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by:  Elizabeth Sedway, TahoeKidsGuide.com 

The Eagle Falls Trail is a trail requiring some skill and challenge to travel. This trailhead is directly across the road from Emerald Bay.

The Desolation Wilderness is made up of 63,960 acres of subalpine and alpine forest, granite peaks, and glacially-formed valleys and lakes. Located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County, the Desolation Wilderness is jointly administered by both the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

If you're planning a camping/hiking trip into the Desolation Wilderness, the following information will assist you in obtaining your required Wilderness Permit.  According to the U.S. Forest Service:Wilderness Permits
Permits are required year-round for both day and overnight use. There are fees for overnight camping year-round. Group size is limited to 12 people per party who will be hiking or camping together. Overnight users without reservations must register in person and pay fees at one of the following offices. Please make every effort to pick up your permit in person during business hours.

Pick up permits for west side entry at the:  Pacific Ranger Station, located 4 miles east of Pollock Pines on Highway 50.  Heading east, turn left at Mill Run. Reserved permits may be mailed or picked up in person.  Call for current days and hours: (530) 647-5415 or (530) 644-6048 for autoattendant information.
 

Pick up permit for east side entry at the: Taylor Creek Forest Service Visitor Center, located three miles north of the Highway 50/89 junction at South Lake Tahoe, on Highway 89. Open summer only.  Call for hours, phone: (530) 543-2674.

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, located 2 miles east of the Highway 50/89 junction in South Lake Tahoe. Turn right on Al Tahoe Blvd., then right at the first signal. 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA  96150. Phone (530) 543-2600.
 

Day Use Permits

Day users may obtain a free permit from one of the above offices, or may issue themselves a permit at most major trailheads during the summer. Day use is not subject to fees nor limited by the quota at any time of the year. Note: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Zone Quota System.  Because of its beauty and accessibility, Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the United States. In order to protect its unique beauty and wilderness character, human access is limited and certain activities are restricted in Desolation.

• Overnight quota is based upon the number of people entering the wilderness each day, and their first night's destination zone.
•  There are 45 zones which may be accessed by any of 15 trailhead entry points.
• You must enter on the date specified on your permit and you must spend your first night in the zone which you have chosen. The rest of your stay is not subject to zone requirements. 
• Quota Period is from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30. Permits required year-round.  During the quota season,
• 50% of the quota in each zone may be reserved beginning the third Thursday in April.
• The other 50% of the available quota is set aside for first-come, first-served visitors. These permits just be obtained in person at offices which issue Desolation Wilderness permits on the day of entry and may not be reserved ahead of time. During the off-quota season there is no limit to the number of overnight users.

 Reservations
Overnight permits can be reserved beginning the third Thursday in April. Applications are not accepted earlier.  Due to limited zone quotas, reservations for overnight permits are strongly encouraged during the quota season, especially for holidays and weekends.

Tip:  When you call to make a reservation, please have a first-night destination in mind as well as second choice. Although 12 people per party is the maximum allowed in the wilderness, many zones do not have that much room. Refer to the zone quota list on the map for quota numbers and plan accordingly. An information assistant will help you with necessary details.

To Reserve Permits:

• By phone: call (530) 647-5415 to reserve a permit for your first-night stay in Desolation Wilderness. Only credit cards are accepted with this method, please have your credit card ready.
•  By mail: you may mail your written request to Pacific Ranger Station, 7887 Highway 50, Pollock Pines, CA 95726.  Payment: All requests for reserved permits must be accompanied by a credit card number (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express), check, or money order.  Make checks or money orders payable to U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Your reserved permit will be made only upon receipt of payment.

Reservation and Camping Fees Fee revenues pay for wilderness ranger patrol, trail maintenance, signing, site restoration, and wilderness education projects.

Fee Schedule:

• Reservation Fee: $5.00 per party/per permit (nonrefundable). Permit fees are paid at time of reservation. Plan carefully before making your reservation as all fees are non-refundable.
• Overnight Wilderness Permit Fee: $5.00 per person for one night, $10.00 per person for two or more nights up to 14 days (non-refundable). The cost of a single permit will not exceed $100.00. Children 12 and under are free. Because a wilderness permit is a personal use permit, Interagency Passes do not apply.
• Pre-Paid Fee Card: You can pre-pay your permit fees by purchasing this card for $20.00. The card covers only the overnight permit fee and is valid for one year from date of purchase. You must still obtain a permit in person, subject to quota limits.
• Service Charge: $5.00 for any change to the date or zone of your reserved permit or for adding people. No fee for cancellations. Changes to reserved permits must be made in person. Bring original permit.
• Trailhead Day Use Fee: Currently, Eagle Falls and Pyramid Creek parking areas only. A daily Trailhead Day Use pass is $5 per vehicle per day. (This fee is waived for overnight permit holders. Be sure to obtainyour parking pass which exempts you from this fee.) • A $20.00 Annual Day Use Pass is available, valid at the facilities listed below where a parking fee is required. This Pass is valid for one year from date of purchase. Facilities include: Eagle Falls, Pyramid Creek, Carson Pass, Meiss, and Woods Lake trailheads. Also, covers day use fees at the Dru Barner Campground. (Parking at the Carson Pass and Meiss Parking areas is limited to June 1 to October 1st due to their operation as a State Sno-Park during the winter months.)
• Interagency Annual, Senior, and Access passes allow the holder to park at the above listed facilities for free. Interagency Passes do not apply to the wilderness permit or purchase of the Fee Card or Parking Pass.

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