Glen Alpine trail ?

[TahoeJeff]

As a 47 year long Tahoe native/local, I would say Echo gets a lot more foot traffic than Glen Alpine, mostly due to the immediate scenic appeal.

[Tom_H]

Maybe just the luck of the draw. At G.A. there always seems to be a ton of people just strolling up from Fallen Leaf and day hiking up a ways. You also don't have as many places to branch away from the main trail. From Echo, once you reach Haypress Meadows, then Aloha, people just seem to fan out more. Not disagreeing with anyone, my experience has just been different.

[Clubb]

The road around Fallen Leaf is pretty sucky. You really gotta watch out for speeding beamers.

Desolation is awesome. You just have plan on dealing with Tahoe tourists. Personally, I try to avoid the whole Tahoe area in summer.

[Wandering Daisy]

I would not do either on a weekend. Very early in the season, or even as late as 4th July (2011), getting from Aloha Lake to Suzie Lake can be difficult due to steep icy snow. You also have to cross some swollen creeks. The route to Half Moon is more of a straight shot from Glen Alpine. I have been on the Echo Lake trail in high snow, but only on dry conditions out of Glen Alpine, so cannot really say what Glen Alpine would be like early season. It seems to have a lot of rock and south facing stuff so probably would be less snow.

Also, the parking at both areas is horrible on weekends. For me, coming from Sacramento, it is a shorter drive to go to Echo Lake. I do not have to drop down to Tahoe.

[Tom_H]

...getting from Aloha Lake to Suzie Lake can be difficult due to steep icy snow. You also have to cross some swollen creeks.

Agreed, I went through mid-July, 2011 thinking I did not need ice axe or crampons and slipped on a steep ice field. Had to self arrest with fingernails just before reaching a boulder field.

cannot really say what Glen Alpine would be like early season. It seems to have a lot of rock and south facing stuff so probably would be less snow.

Correct, it melts early. The manzanita is dense here as well. As you know, dense manzanita creates cavities in the snowpack and when the tops become exposed, the plants also conduct heat downward, helping the snowpack to melt faster. I went in end of May/beginning of April in '79 or '80-no snow until the creek crossing where trail splits between Susie and Gilmore. Upon reaching the creek, we had to cross a massive snow bridge over the raging creek. Snowpack on other side of creek was around 6'.

Also, the parking at both areas is horrible on weekends..

Yea, not the place for quiet and solitude.