Big Pine Lakes
John Muir Wilderness · near Big Pine / Bishop · Eastern Sierra
Hiking
At a glance
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Distance
- 15 miles
- Elevation gain
- 3,400 ft
- Time needed
- overnight · multi-day
- Best season
- July–September
Permits and booking
- Permit required
- Yes
- How the permit works
- Inyo National Forest overnight wilderness permit via Recreation.gov, North Fork Big Pine trailhead quota, reservable 6 months ahead with a portion held for walk-ups. Bear canister mandatory.
- How hard the permit is to get
- 3 of 5
What is here
- Features
- Turquoise glacier-fed lakes · Temple Crag reflections · Palisade Glacier views · Seven numbered lakes
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Hiking detail
- Nights
- 1–3
- Resupply
- None needed. Bear canister required.
- Intl tip
- The classic loop variation adds the Black Lake trail on the way out for a slightly different perspective and fewer people. The parking lot at Glacier Lodge fills early on summer weekends — there's overnight backpacker parking a short walk below the trailhead. First and Second Lakes are crowded; push to Third, Fifth, or Sixth for solitude.
The guide
The Big Pine Lakes are the trip that launches a thousand Eastern Sierra obsessions. The North Fork trail out of Glacier Lodge c…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Big Pine Lakes — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 37.1236, -118.439