The Echo Lake area offers a variety of outdoor activities including boating, hiking, fishing, picnicking in the Chalet meadow, and access to Desolation Wilderness (a .5 mile hike from the public landing boat dock at the far end of upper Echo Lake.
Fishermen coming to Echo Lake will find relaxing fishing just a short walk from their cars, both off the Dam and the nearby shoreline. A local fisherman caught this amazing rainbow trout and released it after the photo was taken.
For those who want to go hiking, the Pacific Crest Trail borders the Lakes on its way from Mexico to Canada, and leads to the Desolation Wilderness area. The stretch of trail along the Lakes is supposedly the second easiest section of the entire Pacific Crest Trail, since it is a fairly flat 3.1 miles.
Overnight camping (by permit from the Forest Service) is legal only in the Desolation Wilderness. There is no overnight or RV camping anywhere in the Echo Basin.
Boaters coming to Echo Lake are welcome to fish, water-ski on Lower Echo Lake only, (abiding by local regulations), float, etc. See the Marina page for more information.