Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / California / Sierra Nevada

Big Pine Lakes via the North Fork of Big Pine Creek

John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest (Glacier Lodge Road, west of Big Pine)

First, Second and Third Lakes on the North Fork of Big Pine Creek
“First, Second and Third Lakes on the North Fork of Big Pine Creek” by Tim Berger , CC BY 2.0 · Source · Cropped and resized for the web

The Big Pine Lakes are a chain of turquoise alpine lakes fed by the Palisade Glacier, according to a local lodge’s trail guide, on the east side of the Sierra. The North Fork of Big Pine Creek trail climbs past waterfalls and a historic cabin built by silent-film actor Lon Chaney to First, Second, and Third Lakes. The trail continues to more lakes and the Palisade Glacier for those with extra days.

Permits are limited, and the climb is steep and exposed in places.

The hike

The trailhead is at the end of Glacier Lodge Road, which the Palisades Lodge of Big Pine puts 10.7 miles west of the town of Big Pine. The Adventure Out There says the trailhead is clearly marked for hikers and overnight parking, and that you don’t need a parking permit. Follow Tiff’s Journey notes bear lockers and restrooms at both trailheads and warns that bears are around, including in the parking lot.

The trail starts with a climb. The Out and Backpack trip report describes a shaded stretch early on before an exposed uphill climb to Second Falls, passing First Falls on the North Fork along the way. Another guide puts the John Muir Wilderness boundary and Second Falls around the 2-mile mark. After that, The Adventure Out There says, the trail passes through wooded forest of aspens and pines that offers some relief from the sun.

Lon Chaney’s cabin comes next. Our Infinite Earth puts it at about 2.75 miles and 9,150 feet. The Palisades Lodge guide says Chaney built it in 1929 as a private retreat, and it’s now a Forest Service historic site. California Through My Lens notes that you can’t go inside but that it’s an impressive spot to see.

The Palisades Lodge guide calls the cabin the natural rest stop and water break, and estimates 3.5 to 4.5 hours of hiking to reach First Lake. From the cabin, the trail climbs gradually to First Lake. The Last Adventurer puts First Lake at 9,960 feet, about four and a half miles from the trailhead. The Adventure Out There describes a sign stating “no fires” at the 10,000-foot mark. California Through My Lens describes the trail running above First Lake to a rocky overlook.

Second and Third Lakes follow quickly. Our Infinite Earth puts Second Lake at about 4.8 miles and 10,050 feet. The Last Adventurer says Third Lake, the shallowest of the three, is at 10,249 feet, about 6.5 miles from the trailhead. It also mentions a spur trail between First and Second Lakes where old mining equipment and the remains of a dam can be found.

The lakes go on. Our Infinite Earth says there are seven officially named Big Pine Lakes, First through Seventh, plus two more reachable by the North Fork trail. California Through My Lens puts the Palisade Glacier about 7 more miles beyond Second and Third Lakes. The Last Adventurer notes that the lakes and waterfalls were given generic names for unknown reasons.

CALWILD says the trail lies within the ancestral homelands of the Eastern Mono and Northern Paiute peoples.

For another Eastern Sierra trip, see Little Lakes Valley.

Tips

Camping

A wilderness permit is required for overnight trips, with a daily quota of 25 overnight hikers from May 1 to November 1, according to High Sierra Trails, CALWILD, and the Palisades Lodge. Our Infinite Earth says to camp at least 100 feet from water and trails. The Inyo National Forest limits groups to 15 and requires bear containers where trees aren’t adequate to hang food. High Sierra Trails says campfires aren’t allowed at Big Pine Lakes.

Inside Intel: Third Lake is the camper’s tip. The Last Adventurer says its campsites receive substantially less use than those at Second Lake. Our Infinite Earth lists Second Lake, Third Lake, Summit Lake, and Sixth Lake as the best lakes for camping and saw no one camping past Third Lake. The Adventure Out There found illegal fire rings at a few sites and asks backpackers to dismantle them.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Camping above 10,000 feet:

The Big Pine Lakes sit high and exposed, so a sturdy tent earns its place. See which tents testers rate highest.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.