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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Hike

Mt. Ralston

Near Ralston Peak
Inside Desolation Wilderness
Camp 3 mi away

1.6 mi one way · 564 ft climb · 8,851 ft high point · Very hard

In Desolation Wilderness · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Mt. Ralston trail climbs 1.6 miles steeply in Desolation Wilderness, near Ralston Peak and Horsetail Falls.

Elevation

564 ft of gain and 495 ft of descent.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

2.5 mi from the trailhead
Lovers Leap Campground
Campground

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

5 mi from you
Floating Island Trail
- Ends at Gilmore Lake
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 3,098 ft of climbing
5.9 mi one way · 3,098 ft climb · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Elevation along the trail from the start. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Horsetail FallsNearby · 0.5 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 0.5 mi in
WaterfallNearby · 0.5 mi in
Ralston PeakNearby · 0.9 mi in
Ralston LakeNearby · 1.5 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 1.5 mi in
Tamarack LakeNearby · 1.5 mi in
Lake of the WoodsNearby · 1.6 mi in

Nearby reading

Ralston Peak
Lake of the Woods (California)

Map

The route at the trailhead. 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. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 1.6 mi
Shape: One way
Gain: 564 ft
Descent: 495 ft
High point: 8,851 ft
Low point: 8,369 ft
Difficulty: Very hard
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 26
Trailhead: 38.8256° N · 120.1085° W

Get directions Open the map

6.8 mi from the trailhead

Wrights Lake

Campground · California

6.9 mi from the trailhead

Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground

Campground · California

1 mi from you

Lake of the Woods

Ends at Ropi Lake
Inside Desolation Wilderness
Camp 4 mi away

2.0 mi one way · 878 ft climb · Very hard

Desolation Wilderness · Camp 4 mi away

Ralston Peak

Summits Ralston Peak
Inside Desolation Wilderness
Camp 3 mi away

0.6 mi one way · 448 ft climb · Very hard

Desolation Wilderness · Camp 3 mi away

Rubicon

Ends at Lake Aloha
Inside Eldorado National Forest
3,405 ft of climbing

20.4 mi one way · 3,405 ft climb · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Mt. Tallac Trail

Summits Mount Tallac
Inside Desolation Wilderness
Camp 3 mi away

0.2 mi one way · 213 ft climb · Easy

Desolation Wilderness · Camp 3 mi away

Rockbound

Ends at Wrights Lake
Inside Eldorado National Forest
2,004 ft of climbing

7.8 mi one way · 2,004 ft climb · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Signal

Cell coverage here

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

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain

Weather

7-day forecast

Fri54°43°Sunny
Sat61°47°Sunny
Sun61°49°Partly Sunny
Mon60°47°Slight Chance Light Rain
Tue61°47°Slight Chance Light Rain
Wed60°47°Sunny
Thu59°Mostly Sunny

Fri: Sunny · wind 2 to 6 mph N

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Mt. Ralston
- Near a waterfall
- Inside Desolation Wilderness
- 1,963 ft of climbing
2.0 mi one way · 1,963 ft climb · Very hard
Desolation Wilderness · Camp 2 mi away
Ralston Peak
- Summits Ralston Peak
- Inside Desolation Wilderness
- Camp 3 mi away
0.6 mi one way · 448 ft climb · Very hard
Desolation Wilderness · Camp 3 mi away
PCT Ralston Lake Spur
- Ends at Tamarack Lake
- Inside Desolation Wilderness
- Camp 4 mi away
0.8 mi one way · 157 ft climb · Easy
Desolation Wilderness · Camp 4 mi away
Rattlesnake Ridge Trail
- Inside King Range Wilderness
- 3,849 ft of climbing
5.6 mi one way · 3,849 ft climb
King Range Wilderness · Camp 6 mi away