Ralston Peak is a Sierra Nevada mountain west of Lake Tahoe in California’s Desolation Wilderness. Known as a popular and relatively accessible summit, it draws visitors with broad views over the surrounding high country and its proximity to U.S. Route 50. A common route begins near Camp Sacramento west of Echo Summit, offering a direct climb to the top, while another follows the Pacific Crest Trail between Echo Lake and Lake Aloha on a longer but more gradual ascent. In an alpine climate zone shaped by Pacific weather forced up over the range, the peak is valued for scenery and access to the wider Desolation Wilderness.