Desolation Wilderness
Yes, a permit is required to visit Desolation Wilderness. Desolation Wilderness is a 64,041-acre wilderness area in El Dorado County, California. It rises from about 6,134 to 9,969 ft. The nearest town is Meyers, 2.8 miles away in a straight line.
Desolation Wilderness map
Desolation Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Yes, a permit is required to visit Desolation Wilderness.
- The maximum group size at Desolation Wilderness is 12.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Meyers, CA is the nearest town, 2.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Desolation Wilderness is about 9,969 ft, and its lowest about 6,134 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Pyramid Peak, about 9,969 ft.
Who manages Desolation Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 64,041 | permit required for overnight stays. | 12 | Not on record | Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 530-543-2600 |
Getting to Desolation Wilderness
- Meyers, CA is the nearest town, 2.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Desolation Wilderness
- Bayview Trailhead (0.19 mi outside the boundary, 6,885 ft), at 38.9439, -120.1000
- Glen Alpine Trailhead (0.37 mi outside the boundary, 6,556 ft), at 38.8771, -120.0802
- Angora Resort Parking (0.61 mi outside the boundary, 7,208 ft), at 38.8714, -120.0631
- Pyramid Creek Trailhead (0.7 mi outside the boundary, 6,121 ft), at 38.8117, -120.1236
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Desolation Wilderness
- Pyramid Peak summit
- Dicks Peak summit
- Mount Price summit
- Desolation Lake lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Fishing and water
- Angora Lake Lower fishing (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- American River, South Fork, Camp Sacramento fishing (1 mile outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Desolation Wilderness
- National forest Most of Desolation Wilderness lies inside Eldorado National Forest.
- National forestDesolation Wilderness borders Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, a national forest.
- State parkD. L. Bliss State Park is 0.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkEmerald Bay State Park is 0.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- National forestTahoe National Forest is 0.9 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkWashoe Meadows State Park is 2.2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in California
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=155 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w121/USGS_1_n39w121.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n40w121/USGS_1_n40w121.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_CA_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_06.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)