spots rest amid granitic rock outcrops above the lake's southwest section. You can dip into the chilly, gray-blue waters from an array of boulders on the southeastern shore. Farther west, a separate unnamed lake sits invitingly above Fontanillis Lake; a slim creek connects the two.

Back at the gap, note the prominent wildflowers nestled in the rocks on the climb to Dicks Pass. Yellow ivesia and sulphur flower are soon replaced by aster, orange Indian paintbrush, and red mountain heather. After numerous switchbacks, the last portion through an open forest of mountain hemlock and whitebark pine, you reach view-filled Dicks Pass at 7.2 miles.

From this 9,280-foot vantage point, Dicks and Fontanillis Lakes gleam to the north, Dicks Peak towers to the west, and farther south sit Jacks Peak, Pyramid Peak, and the distant southern Sierra. For better views walk to each of the four corners of this football-size field and marvel at Half Moon and Susie Lakes and Lake Aloha to the south. The south-facing slope of Dicks Pass features an inspiring array of wildflowers; look for ivesia, sulphur flower, sunflower, paintbrush, bitter brush, and big sage.

Continue for an open 1.6 miles past sloping wildflower gardens highlighted by blue lupine. You'll also enjoy views of southward lakes and mountains most of the way. Go left at a trail fork to scenic and secluded Gilmore Lake, which takes on the same deep blue hue of Lake Tahoe. Look for numerous campsites in the flower-covered meadow above the south shore. Note that you can climb Mount Tallac (Hike 14), which towers to the east, by taking the trail from the lake's southeast shore.

From the trail fork just south of Gilmore Lake, go left down the wildflower-bordered trail and note Pyramid Peak jutting to the southwest during the 0.4-mile stretch to an intersection with the trail to Half Moon and Alta Morris Lakes (see Hike 13, Half Moon Lake). Go straight, turn right 0.3 mile farther, then reach deep-gray Susie Lake. From this attractive lake's rock-lined shore, you can look north to the lofty heights of Dicks Peak and Dicks Pass. You'll find good campsites near the east shore by the outlets. Heather Lake, 0.5 mile past Susie Lake, shares similar scenic qualities and also has east-shore campsites. Look nearby for a 20-foot waterfall.

Reach a trail fork 0.4 mile past Heather Lake and go right. (The trails of Hike 12, Lake Aloha, Lake of the Woods, and Ropi Lake, lie 1.5 miles to the left.) You now walk 0.7 mile along the shore of island-rich Lake Aloha, the largest lake in Desolation Wilderness, and then climb up to Mosquito Pass for inspiring southward views. From the pass turn left down to Clyde Lake, which hosts suitable campsites between the lake and two small bodies of water just to the north.

Back on the main trail, head north on Rubicon Trail. Meadow camping among lodgepole pine awaits after 2.5 miles at China Flat. Reach a trail fork 0.4 mile farther. The trails of Hike 11 (Maud, Lois, and Zitella Lakes) lie to the left; however, go right and walk near the Rubicon River for 2.7 miles to Camper Flat, another popular meadow loaded with campsites. (Note that you can also connect with Hike 11 trails here.)

From Camper Flat, go right onto Velma Lakes Trail for a 1.8-mile gradual climb to the Velma Lakes (described in Hike 16, Eagle Lake and the Velma Lakes). Go right at a trail fork just before Middle Velma Lake, then go left at another fork 0.3 mile farther. From here it's another mile to reach previously encountered paths and the route back to the trailhead.