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Lake Aloha - panoramio (4)

Hike

Velma

Passes Upper Eagle Falls
Inside Eldorado National Forest
3,226 ft of climbing

12.9 mi out & back · 3,226 ft gain · 8,231 ft high point · Very hard

Via the Eagle Falls Trail (4.0 mi)

In Eldorado National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

This out and back trail climbs 3,226 ft to Upper Velma Lake via Eagle Falls Trail in Eldorado National Forest. The route passes Upper Eagle Falls and multiple lakes within Desolation Wilderness views.

Elevation

3,226 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

4.0 mi from the trailhead
Fallen Leaf Campground
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

8 mi from you
Ralston Peak
- Summits Ralston Peak
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 3,211 ft of climbing
7.2 mi out & back · 3,211 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Out: 1,840 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

ViewpointAlong the way · 0.1 mi in
Upper Eagle FallsAlong the way · 0.2 mi in
Eagle LakeAlong the way · 0.8 mi in
Upper Velma LakeAlong the way · 3.9 mi in
Middle Velma LakeAlong the way · 4.1 mi in
Lower Eagle FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Eagle FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
On Lower Eagle FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 0.0 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 0.0 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 0.0 mi in
Maggies Peaks - NorthNearby · 1.0 mi in

Nearby reading

Desolation Wilderness

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 12.9 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 3,226 ft round trip
High point: 8,231 ft
Low point: 6,576 ft
Difficulty: Very hardFrom 12.9 mi and 3,226 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 26
Trailhead: 38.9520° N · 120.1132° W

Get directions Open the map

4.1 mi from the trailhead

RV Village Campground at Camp Richardson Resort

Campground · California

4.1 mi from the trailhead

Badgers Den at Camp Richardson Resort

Campground · California

3 mi from you

Mt. Tallac Trail

Summits Mount Tallac
Inside Eldorado National Forest
3,355 ft of climbing

8.9 mi out & back · 3,355 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Floating Island Trail

Ends at Gilmore Lake
Inside Eldorado National Forest
4,347 ft of climbing

11.7 mi out & back · 4,347 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Thunder Mountain

Summits Thunder Mountain
Inside Eldorado National Forest
2,414 ft of climbing

9.5 mi out & back · 2,414 ft gain · Hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Glen Alpine

Ends at Modjeska Falls
Inside Eldorado National Forest
5,990 ft of climbing

18.2 mi out & back · 5,990 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Pacific Crest Trail

Ends at Carson Pass
Inside Desolation Wilderness
6,912 ft of climbing

31.1 mi one way · 6,912 ft gain · Very hard

Desolation Wilderness · Camp 6 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Eagle Falls Trail
- Ends at Middle Velma Lake
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 2,411 ft of climbing
8.4 mi out & back · 2,411 ft gain · Hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
Eagle Falls Vista
- Ends at Upper Eagle Falls
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- Camp 4 mi away
0.4 mi out & back · 149 ft gain · Easy
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
Eagle Lake Trail
- Ends at Eagle Lake
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- Camp 4 mi away
2.3 mi out & back · 539 ft gain · Moderate
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
Tahoe Yosemite
- Passes Upper Eagle Falls
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 3,520 ft of climbing
14.5 mi out & back · 3,520 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Sun38°30°Mostly Sunny
Mon35°23°Light Snow
Tue28°25°Sunny
Wed32°27°Snow
Thu31°26°Snow
Fri28°24°Chance Light Snow
Sat31°Partly Sunny

Sun: Mostly Sunny · wind 10 mph SW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Poor
AT&TNo signal
T-Mobile5G · Good

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain