Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and intermediate backpackers
Vibe · Challenging and hard
Distance · 15.2 miles and 3,892 feet of elevation gain
Permits · Yep, reserve a wilderness permit for Big Pine Creek North Fork
Drive · 4.5 hours from LA
Ideal dates · May to September
Pets · Welcome on trails and campgrounds!
This popular trek in Inyo National Forest begins at Big Pine Creek North Fork Trailhead and takes you through a chain of seven glorious alpine lakes. Each lake is named First Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake (you can see where this is going), and the further you hike, the more solitude you'll find. Each lake is fed by the Palisade Glacier, which you can climb or soak up views from the trail. Oh, and don't miss the notorious Temple Crag and waterfalls along the way. Design your own adventure at Big Pine Lakes.
Official National Forest Website
Main image credit: Nomadik
Some people day hike to Big Pine Lakes, but spending a couple of nights in John Muir Wilderness is the best way to experience this gorgeous area. Overnight permit quotas are in place from May to September, and you can reserve a wilderness permit up to six months in advance. If you see a "W" for your preferred entry date on Recreation.gov, it means a few more permits will be released at 7 AM exactly two weeks before your ideal start date.
Once you reserve a permit online, you'll have to request your permit via email, phone, or in-person, by answering a few questions. It'll take up to 48 hours to process and finally receive your permit.
Permits cost $6 (non-refundable fee) and an additional $5 per hiker.
Big Pine Lakes is tucked away in John Muir Wilderness, a 100-mile stretch along the Sierra Crest in Inyo National Forest
The name "Inyo" derives from a Native American word meaning "dwelling place of the great spirit."
John Muir Wilderness was designated and protected by Congress in 1964. Since then, it has become the second most-visited wilderness in the country!
