Lake Aloha via Rockbound Pass

The full Desolation Wilderness experience: the quiet western lakes most visitors never reach, plus the PCT highlights, all in four days.

Sierra NevadaDesolation WildernessModerate4 daysLoop

Miles

Elev gain

6,500 ft

Peak

9,370'

Best months

Jun - Oct

Description

The full Desolation Wilderness experience. Rockbound Pass, a chain of gorgeous lakes, and Lake Aloha itself, all connected in a satisfying loop. This is Desolation for people who want more than a weekend overnighter. You'll see the quieter western lakes (Doris, Lois, Schmidell) that most visitors never reach, plus the classics on the PCT side.

Trailheads

Start: Rockbound Trailhead
End: Rockbound Trailhead

Logistics

Permit required: Yes (Desolation Wilderness zone permit via recreation.gov (Rockbound Trailhead / Wrights Lake area). 70% of the daily quota reservable 6 months to 1 day in advance; remaining 30% walk-in/same-day only. $5/person for 1 night, $10/person for 2-14 nights, plus $6/party non-refundable reservation fee. Note: Rockbound and Twin Lakes trailheads may see temporary closures in summer 2026 due to the Wrights Lake Recreation Improvement Project -- check current conditions before your trip.)
Reserve permit→
Bear canister: Required
Shuttle required: No

Key features

alpine lakes
granite peaks
meadows
waterfalls
Lake Aloha
Dicks Pass

Day by day

Day 1

Rockbound TH→Maud Lake

4.5 mi+900/-200 ft gain

Water: Streams, Maud Lake

Short day, so use the time to set up camp well and explore the dark granite shoreline of Maud Lake. The trailhead sits above Wrights Lake; the route climbs quickly into open Sierra granite terrain past scattered lodgepole.

Day 2

Maud Lake→Fontanillis Lake

9 mi+2,300/-1,650 ft gain

Water: Multiple lakes, streams

Lake-hop through the Desolation Wilderness, past Island, Schmidell, and Leland Lakes before Rockbound Pass (8,600ft). The Rubicon River crossing below the pass can be thigh-deep before mid-July; use a stick. Fontanillis, with Dicks Peak behind it, is the highlight of the day.

Day 3

Fontanillis Lake→Lake Aloha

8 mi+1,650/-1,800 ft gain

Water: Fontanillis Lake, Dicks Lake, Susie Lake, Lake Aloha

Climb to Dicks Pass (9,380ft), one of the finest viewpoints in Desolation, then descend past Dicks Lake and Susie Lake. Lake Aloha sprawls across nearly 1,000 acres of granite bedrock; camp above the high-water line.

Day 4

Lake Aloha→Rockbound TH

11.5 mi+1,650/-2,800 ft gain

Water: Lake Aloha, streams

Long return through Desolation Valley; expect weekend crowds near Echo Lakes and Wrights Lake. The final descent drops steeply back to the trailhead. Afternoon thunderstorm window is real in summer, so move early.

Side trips

Dicks Lake, Velma Lakes

Notes

Zone-based permit system; 70% reservable on recreation.gov; mosquitoes can be fierce; near Lake Tahoe for pre/post trip amenities

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