Dicks Pass
Summary: This is another fantastic hike in the Desolation Wilderness immediately southwest of Lake Tahoe with many short side-trip options and tons of camping options. We highly recommend at least doing the side-trip to the ridgeline northeast of Dicks Pass. This hike can be done as an out-and-back or a through-hike with a shuttle between trailheads. We opted for the through-hike version, parked a car at each trailhead and started at the Bayview Campground Trailhead. In this way, there would be more elevation loss than gain. Which ever way you choose, there will be a significant amount of elevation change if you hike all the way to Dicks Pass. It is a slightly shorter hike to Dicks Pass if you start at the Bayview Campground Trailhead. The Bayview Campground side of the trail is more scenic overall, but the final climb from the Glen Alpine side is also very scenic. Be sure to arrive at the trailhead(s) early (before 9:30a) because they are very popular in the summer.Distance: 12.3 miles one-way w/o side-trips (12.85 miles one-way w/side-trips)Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,800'/3,150' w/o side-trips (2,890'/3,240' w/side-trips)Season: July through October (whenever the pass is crossable)Fees & Permits: Wilderness Permits required. Dayhikers can fill out a free one at either of the trailheads. Overnighters need to pick one up from the South Lake Tahoe Ranger Station (530-543-2600).Finding the Trailhead: Bayview Campground Trailhead: 38.94348 N, 120.10003 W. From the US-50/CA-89 intersection in South Lake Tahoe, follow CA-89 northwest for ~7.6 miles and turn left into the Bayview Campground. Stay right at the beginning of the campground loop and follow the small campground road to the southwest end of the campground to the trailhead parking area. The trail begins off the southwestern end of the parking area. Glen Alpine Trailhead: 38.87720 N, 120.08077 W. From the US-50/CA-89 in South Lake Tahoe follow CA-89 to the northwest for ~3.1 miles and turn left onto Fallen Leaf Lake Road. Follow the road (very narrow) along the eastern shore of the lake for ~4.8 miles before turning left onto Glen Alpine Road. Follow this road up to the trailhead after a further ~0.8 miles. You may need to park a little ways back down the road from the trailhead if it is full (which it will be in the summer).
The Hike: Starting at the Bayview Campground Trailhead, immediately stay right (left trail leads to Cascade Falls) and begin climbing in the trees. The Desolation Wilderness boundary is reached at ~0.45 miles. Shortly after this (~0.1 miles), there is a great view of Emerald Bay from just off the trail where it reaches its most northerly point along this hike. From here, the trail continues to climb to the southwest. Just below Granite Lake are a few patches of wildflowers. At ~1.05 miles the main trail intersects with a few use-trails that lead down to the northwestern shore of Granite Lake (~0.1 miles total). The trail now switchbacks its way up to the shoulder between North and South Maggies Peak. Along the way are nice views of Emerald Bay and Granite Lake. The shoulder is reached at ~1.8 miles at the end of the first 1,400'+ climb where you can head slightly off-trail to the northwest for a good view of Eagle Lake and the surrounding peaks to the northwest. The trail continues to the southwest while slightly climbing as it traverses southwest of Maggies Peak South. The trail then begins to descend, where there is a use-trail to the south. I wouldn't bother with this one since the views are almost completely blocked by trees. The trail continues to descend and intersects with the Eagle Lake Trail at ~2.7 miles. Staying left here, the hike continues to the west. The trail intersection representing the beginning of the loop portion of the Velma Lakes hike is reached at ~3.4 miles. Turn left here to head towards Dicks Lake. At ~3.9 miles the trail passes by a sizable and scenic pond before beginning to climb. As you climb towards Dicks Lake, there are wonderful views to the north and northeast of Phipps Peak, the Velma Lakes, and Lake Tahoe. At ~4.35 miles there is an intersection with the Dicks Pass Trail (TRT/PCT) just north of Dicks Lake. Stay left here and begin to climb to the southeast.
As we climbed, we found a few lush patches where there were beautiful Trapper's Gentian as well as great views of Dicks Lake to the southwest. The trail continues to climb through small switchbacks before it turns to the northeast and climbs to just below the ridgeline (~5.55 miles) before turning sharply to the south-southwest (right). Here, leave the trail to the northeast and climb to the ridgeline for an outstanding view of the Cascade Creek Basin (~0.15 miles round-trip). From the ridgeline you can see Kalmia Lake, Azure Lake, Snow Lake, Cascade Lake, Lake Tahoe, Maggies Peak South, and Mt Tallac. Continuing on the main trail, you'll climb to the south before reaching Dicks Pass at ~6.0 miles. Here, there is another off-trail option to the west (~0.1 miles round-trip), however the best views to the south are had a little ways south of Dicks Pass and the best views to the north are had at a low saddle west of Dicks Pass. This low saddle is reached at ~6.3 miles. From here, the trail zig-zags its way down through a few lush sections above Half Moon Lake before straightening out to the southeast. The views of all the lakes (Lake Aloha, Susie Lake, Alta Morris Lake, and Half Moon Lake) and mountains to the south and southwest are gorgeous as you hike down towards Gilmore Lake. A side-trail which leads to the southern shore of Gilmore Lake is reached at ~8.2 miles (~0.15 miles round-trip). A little ways past this the junction with the Mt Tallac Trail (leading to the left) is reached (~8.35 miles). Turn right here and descend to another junction (~8.9 miles). At this trail junction the right (west) trail leads to Susie Lake. Stay left and another Susie Lake trail junction is reached at ~9.15 miles. Stay straight/left and follow the outlet from Gilmore Lake steeply downhill. At ~10.6 miles the trail passes by the top of Lower Gilmore Falls. Just past this, where the trail makes a sharp turn to the right, you can hop off trail to check out a nice view down the Glen Alpine Canyon to the east. Immediately after this the junction with the Grass Lake Trail (to the right) is reached and ~0.1 miles further the trail leaves the Desolation Wilderness. From here, the trail turns to the east and then northeast as it descends through Glen Alpine Springs. At ~11.8 miles the trail passes Modjeska Falls before turning to the east again at the final stretch along the old road. The Glen Alpine Trailhead is reached at ~12.3 miles.
