A Journey on the Tahoe Rim Trail Summer 2017

Echo Summit Area: Benwood Meadow to Upper Echo Lake Boat Taxi Trail Jct. (almost)

Hwy 50 towards Benwood Meadow

Trail starts at a small pullout below the west side of Echo Summit. It crosses a creek on a dirt road and hiking trail goes off to the left (southeast) in some forest along the creek.

The trail then junctions a hikable portion of the Pony Express Trail. Continuing on the TRT, the trail soon comes to the Adventure Mountain Ski Park where I turn around to take a picture of a mileage sign.

The trail then goes through an area with no large trees just mostly shrubs and crosses an old dirt road.

The trail then enters forest with large trees and one quarter mile later a large tree has fallen lengthwise in the TRT. I make this my turnaround.

Hwy 50 to Echo Lake Trailhead

It is much easier to get parking on Hwy 50 so I start there. It is mainly a gradual ascent meandering thru narrow gaps between summer cabins. At some points the trail comes close enough to one cabin I would not want to be the person who stayed there because there is no privacy.

Just when I can see my destination (the cars at the traihead below) the entire slope is covered in snow and its a one way trip down so I will have to make up the last tenth of a mile at a later time.

Echo Lake Trailhead to Upper Echo Lake Boat Taxi Trail Jct.

The trail starts down steeply and is suprisingly free of snow (probably from traffic) and affords view of a small lake far below and the lakes steep outlet. It arrives at the Echo Lake Lodge parking lot. The trail resumes on the other side near the boat ramp and crosses the dam.

The trail then follows (main) Echo Lakes Northeastern shoreline.

The trail then moves towards the Isthmus between the lakes, passes it and resumes on the Northeastern shore of Upper Echo Lake eventually junctioning the trail to the Echo Lake Boat Taxi.