Lake Aloha via Echo Lakes

You'll start the hike at the Echo Lakes trailhead, just off of Highway 50 in Lake Tahoe. The trail meanders past Lower and Upper Echo Lakes, slowly gaining altitude as you pass a smattering of summer cabins. The climb is enough to make you feel it, but before you know it, it's over.

Once cresting the "pass" you'll traverse mostly flat and slightly downhill terrain into the lake basin. The trail continues on the east side of the lake up towards Mosquito pass, but you'll want to jump off on one of the side trails heading west into the lake area.

There is plenty of camping around here; I recommend wandering around the myriad inlets and ponds until you find a spot sufficiently isolated and with a fantastic view. Fair warning, the basin can get VERY windy and VERY cold at night.

Enjoy an amazing sunrise and sunset over the Crystal Range!