Glen Alpine Falls
A short walk from the Glen Alpine trailhead reaches the upper falls. Add a separate stop at the roadside lower falls for a broader look at this cascading creek above Fallen Leaf Lake.
- Distance
- ≈ 1 mi
- Route
- Out and back
- Time estimate
- 45–90 minutes
- Effort
- Easy
Why go
Glen Alpine is useful when the day calls for a waterfall rather than a long wilderness hike. Two different falls often share the same name in trip descriptions, so decide which one you mean before setting out. This walking itinerary targets the upper falls from the Lily Lake trailhead. The larger lower falls are a separate roadside stop on the approach.
Give the creek room and enjoy the cascade from stable ground. Flow changes through the season, and the short walk can be a pleasant introduction to the valley even when the water is quieter. Longer trails continue into Desolation, but they should be planned as separate hikes with appropriate supplies. A short falls visit does not need to become an improvised lake expedition.
The walk
Out and back · Glen Alpine Trailhead near Lily Lake
Park legally at the Glen Alpine trailhead near Lily Lake and follow the established Glen Alpine approach. Read posted notices before continuing beyond the parking area.
Use the mapped upper-falls side access when you reach the cascade area. Remain on established ground and stop well back from wet rock and the drop.
Return to the same trailhead. If visiting the roadside lower falls afterward, make it a separate legal stop rather than walking carelessly along the narrow access road.
A route overview for planning. Carry an offline topographic map and follow current trail signs.
Getting there & going prepared
Fallen Leaf and Glen Alpine access roads are narrow, with limited passing space; allow extra driving time and watch for walkers and cyclists. Check seasonal access before leaving. This short falls visit is distinct from hikes that cross into Desolation, where permit rules apply. Carry water and follow posted parking and pet instructions at the trailhead.
Keep in mind
Wet rocks beside both falls are hazardous; narrow roads make careless roadside parking especially problematic.
Sources & route notes
The tourism authority explicitly describes the upper falls as a 1-mile round trip and the lower falls as virtually no hike. This page uses the upper-falls walk, not the roadside lower cascade or Glen Alpine Springs. Exact cumulative gain was not verified and is omitted. Duration and season are editorial estimates; flow and road access need a fresh check. Day-permit guidance: the Forest Service day-use page, updated September 28, 2026, limits the requirement to the installed-box summer season, while Recreation.gov still states year-round. Follow current Forest Service instructions for the visit date.
- Visit Lake Tahoe upper and lower falls distinction
- Glen Alpine valley and trail context
- Forest Service longer destinations
- Current Desolation day-use permit season
Source review: Oct 16, 2026. Not a field report or a statement that the trail is open. Times and difficulty are editorial planning estimates.