A dog at Eagle Falls
Leashed dogs are welcome at the Forest Service trailhead. Across Highway 89, Emerald Bay State Park allows no dogs on its trails or beaches.
Checked by Thomas Beach
The short answer
- The trailhead. Forest Service land. Pets on leash are welcome.
- The state park across the highway. No dogs on its trails or beaches, in any season.
- The permit. Desolation Wilderness requires one for a day hike from Memorial Day weekend through September 30, and for an overnight trip year-round.
Rules from the Forest Service and California State Parks, checked at the source.
Which side of the highway
Leashed dogs are welcome at the Forest Service’s Eagle Falls Picnic Area and Trailhead. Pack out pet waste or bury it six to eight inches deep where permitted. Across Highway 89, Emerald Bay State Park prohibits dogs on trails and beaches, including Lower Eagle Falls.
The trailhead
About 7,100 feet, typically open mid-May through mid-October, $5 a vehicle for the day. There are picnic tables, and restrooms when the site is open. Campfires are not permitted here or in the wilderness above.
Into the wilderness
The trail enters Desolation Wilderness, where the Forest Service says pets should be kept on leash. Day hikers need a free permit only while the permit boxes are installed at the trailheads, Memorial Day weekend through September 30: issue one yourself at most major trailheads in summer, or get one at the Placerville Ranger Station. In winter, roughly October to March, day use permits are not required. Overnight trips need a permit year-round.
The crowds
The Forest Service warns that weekends get extremely crowded. Consider an early morning or late afternoon visit.
Getting there
On Highway 89, about nine miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe, across the highway from the bay itself. Parking is seasonal.
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