High Sierra Topix

I want to check out Halfmoon Lake but I have limited experience in the area.
If you were making a simple comparison, how does that access compare to
the Echo Lake trail to Lake Aloha.
Lets give the Aloha trail a 5 on a 1-10 scale, how would the Glen Alpine trail compare?

Thanks

Define your parameters. When you say Echo to Aloha is a 5 out of 10, based on what? Scenery, condition of trail, difficulty of trail, number of people, etc.?

Sorry.
Trail difficulty is my main consideration.

The USFS LTBMU website lists both trails as moderate in difficulty. I think I would agree with that. Whereas the distance from Echo to Half Moon is certainly longer than from Glen Alpine, Echo is about 900' higher in elevation, I believe. There are pros and cons to each route, but I think Echo is probably the easier way in. Especially if you pay for the boat ride, cutting out about 2 miles of hiking.

I've hiked both routes. Everything Jeff says is spot on. From Aloha, it is longer, but you do cut out that 900' of elevation gain he mentions, and if you take the water taxi, it cuts off distance (though it's still a longer route). Both routes start off with some hard and rough blasted granite trails. Not fun for tender feet. If elevation gain doesn't bother you, go Glen Alpine. If you hate elevation gain, but can really cruise once you level out, take Aloha. For better scenery along the way, definitely take Aloha. Mostly, enjoy!

Thanks that was what I needed.

Most likely you'll share the trail with less people if you take the Glen Alpine TH, but the drive around Fallen Leaf Lake is a bit tedious. Last summer was the worst. I had to wait over an hour because a car that was backing out was hit by an oncoming car. Everyone was fine, but they didn't want to move their cars until the fuzz showed up. Additionally, I find the trail out of Echo Lakes much more interesting (open views of peaks and the lakes) than Glen Alpine. I vote for Echo Lakes TH.

First two miles out of Glen Alpine:


Some Half Moon Lake stoke:

FeetFirst wrote:Most likely you'll share the trail with less people if you take the Glen Alpine TH

My own experience has been that there are a fair number of people at Echo trailhead and a lot of people at Glen Alpine. In the summer, tons of people want to see Fallen Leaf, walk up the road and see Falls Creek Waterfall, and then do a day hike. Some of the heartier ones go in at Glen Alpine to climb Tallac and return in a day. The only times I've ever been there and not seen it crowded were before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Once you get a bit up the Echo trail, there are more places for people to disperse, fewer on the G.A. trail.

Tom_H wrote:

FeetFirst wrote:Most likely you'll share the trail with less people if you take the Glen Alpine TH

My own experience has been that there are a fair number of people at Echo trailhead and a lot of people at Glen Alpine. In the summer, tons of people want to see Fallen Leaf, walk up the road and see Falls Creek Waterfall, and then do a day hike. Some of the heartier ones go in at Glen Alpine to climb Tallac and return in a day. The only times I've ever been there and not seen it crowded were before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Once you get a bit up the Echo trail, there are more places for people to disperse, fewer on the G.A. trail.

I apologize for not responding earlier, but I just noticed this post.

I disagree based on my experience. Tom_H, Have you been to the Echo Lake TH on a summer weekend?

FeetFirst wrote:I disagree based on my experience. Tom_H, Have you been to the Echo Lake TH on a summer weekend?

Goodness, a year and a half later! The answer is, yes. I used to live at Tahoe. Perhaps it just happened to be more crowded some weekends than others. YMMV