South Lake Tahoe, California · El Dorado County · Facility
The trail starts at the Bayview Trailhead on the back side of Bayview Campground. The round-trip to the falls is not in Desolation Wilderness, so no permit is needed. The trail is public, but Cascade Lake itself is a private lake. The trail is approximately one-mile each way, for a total of a two-mile round-trip. The t…
Live forecast for the park. Plan your visit accordingly.
Forecast data © Open-Meteo. Refreshed every 6 hours. Always check the most recent forecast before heading out.
The trail starts at the Bayview Trailhead on the back side of Bayview Campground. The round-trip to the falls is not in Desolation Wilderness, so no permit is needed. The trail is public, but Cascade Lake itself is a private lake. The trail is approximately one-mile each way, for a total of a two-mile round-trip. The trail is easy and mostly level, but rocky. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
Heading to Cascade Falls? A few things to know before you go:
Photo: Joshua EarleCalifornia's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichSteep is hard. These are the ten California trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoTen gentle, well-marked California trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Holly MandarichCalifornia's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoFederal parks and recreation areas in California ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleCalifornia's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.