Your Guide to Northern California's Spectacular Hiking AreaCraggy mountain crests, dozens of hiking trails, and 130 lakes packed into 100 square miles of scenic beauty, Desolation Wilderness is one of the country's most popular wilderness areas. It is minutes from Lake Tahoe and just a few hours from Sacramento and San Francisco. Explore the mountain landscape with hiking expert Jeffrey P. Schaffer. This comprehensive guide provides information on hiking, camping, wildlife, and natural history. It covers all of Desolation Wilderness, as well as Emerald Bay, the South Fork American River, and the Upper Truckee River. Written in cooperation with the federal Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, the guidebook has everything you need to plan your trip and to find your way in this unparralleled region. Inside You'll FindDescriptions of 32 hikes, divided into four areasTable of mileages to 80 trout-stocked lakesDetails on the terrain, lakes, animals, and vegetationTips on when and where to get permits,and how to enjoy your hike with minimal environmental impactA list of the area's campgrounds, arranged by trailhead locationsFull map of the region divided into seven sections