Tl;DR - Looking for good campgrounds in the Desolation Wilderness/Highway 50 area WSW of Lake Tahoe that are good bases for long day-hikes or a quick overnighter.

I've read through some of the trip reports here, but haven't found anything that gives me a lot of input, so sorry if these questions have been answered in previous threads.

My brother's bachelor party is in Tahoe in a couple of weeks, so of course I thought this would be a good time to head out a few days in advance and enjoy the mountains. I was wondering if anyone had some advice on campgrounds & hikes. I'd like to stay relatively close to the SW side of the lake... pretty much anywhere along Highway 50 because I'm coming from Sacramento.

I'm probably taking my mountain bike with me, and while it will be locked to the hitch carrier, I don't feel comfortable leaving it overnight, so unfortunately I probably won't be doing any backpacking but rather hiking out of a base-camp. Wright Lake seemed like a decent option, but I was wondering if anyone had any input.

Also, are there any great day hikes in that area? Mt. Tallac caught my attention, so if anyone has any experience with that trail (difficulty, etc) input would be appreciated. Also if there are quick overnighter or two night trips in that area that are amazing, it may motivate me to leave my bike at home.

Edit to add: Not looking for biking/multi-use trails, will be biking during the weekend in South Lake Tahoe area. This inquiry solely deals with hiking.

Activities, a dayhike up Tallac would be great, awesome views of Lake Tahoe. Eagle Lake up the Eagle Falls trail is pretty, but will be highly used, limited parking mid morning or later, no place to leave your mb unattended.
Duane

Tallac is a nice hike and quite a workout. You can walk to the trailhead from Fallen Leaf Lake campground, should you decide to stay there. Wright's Lake campground is to the west, before Echo Summit, and the area features IMHO the best hiking in Desolation via several trailheads. It's not a quick drive to Lake Tahoe from there though, as it's roughly a half hour from Highway 50 on a windy road.

Cheers,

Thanks for the input. The remaining campsites were going fast, so I booked Wed & Thur night at Wrights Lake. That will give me 1-1.5 days of hiking in that area, and then Friday morning I plan on getting up early and driving to the Mt. Tallac trailhead and doing that hike (Friday and Saturday nights we have a house in South Lake Tahoe).

Speaking of the Mt. Tallac hike, what should I expect? The reports I've read online have been extremely fluctuating. I'll read one that calls it a moderate 6 hour hike, and another will call it a difficult 12 hour hike. 12 hours seems pretty obnoxious to me... from just looking at the maps and pictures I initially thought 8 hours would give me plenty of time to relax at the top and take my time.

The reason I ask is I have to be back in South Lake Tahoe by around 5 PM, and plan on starting the hike around 6-7 AM.

Well, I have always started at Glen Alpine Springs, going around Fallen Leaf to the TH. I'm 58, I can make Gilmore Lake in under 2 hours or so, Tallac is less than another hour, so 8 hours or less for round trip might be accurate with time at the top. You'd have to be in sorry shape to take 12 hours, you mt bike, so it should be easy. There are steps and stairs here and there, so that takes its toll on the legs, I just walk on the timbers along the trai. You'll see what I mean when you take the turn to head to Gilmore. You can always jog on the downhill or turn around if time is short, it will all still be worth it. Beware, at the south east side of Fallen Leaf, the road is narrow and you have to dart now and then for pullouts to let other cars by. This was the first area I bped to when I moved to South Lake Tahoe the first time and was still a newbie bper. You'll enjoy some to the historic homes by Glen Alpine, gets you to thinking what it was like in the 50's or there abouts.
Duane

Wright's Lake is a great trailhead, with lots of hikes to lakes within ten miles there. Great choice!

Thanks for the insight... if I were to be honest I own a mountain bike... which doesn't mean I actually go mountain biking haha. I'm taking it more out of guilt that I never use it. However I do hike a lot, and while I'm not in the best shape of my life I make up for it with willpower and relative youthfulness (I'm 28). Also when I backpacking I carry around 50 lbs, so that helps immensely when I day hike with only around 10-15 lbs.

I'm getting pretty excited for this, and glad I scheduled a couple of days to do some hiking. It seems like a waste to just drive past those beautiful mountains on the way to party all weekend at some vacation home.