McConnell Lake Loop ~ Primitive Trail ~ in Desolation Wilderness

Unmaintained, "PRIMITIVE",
marked only with cairns*,

the McConnell Lake Trail helps you find

 numerous lakes hidden in the 

depths of Desolation Wilderness.  

We walked 15 miles hiking to (and searching for) the
rugged McConnell Lake Trail and visited 9 lakes.

This link has an interactive topo map of the lakes you will travel by on this reportedly 8 1/2 mile loop. The trail it shows appears to be hand drawn and is not an exact representation of the trail. We hiked about 15 miles following cairns* across granite, across streams, through woods, and hiking through vegetation with a barely visible, or invisible, trail. If you go now, I do not recommend you follow ANY cairns! According to information taken from my Tom Harrison topo map the trail is closer to 10.5 miles. This is a snapshot of the online interactive map, but please use the link to use the interactive version of this map.

Location:  Desolation Wilderness near Wrights Lake Recreation Area, CA, USA.
Distance:  It can be done in less than 30 miles round trip including the hike from the TH and back.  It is recommended backpackers first hike in to Lois or Schmidell Lake, via Rockbound Trail, then get a fresh start the next day. Schmidell Lake is 8.5 miles, depending on your rest stops and side trips along the way.  From there it will be no less than 8.5 miles to do the loop, conservatively since every hiker we met reported having trouble keeping on the trail and spent extra time and miles finding it.  Cross country side trips are available over to Zitella and Highland Lakes (which we didn't opt for).  We recommend allowing at least two or three days, and to backpack the loop rather than day hiking it unless you are traveling with someone who is familiar with the trail.
Difficulty:  Strenuous and difficult.  It requires fitness, skills in using maps, confidence in back country hiking, having exceptional trail finding skills, being comfortable doing cross country hiking, and being prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions common to this area. The terrain varies from loose rocks, giant slabs of steep granite, thick vegetation, creek crossings, (one easy log crossing) through forest, through mountain meadows, and steep "rock stairs" down into Leland Lakes (or up if you do the loop counter clockwise).  It is also recommended you be prepared for a workout at elevation where the air is thinner, and more tiring.
Driving directions will be posted at the bottom of this post.

View of Schmidell Lake from the trail to Leland lakes.

Leaving the Schmidell Lake basin to Lois Lake.

View of inclement weather that set in when we were at Doris Lakes.

Warning that the trail is difficult, and stock are not able to travel it.

McConnell Lake itself is small and grassy.

We paused here searching for the trail down to the junction with Blakely Trail to get back to Schmidell Lake.

Granite slopes between Horseshoe Lake and the 4-Q Lakes.  I wish you could see the
granite in 3-D for a better understanding of the steep hike down it.

Areas with vegetation are not maintained so they are overgrown and look like deer paths. 

Another view of the steep granite we had to negotiate to get down to 4 Q Lakes.

A 4-Q Lake

A 4 Q Lake, nice swimming hole, the first going clockwise around the loop.

Horseshoe Lake was grassy and we opted not to even filter water here.

In Nov. 2015 I came across this discussion: "... I'm one of the USFS Desolation Wilderness managers and recently hiked the McConnell Loop this summer and removed every cairn that I came across on the trail. Wilderness for most visitors is about discovering and exploring, not only the challenges and beauty our wild land has to offer, but about how we as visitors travel in it. Seeing sign of other people's passing is not enjoyable or acceptable. We as Wilderness rangers enforce the code of federal regulations and there is a CFR for removing or disturbing any natural feature in a federaly protected Wildernes area. Placing rock cairns along system trails is unnecessary and a blight on the land and against the CFR's .

Our trails are maintained to their designated standard as detailed in our Wilderness plan. The McDonnell loop is a remote trail that is in one of the more isolated areas of the Wilderness and is maintained accordingly to preserve it's Wilderness character.
Rock cairns are finding their way into camping and vista areas in the Wilderness and are becoming an increasing problem.
The stacking and placing of these rocks can become a safety issue when they are used to create shortcuts off of our trails.
Take the time when hiking and look ahead of you, there are subtle signs of where the trail is.
Enjoy your hike!

Jon Erickson
Desation Wilderness Manager
USFS"

With cairns this trail was a challenge and took us hours to follow.  Your map finding skills ARE ESSENTIAL!  This edit was made in November of 2015.  Happy Trails!

• Early in the season (May- June, please check out road conditions before you go.  In June 2016 there are snow drifts crossing the road before the intersection with Ice House Road.)

Driving directions:  Take Highway 50 to Wrights (Lake) Road north from the Kyburz area. The Wrights Lake Road will be between Tract 36  and Tract 39 along Highway 50.  Follow the signs to Wrights Lake Recreational area.  When you get to the Wrights Lake Welcome Cabin and parking lot on your left, go straight ahead following signs to Rockbound Trailhead.  There is ample parking and a restroom there.  (The trailhead is near the restroom.)

Notes: For backpacking you can get permits online or at a Tahoe or El Dorado National Forest Ranger Station, for a fee.  There are no campfires allowed inside the wilderness boundaries and if you fish, be sure to have your regular fishing license with you.  Fire permits are still required to use camp stoves.

Happy Trails!

Related Posts you might be interested in for nearby trails:

Desolation Wilderness
2015-07	Lyons & Sylvia Lakes	10+ miles	Strenuous
2014-08	McConnell Lake Loop	30 miles	Moderate to Strenuous/Difficult
2014-07	Rockbound to Doris, Lois & Maud Lakes	18 miles	Moderate-Difficult
2014-06	Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	12+ miles	Moderate to Strenuous
2013-06	Lawrence Lake	13+ miles	Moderate to Strenuous
2012-09	Umpa Lake & Enchanted Pools	8+ miles	Cross country ~ Moderate
2012-08	Horsetail Falls via Pyramid Creek TH	Aprox.  10 miles to lakes at the top of the falls	"Difficult, and potentially dangerous" miles
2012-07	Rockbound Trail to Maude Lake	10 miles	Moderate
2012-07	Twin Lakes Trail to Island Lake	8 miles	Moderate-Strenuous
2012-06	Lyons Lake via Lyons Creek Trail	10+ miles	Strenuous
2012-08	Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	9.2 miles	Moderate
2012-06	Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lakes	6+ miles	Strenuous
2011-07	Lyons Creek Trail with melting snow	9+ miles	Moderate
2011-02	Grouse Lake	3.8 miles	Moderate
2010-09 We hiked 12 days.	Tahoe Rim Trail	167 total	Moderate to Strenuous

See the Full Table of Contents.

Added updated links and Table of Contents 06-2016

Rockbound Trail to Lois, Doris, and Maude Lakes in Desolation Wilderness

Be prepared to hike over Rockbound Pass 

to enjoy secluded lakes and numerous wildflowers.

Once you cross the pass, your effort is rewarded.  Hiking down into this valley 

is a green and pleasant stretch of trail to Doris Lakes.

Doris Lakes July 2014

The creek bed east of Doris Lakes crossing Rockbound Trail, July 2014.

For more information provided by Desolation Volunteers

 in planing your trip, check this helpful guide.

Distances:  Official distances are listed on the  Desolation Volunteers website.  My estimations without side trips: One Way:   Maud Lake:  5+       Doris Lakes:  6+      Lois Lake:  9+

Desolation Wilderness is located west of Lake Tahoe near Wright's Lake Recreation Area.
and Icehouse.  It has numerous lakes, and hiking/backpacking opportunities.

GPS tracks on Wikiloc.

Difficulty:  Moderately strenuous, but consider whether you are carrying a backpack,

 if you feel comfortable hiking with a fairly steep view below you (qualifies a trail as difficult

 in my scale of ratings), and whether the rocky trail shown above might inhibit you! 

(Hiking down was pretty fast and easy.)  Up 8590 and down 7064 feet elevation per Wikiloc.

Click and enlarge this photo, keeping in mind how hard it is
to capture "steepness" in a photo!

Driving Directions:  Take Highway 50 to Wrights (Lake) Road north from the Kyburz area.  The Wrights Lake Road will be between tract 36 and tract 39 along Highway 50.  Follow the signs to Wrights Lake Recreational area.  When you get to the Wrights Lake Welcome Cabin and parking lot on your left, go straight ahead following signs to Rockbound Trailhead.  There is ample parking and a restroom there.  (The trailhead is near the restroom.)

Advisories:  Carry water!  If you go earlier in the hiking season, check road conditions. Be aware that there is a lot of uphill, and the "stairs" can wear on your quads and knees. If you have had knee trouble, carry knee supports. 

Desolation Wilderness passes are required.  Day Passes are available at the trailhead signs seasonally, otherwise check in at Pacific Ranger Station at Fresh Pond, CA.

For backpacking, get permits online or at a Tahoe or El Dorado National Forest Ranger Station, for a small fee.  If you are concerned about this trail, talk to the staff at Pacific Ranger Station at Fresh Pond.  There are no campfires allowed inside the wilderness boundaries and if you fish, be sure to have your regular fishing license with you.

Maud Lake 2012

Maud Lake 2012

The first stop will be Maud Lake that is very grassy.  There are some great rocky areas 

to rest on and you can get your feet wet (or swim) and enjoy some shade 

before you start the upward jaunt over Rockbound Pass.

Maud lake 2014

The article Rockbound to Maud has a great detailed description of the trail up to this lake.

Once you have had your rest, follow the trail eastward.  It will head through some thick and pretty vegetation. The trail then begins the upward trend, and will traverse along the north wall, with a gradual incline.  The challenges are the loose rocky surface and the view below.  

There are a few places where you can take off your pack and rest. 

 While you're at it, take in the views toward the west.

In the center is Maud Lake!!!

When you cross the saddle you will see Doris Lakes at the other side.  The hike down is 

pleasant after all of those rocks!  There are "stair steps" down, with all the green and the 

promised lakes in sight were a motivating factor for me.  

As you pass the Doris Lakes, you cross the creek on the far side,where 

you get another magnificent show of wildflowers! To stop at Doris, just hike from 

the trail over to the lake when you are near it.  The trail does not ever go directly to it.

After leaving sight of Doris Lakes, the trail heads north and is hard packed dirt.  It heads into the woods with little elevation change.  On the right you pass an unnamed pond (has a potential campsite on the east side).  The trail stays pretty far to the south west of the pond and suddenly you'll see 

Lois Lake! The path turns rocky again.  

 The campsites at Lois were in the woods on the north side of the lake.The trail is 

packed dirt again, with a nice forest floor for your tent.

I actually saw some snow up there!  This lake has a great "swimming hole" reputation.  

From the shore are smooth rocks and it is easy to wade in.

 Garmin's elevation profile gives you a hint at the climb, but it is a traverse, not straight up climb.

I carry a small pocket-sized map like this, from Basecamp, on my hikes,
which gives me an overview of the area I am hiking in, and to.

Related Posts you might be interested in for nearby trails:

Desolation Wilderness
2015-07	Lyons & Sylvia Lakes	10+ miles	Strenuous
2014-08	McConnell Lake Loop	30 miles	Moderate to Strenuous/Difficult
2014-07	Rockbound to Doris, Lois & Maud Lakes	18 miles	Moderate-Difficult
2014-06	Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	12+ miles	Moderate to Strenuous
2013-06	Lawrence Lake	13+ miles	Moderate to Strenuous
2012-09	Umpa Lake & Enchanted Pools	8+ miles	Cross country ~ Moderate
2012-08	Horsetail Falls via Pyramid Creek TH	Aprox.  10 miles to lakes at the top of the falls	"Difficult, and potentially dangerous" miles
2012-07	Rockbound Trail to Maude Lake	10 miles	Moderate
2012-07	Twin Lakes Trail to Island Lake	8 miles	Moderate-Strenuous
2012-06	Lyons Lake via Lyons Creek Trail	10+ miles	Strenuous
2012-08	Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	9.2 miles	Moderate
2012-06	Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lakes	6+ miles	Strenuous
2011-07	Lyons Creek Trail with melting snow	9+ miles	Moderate
2011-02	Grouse Lake	3.8 miles	Moderate
2010-09 We hiked 12 days.	Tahoe Rim Trail	167 total	Moderate to Strenuous

See the Full Table of Contents.

Added updated links and Table of Contents 06-2016

Happy Trails!