Echo Chalet

Campground closure

Site Closed

This area can be extremely crowded on weekends. Please consider visiting in the early morning or late afternoon for a more relaxing experience.

Echo Chalet is a high-Sierra, summer-only, resort located approximately 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe and 49 miles east of Placerville. The resort was established in 1939, is owned and managed by Tom and Kathleen Fashinell and operates under a special use permit from the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Nearby Echo Lakes Trailhead Echo Lakes serves as a trailhead for Desolation Wilderness. Access to the trailhead is via Johnson Pass Road off of U.S. Highway 50. Opening and closing dates are dependent on weather, but the trailhead is typically open from mid-May through mid-October. Restrooms and trash service are available only when the trailhead is open. Campfires (wood, charcoal or any other solid fuels) are not permitted.

Camp site features

Services within 25 miles · OpenStreetMap

Nearest dump station: 8.3 mi

Nearest water fill: 6.3 mi

Rules

Campfires (wood, charcoal or any other solid fuels) are not permitted. A wilderness permit is required to enter Desolation Wilderness. Day hikers may pick up day-use permits at the self-serve kiosk. Overnight hikers must obtain an overnight permit before arriving. Bear canisters (hard-sided) are required for all overnight visits. No camping or overnighting at the trailhead. Lake Tahoe is Bear Country. Before heading out on the trail, remove all scented items from vehicles and be sure to lock vehicle doors and windows. Learn more about coexisting with bears at TahoeBears.Org.

Directions

From Sacramento: Take U.S. Highway 50 east towards South Lake Tahoe. Near Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort look for the brown Berkeley Camp Echo Lake sign and turn left. Continue about one-half mile to Echo Lakes Road, turn left again and continue to the end of the road.