North Fork of Big Pine Creek ♦

July 27, 2017 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → Lone Pine to Bishop → North Fork of Big Pine Creek

♦ Intrepid Top Pick!

Location: West of Big Pine, Eastern Sierras, California

Distance: 13.7 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain/Loss: 4000 ft/4000 ft

Time Required: 6 hours

Red Tape/Notes: Leave no trace principles apply; permits are required for overnight trips (quotas are in effect May 1 – November 1, reserve up to 6 months in advance and quotas fill quickly!); if you’re doing an overnight trip, bear canisters are also required. You can find details on the allowed bear canisters here (this is the 2017 list).

What’s Nearby?: Bishop, Bishop Pass Trail to Long Lake, Bishop Pass Trail to Dusy Basin

The North Fork of Big Pine Creek is a lovely day hike with world class scenic views, including several really lovely alpine lakes – this trail has great trees for fall foliage as well, so keep it in mind if you’re considering a trip to the area to see fall colors. The trail starts at the end of Glacier Lodge Road, and is relatively easy and flat for the first portion, then begins climbing with a series of switchbacks through birches and Jeffrey pines, climbing up a dry slope to reach a nice waterfall. You’ll pass through a flatter section with aspens, and then head uphill via switchbacks again, passing an old cabin on the left, until you eventually reach First Lake. Continue on to Second Lake, which is notable for its opaque turquoise color (caused by glacial silt in the run-off from nearby Palisade Glacier). Continue on to see as many of lakes as you like – the trail continues largely uphill until Fourth Lake, after which it flattens out and is relatively quick and easy to get to Fifth Lake. There may be a better route to Sixth and Seventh Lake, because the one we took appeared to have been wiped out by a landslide, but was still passable if you’re comfortable clambering around on boulders (which we obviously are). We actually thought this added to the appeal of the trip. And Sixth Lake is well worth the effort, being (in my opinion) them most beautiful of the lakes. Seventh Lake is very nearby, though certainly not as scenic. The Palisade Glacier beckons a few miles in the distance – you can get there in a day you have the time and energy to hike the additional mileage and elevation (it adds 5.5 miles roundtrip and another 1700 feet of elevation gain).