Fontanillis Lake & Dicks Lake
Backpacking the Desolation Wilderness
For a convenient and enjoyable weekend outing, Fontanillis Lake and neighboring Dicks Lake make a great destination in the north Sierra Nevada. Only 5 miles from the Eagle Falls trailhead at Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay, Fontanillis and Dicks lakes offer forested shorelines with secluded campsites and excellent fishing.
The two lakes are separated by only about a third of a mile. Both lakes press up against 9,374-foot Dicks Peak. Nearby are the Velma Lakes, a cluster of 3 great fishing lakes that draw the majority of campers who come up the trail from Tahoe.
Fontanillis Lake
Fontanillis & Dicks Lakes - Key Facts
Location: Desolation Wilderness, El Dorado County
Trailhead: Eagle Falls at Emerald Bay, 6,579 feet
Highest point on trail: 8,500 feet
Elevation Gain: 1,921 feet
Lake elevations: Fontanillis 8,285', Dicks 8,420'
Hiking Distance: 5.2 miles to Dicks Lake
Best seasons: Late spring through fall
Campsites: north shore of Dicks Lake, either end of Fontanillis Lake
Wildlife
Bears are common enough that taking measures to protect your food is important. Bear canisters are the best choice, but there are trees for hanging your food with the counterbalance method.
A mountain lion was seen in 2018 lurking around Velma Lakes and causing some concern as it circled a group of four hikers. Eventually they were able to scare it off. Although mountain lions usually stay well clear of humans, on very rare occasions a bold lion will approach hikers. No sightings of cougars in the area have been reported since the 2018 incident.
Deer are spotted occasionally. Rattlesnakes are always a possibility, especially the farther you travel from the trailheads. Look for yellow-bellied marmots across the lakes on the rocks. Mosquitoes start buzzing around in early June and usually stay strong through early August. If the insects are annoying, find a more exposed campsite where you catch a breeze. Little pika can sometimes be seen scurrying around the rocks, collecting grass to line their burrows.
Fish - Brook trout in Fontanillis Lake, rainbow in Dicks Lake and the Velma Lakes.
