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Eagle Lake Out and Back

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.1 (15)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. Lake Tahoe
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“A modest effort leads to a remote-feeling alpine lake. ”

Nick Wilder
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1.9

Miles

3.1

KM

Out and Back

6,980' 2,127 m

High

6,575' 2,004 m

Low

405' 123 m

Up

405' 123 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

17%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Lake · Swimming · Waterfall

Family Friendly An easy hike with waterfalls and swimming makes this an exciting destination for you youngest family members!

Overview

Visitors who tackle this trail will get a small taste of the Tahoe backcountry, with a swim included, all for a relatively modest effort.

Need to Know

Technically you need to get a free wilderness permit at the trailhead.

Description

Start off from the parking are located just across 89 from the Vikingsholm. You'll begin on an easy trail, then meet a short set of nicely-carved stone stairs after a quarter mile. Cross a lovely bridge at Eagle Falls. Enjoy the falls and then continue on uphill until you can take a right on the Eagle Lake Access Trail to Eagle Lake, which is just a tiny ways off the main trail.

Take a cold dip in the lake and enjoy the relative solitude of this Tahoe gem (okay, not solitude, but less crowded than a lot of Tahoe destinations!).

Once you've enjoyed the serene waters, about face and return the way that you came.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Office

Shared By:

Nick Wilder
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 15 votes

#8

in Lake Tahoe

#2833

Overall
  4.1 from 15 votes
5 Star
20%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
13%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#8

in Lake Tahoe

#390

in California

#2,833

Overall
4 Views Last Month
4,372 Since Aug 9, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate
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Add a Photo

Photos

Emerald Bay from Eagle Falls Trail
Nov 24, 2017 near South L…, CA
Phipps Peak from Eagle Falls Trail
Nov 24, 2017 near South L…, CA
Phipps Peak and Jakes Peak from Eagle Lake
Nov 24, 2017 near South L…, CA
Eagle Lake with a thin layer of ice
Nov 24, 2017 near South L…, CA
Eagle Lake, looking southwest at surrounding unnamed peaks (8499, 8197). Mostly frozen but slowly thawing.
Apr 8, 2018 near South L…, CA
Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay from the vista point at the end of the Eagle Trail Loop
Nov 24, 2017 near South L…, CA

0 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Bad / Closed 39 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Nov 24, 2023
Tilman Giese
Aug 2, 2023
Mike K
Including the lower loop and overlook 2.6mi — 2h 15m
May 22, 2023
Husain B
snowy trail 2.9mi — 2h 44m
Oct 15, 2022
daniel haim
May 14, 2021
Ken Holt
Oct 23, 2019
Eldon Hawks
Jul 26, 2019
Eldad Ben-Moshe
May 7, 2019
Caitlin P
1.9mi

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