Directions to the trailhead: Take Highway 89 to the Meeks Bay Resort. Parking is located across the highway from the resort in a small dirt parking lot.

The Meeks Bay Trail follows the northernmost section of the unofficial Tahoe-Yosemite Trail and makes for a solid moderate hike with your dog. After about 1.3 miles on what starts as a road, things get more interesting—you’ll pass a small spring and find the trail running alongside Meeks Creek as it climbs into a forested valley. The scenery opens up as you go, with views of a chain of alpine lakes before the final push: 1,000 feet of elevation gain over a series of switchbacks leading to Phipps Pass. It’s a workout, but the progression from creek level to high pass makes the effort feel worth it.

A wilderness permit is required, and the system is straightforward. Day hikers can grab a self-serve permit right at the trailhead. If you’re planning to camp overnight in Desolation Wilderness, you’ll need to get that permit beforehand—you can’t pick it up at the trailhead. Leashed dogs are welcome on this trail, which means you’ve got good company for the climb.

The lower elevation sections of this area are also worth exploring in winter if you’ve got snowshoes or cross-country skis and want to bring your dog along. The snow transforms the creek-side sections into a different kind of experience, though those switchbacks higher up get steep enough that winter access is more technical.

Start early if you’re doing this as a day hike. The parking lot fills up on weekends, and you’ll want plenty of daylight for the switchback section, especially if your dog isn’t used to sustained elevation gain. Bring water even though you’ll see the creek—filtering or treating it is safer than relying on what you find along the way.