Beautiful Echo Lakes - A Guide To Hiking Lower Echo Lake

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Last updated on August 3rd, 2026 at 02:10 pm

Echo Lakes is a beautiful area not far from Lake Tahoe in the US State of California. The Echo Lakes Trail is a lakeside route which showcases the stunning alpine scenery this high country region has to offer.

I hiked part of the Echo Lakes Trail as part of a group hiking trip and, if you’re able, I definitely recommend adding it to your hiking bucket list. In this post I’ll provide a practical guide for hiking the Echo Lakes Trail. I’ll set out how to get to the trail, what you can expect as you hike along it and provide some hiking tips to help make your journey a safe and enjoyable one.

A rope swing is seen hanging from a tree on the shore of Lower Echo Lake.

Echo Lakes

Echo Lakes, as the name suggests, is comprised of 2 lakes, Upper Echo Lake and Lower Echo Lake, connected to one another by a narrow channel. They are glacial lakes located in the El Dorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

From the Lower Echo Lake Trailhead you will be hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail.

A sign at the start of the Echo Lakes Trail with directions toward a view over the Lake Tahoe area and directions toward a water taxi and Desolation Wilderness in the other direction.

A close up of the official crests for the Pacific Crest Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail. The Echo Lakes Trail incorporates part of both trails.

Getting to the Echo Lakes Trailhead

Lower Echo Lake is located at the top of Echo Summit at the end of Echo Lakes Road about 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe off Highway 50. At the Trailhead you will find a marina, vault toilets and Echo Chalet, a summer only resort offering cabin rentals (called Chaletlées or Housekeeping Cabins), a Post Office, a store and various marine services.

In addition, there is car parking at the Trailhead. The popularity of the trail however means this fills up fairly quickly, especially in summer.

A map at the Echo Lakes Trailhead showing the location of the trailhead and the lakes together with the wider area

A close up of part of the map at the Echo Lakes Trailhead. The close up shows the location of the trailhead and Lower Echo Lake and Upper Echo Lake.

Hike Details

I have extracted the information below from the AllTrails website – it covers the entire Echo Lakes Trail, although I only hiked along the Lower Echo Lake section and not to or along Upper Echo Lake:

Distance: 8.5 kilometres (5.3 miles) (out and back)
Elevation Gain: 156 metres (511 feet)
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: around 2 hours

The Trailhead elevation is 2,298 metres (7,540 feet). In terms of my hike, we spent around 2 hours on the trail and at the Trailhead.

Hiking the Echo Lakes Trail Along Lower Echo Lake

Here’s what you can expect hiking alongside Lower Echo Lake:

1. Echo Lakes Vista

Starting at the Trailhead, the route takes you past the Echo Lake Dam and heads north as you climb up to the Echo Lakes Vista. Be sure to stop here for the wonderful views over the surrounding landscape, including Lake Tahoe in the distance.

The view from the Vista at the Trailhead. The view shows Lake Tahoe in the distance and trees and large boulders in the foreground.

The view from the Vista at the Trailhead. The view shows Lake Tahoe in the distance together with the surrounding roads. In the foreground are pine trees and large boulders.

2. On Trail

Follow the trail signs and head along the shoreline of Lower Echo Lake. The trail itself is over granite, in some parts seemingly carved out of the surrounding mountains, but appears well managed. The path continues to climb and you are rewarded with amazing views over the lake from beneath Flagpole Peak.

A small wooden sign located on the edge of the Echo Lakes Trail as it winds its way around Lower Echo Lake.. The sign has an arrow and the word "trail" in white lettering.

The rocky pathway that forms that the Echo Lakes trail takes around Lower Echo Lake in Tahoe. A tree trunk can be seen to the left of the rocky path.

The views along the entire route are simply stunning! Add to that, the peace and quiet of nature and the fresh, alpine air and you have a perfect hiking experience. The trail is family friendly and dogs (on leash) are permitted.

A view of Lower Echo Lake near South Lake Tahoe. The image was taken during a hike on the Echo Lakes Trail and in it can be seen the lake surrounded by trees and above a clear blue sky.

Along the trail there are various trees and plants, including junipers, pines, red fir and wildflowers.

Part of the Echo Lakes Trail as it makes its way around Lower Echo Lake. There are many trees and small shrubs seen during the hike.

Part of the Echo Lakes Trail as it makes its way around Lower Echo Lake. There are many trees and small shrubs seen during the hike. Granite boulders and stones also lie on and to the sides of the trail itself.

Along the shoreline you will also see holiday cabins. These are only accessible by water – the drop down to them from the trail is steep!

Several secluded holiday cabins on the shores of Lower Echo Lake. These cabins are only accessible by boat.

3. Returning to the Trailhead

When you get as far along Lower Echo Lake as you can/want to go, you can turn around and retrace your steps back the way you came. This is what I did. For those who hike on to the end of Upper Echo Lake however, you can decide whether to hike back or take the water taxi.

At about the 2.25 miles point there is a trail down to a boat dock. From here, a water taxi operates to take hikers back to the trailhead. The water taxi is seasonal however so you would be advised to check whether it’s operating if you are thinking of using it to get back. You can check at the marina at the trailhead before setting out. On arrival at the dock there is also a free phone you use to call for the water taxi.

The current cost is $25 per person (pack included) one way. There is also a 4 person minimum to run a taxi. In past years, dogs have been allowed on the taxi at a cost $8 per dog.

Time constraints prevented me from getting to the water taxi departure point, however I understand it is a welcome sight, particularly for those having hiked through from Desolation Wilderness.

For those who choose not to hike, it is possible to take a return tour up to Upper Echo Lake on the taxi. The cost is currently $35 per person with a minimum of 3 people per tour.

Other Activities You Can Enjoy at Echo Lakes

In addition to hiking the trails alongside the lakes, visitors can also go:

swimming in Upper Echo Lake – there’s a beach near the water taxi pier
boating, kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding
fishing
snowshoeing in winter

A view of Lower Echo Lake with a boater enjoying the lake. Pine trees can be seen growing along the edge of the lake. The image was taken standing on a large boulder on the lake shore.

Hiking Tips

Whilst hiking the Echo Lakes Trail (or part of it!) is relatively straight forward, I have a few tips to help you have a good experience:

Echo Lakes Trail is popular and gets busy so the advice is to arrive early
the surface is rocky so wear supportive hiking shoes
use hiking poles if you need extra stability or have joint issues
wear sunscreen
carry water
wear bug spray
be sure to take in the Vista before or after your hike
make sure your camera is charged before starting your hike!

Desolation Wilderness

Echo Lakes are the gateway into Desolation Wilderness, a 64,000 acre federally protected area. It is a very popular backpacking destination, however it is necessary to obtain a wilderness permit for both day use and overnight camping. Day use permits are available at the Echo Lakes Trailhead whereas overnight camping permits need to be obtained online. You can learn more on the official Recreation website.

It is about 6 miles from the Lower Echo Lake trailhead to a popular Desolation Wilderness spot, Lake Aloha.

Final Thoughts

Echo Lakes is a beautiful part of California and the Echo Lakes Trail is the perfect way to enjoy it. Not much can top surrounding yourself in the peace and quiet of nature whilst gazing at stunning alpine scenery, all the while getting some exercise! Hiking the Echo Lakes Trail is definitely worth doing.

I hiked the Echo Lakes Trail after having spent a few days in Yosemite National Park and a few days hiking in areas just outside the Park. If you are planning to visit Yosemite, you’re looking for some other hiking trails in California or you’re planning to spend time in San Francisco, then do read the other blog posts in my USA collection.

Finally, if you need any general assistance with planning a trip to the United States (or any trips for that matter!), then check out my Resources page.

Happy hiking!

The author of this blog post is seen standing next to a trail sign on the Echo Lakes Trail. She is wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, a mint green shirt, black hiking trousers and hiking shoes. She is looking into the camera.

Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.

Beautiful Echo Lakes – A Guide To Hiking Lower Echo Lake

Echo Lakes

Getting to the Echo Lakes Trailhead

Hike Details