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Big Pine Lakes

5.0 (42 reviews)

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Jeanette Y.

WOW WOW WOW! Absolutely breathtaking! July 2021 Review: we camped at the campsite nearby so it was literally a 10 min walk to the parking lot. We started around 6:20am, got to the first lake around 10am & finished around 2:30pm. My Apple Watch recorded about 5 miles to the first lake & this hike kicked my ass. But totally worth it! TRAIL: this trail has every type of condition - flat land, through the forest-ish, switchbacks, over some rocks, incline, over a bit of water, everything, so be ready. There is also little to NO SHADE so I would recommend hiking in the early AM. When we hiked back down, the sun was burning us & there is no escaping it so reapply sunscreen! And when you hike through the forest-y area, a lot of bugs so spray yourself with bug spray as well! If you want to camp overnight on the trail, you will need a permit! Here is some advice for the hike: -bring sturdy hiking boots -hike in shorts because it gets HOT -bring plenty of sunscreen & bug spray (reapply a lot) -bring plenty of water (need about 2.5-3 liters) -wear a hat -small towel if you want to dip your feet in the lake -bring a packed lunch with fruit HIGHLY recommend! Definitely worth the struggle/challenge.

Lake 2
Michael L.

Come early, come prepared! A pretty difficult hike if you're not an average hiker but well worth it for the amazing out of this world views. Parking/location: fairly easy to find. There's a Chevron and Shell station just down the road prior to coming up. Parking is minimal but it's not too crowded. YOU WILL LOSE service once you're up in the area. There's a small bathroom right at the parking lot. Hike itself: it is not easy, I repeat not easy. There were few hikers that we came across, but a good amount were exhausted and came later in the day when it was hot and even raining later(weird weather right now) Come early, we started our hike around 7:45 and didn't arrive to lake 1 til about 11:45 with many frequent breaks throughout. It gets hot quick here, and so taking time to find shade, drink water is important. The hike to lake 1 is about 5 or so miles so total distance is 11 miles minimum. Lake 1-2 are right by each other so if you make it to lake 1, head to lake 2 for better views, and a nice picnic spot right by the water. What to bring: Hat Light long sleeve (for mosquitoes) Boots Walking sticks (great if you're camping) Water!! (At least 2L per person) Snacks or lunch (we had a great small picnic at the base of lake 2) Change of clothes (if you're swimming) Tripod (for great group photos) Overall, watch videos online and do your due diligence and don't underestimate this hike! Come early morning to beat the sun (no shade mile 2-3). An amazing amazing hike!!

Ruth T.

This is THE most gorgeous hike I've had the pleasure of experiencing in CA! Maybe it's because I'm so used to the dry mountainous hikes/desert hikes, but all this rushing water and greenery had me swooning. We hiked to the unceremoniously named Lakes 1 and 2. Lake 2 is the prettier of the two, and apparently the best of all 7. It's not far from Lake 1, so don't despair if you're already dying. All together it was about 11 mi. I hike quite a bit, so I thought the trail was moderately difficult. The elevation gain is not extreme, and yeah there are a few switchbacks in the beginning, but nothing that'll completely wipe you out. My bf, however, is a novice hiker and was totally bushed by the end. Bring plenty of snacks and water! I was bracing myself for a ton of mosquitoes, but blessedly there were none for us. There are a ton of rushing rivers next to the trail to dunk your hats into for sweet relief. There are some exposed areas, but for the majority of the trail I wasn't trying to hunt down shade. DO bring swimwear to take a refreshing dip into the lake at the end! The brilliant aqua colored glacier runoff is even more pretty in person. Yes, it was a bit cold, but oh so welcome after a long hike. And yes, we did carry an avocado floatie up with us...

View on the hike up to the lakes.
Debbie F.

A beautiful hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with breathtaking views the whole way. I had lofty goals of hitting all 7 lakes on a day hike when I was planning this adventure. Once we started the hike and the trail alone was beautiful, I knew we would never make all 7 in one day. It turned out we made it to 3 lakes, enjoying some relaxation time at each taking in the scenery and fresh air. This was the perfect new plan for a first time visit. It is about a 10 minute drive up the mountain to the trail-head where there is a small parking lot for day hikers. Make sure to use the restroom there as you will not find any the rest of the day. The path is well marked with periodic signs along the trail when you can go a couple different ways. to reach the lakes, you want to follow the North Fork signs. There are plenty of people on the trail so you will know you are going the right direction. The first lake is approximately 4.5 miles in with lakes 2 and 3 shortly there after (about 5 min walk further to lake 2 and 10 min walk further to lake 3). There are ways to get down to the shore if desired, but I chose to enjoy the views from the rocks above. Total elevation gain is around 2500 feet. Lakes 4-7 are significantly further and if you want to see all the lakes in 1 day, you must start very early (sunrise) to make it back before dark. There is also the Black Lake which instead of following the trail to Lake 1, you can follow a different sign to that lake. Next time this is a must for sure. The highlight of this hike is the majestic blue lakes with the mountains behind them. A must see for any nature enthusiast. Although not the highlight, the trail provided some spectacular scenery which we had to take pictures of. From the beautiful fall colors to the waterfalls, and even the icicles still forming in October, it was a wonderful addition to our hike. October is kinda iffy when it comes to weather and if the path will be clear to hike. We lucked out with gorgeous weather! Started off at a crisp 38 degrees and warmed up to the high 60's with lots of sun. Hoping to go back here next year when I can make it a true full day hike and see all the lakes or get a camping permit and stay a night or to in the great outdoors. Note: Driving up from LA, it is about 5 hours. If you are not camping, I would recommend staying in Bishop which is 15 minutes past Big Pine.

Candace L.

We had a great time hiking to Big Pine Lakes 1 & 2. We had a late start driving up from Los Angeles and didn't start at the trail head until 1230P so we knew we'd be limited on time. We stayed out about 5.5 hours and did around 10.6 miles with 2,600ft elevation gain (starting at 7,836 ft reaching 10,187 ft). The weather was perfect, I actually had a few too many layers on and needed to remove some but was happy that I had brought gloves for the walk back to the car. My hands started getting cold later in the evening. We reached the first lake in about 2.5 hours and this was after taking several breaks along the way and we made it down a bit quicker which is to be expected. We left our hiking poles behind and were fine. There was only really one area that was flooded out that we needed to get around much closer to approaching Lake 1. Had we started close to sunrise I would have liked to go further out but we had a hard pressed turn back time since I didn't want to hike back after dark. The views of the lakes, glacier and temple crag were all really pretty. There were some nice views of fall foliage but really we had missed the prime for that and many trees had already dropped their dead leaves. I'd say this is a moderate hike and pretty achievable for just about anyone. We still aren't into overnight camping but are pretty avid day hikers staying out ALL DAY and trekking many miles so less than 6 hours and only 10 something miles seems more like a nice long walk to me. Enjoyable nonetheless with some really awesome views of the lakes. I can imagine this hike being even more gorgeous after first snow. Parking and restrooms with paper at trailhead.

Out of this world kinda view!
Heide S.

I wondered to myself why when I yelped Big Pine Lakes I did not see many reviews of the hike but after completing the hike, I now understand why. For starters, it shouldn't be a strenuous hike...but it IS. The elevation gain will suck the life out of you if you're not use to it. They even sell oxygen cans in town! The first lake is easily accessible within 2.5 hours time if you don't take a lot of breaks. Therefore it's a 5 hour hike R/T if you stop after the first lake which isn't too shabby. My husband and I made our trek to the third lake and back and it took us about 9 hours R/T. We stopped and had lunch at the third lake before my husband made the trek back to the first lake and decided to take a dip in it. This was in July in the scorching heat but let me tell you, the water was FREEZING cold though. But it was a once in a lifetime experience and he had to do it regardless of how frigid the water was or not. Let me tell you...I can't even explain how amazing this hike is. The excitement we felt when we were hiking, hiking, hiking then all of a sudden you look to the left and you see the crystal clear blue water. It was truly remarkable. Out of this world...and to think it exist in California! My husband and I rank this hike among our top hikes! He's currently gone on deployment but I am considering doing this hike again in the winter to see how the lakes look frozen over...will definitely post an update on that if it happens!

Betty T.

Beautiful and worth the 13 mile hike (to Lake 1-3)! We got there around 8.30am on Aug 25th. Hiked for 6 hours but spent time there for about 9 hours in total. Please bring enough water and be prepared for a crazy weather. It was raining and hailing on the way down the mountain. The weather changed from hot to cold pretty quickly. Luckily, I had a jacket and cap.

Class 3 rock scrambling to get to the Palisades.
Ryan N.

Parking: 2 lots, one for day and overnight. Restrooms at trailhead. 7 lakes. Around 12-13miles round trip for lakes 1-3 Great California gem. Beautiful scenery all around. It's a strenuous hike but you will be rewarded with amazing glacier fed lakes that is a beautiful turquoise color on a sunny day. Lake 2 is a favorite with Temple a Crag in the background. If you plan on backpacking plan ahead to get your permit, day hikes not required. And check out the glacier trail which will lead you to the Palisades and views are even better! 8 miles RT from second Lake so backpacking is recommended unless you have unlimited energy to do it as a day hike. Summer months please wear bug repellent! Mosquitos are really bad here.

Just gorgeous scenery!!
Annmarie M.

This area of California is simply breathtaking. Fresh air, trout fishing, alpine glacier-fed lakes, incredible views, and a rushing river are all here for your enjoyment in a non-crowded unspoilt area of California. Gems like this are sadly diminishing at an accelerated rate these days. I didn't see one piece of trash or evidence of civilization during the time I camped up here. It was so refreshing. There are 7 lakes you can hike to if you backpack / camp along the way. It is relatively "easy" to get to the first two lakes, apparently a 2-3 hour hike one way. I was advised by a local to begin the hike very early in the morning in order to avoid the hottest part of the day. I was also told the hike is very barren, and has no shade, until the point you get to the lake areas. I am saying "i was told" because I did camp up here but did not have time to do the hikes- will do next time. The drive up from L.A. is incredibly boring and looong (about 5 hours give or take), except for the Joshua trees in Victorville. In a couple of towns the 395 turns into a street so expect delays at streetlights and behind large trucks and campers. Take your time and be safe. We stayed at the Upper Sage Flats campground, the second one you come to as you drive up. I looked at them all and each one was beautiful.

Juan A.

Level 7 on difficulty because of the uphill terrain getting to the lakes. It's on the high end of the moderate scale. Surely depends on the time you begin your hike, and season. Roundtrip hike took us approx 6 hours of just walking. We left Los Angeles around 2am. Parked and began walking the trail at 7am. Early enough when it was still cold. At noon, it was rather warm but this trail offers tons of shade. I recommend getting trail directions prior due to no cell reception in this area. There are 7 lakes but once you see the first 2 or 3, they're all the same. Coming back to the parking lot, it's cruising. No permit needed and parking is free. I would only recommend this hike to someone in shape and with experience. Tons of scenery. Take a full battery for pics. Lots of water and snacks.

Rocky trail
Sara S.

My new fave hike...beauty that's only 5 hours from San Diego! Contemplated doing this hike in May due to mixed weather reports. After much research I went with outdoor project's weather report, which was pretty much on point. Memorial day weekend 2018 had projected weather of partly cloudy/sunny 58° and it turned out perfect. We parked at big pine campground's overnight lot (on Glacier lodge road) & headed out at 915 am. This hike is about 11 miles with gradual inclines, long switchbacks & some rocky terrain. It took us about 3 hours to reach third lake. Could have been faster, but photo ops were a must & lunch was too! It's gorgeous out here! You'll walk alongside the river for some time, cross a few creeks, bridges, be wowed by cascades & in awe with lakes! There are crowds during weekend so go early! Definitely coming back for lakes 4-7, as an overnighter of course!

Big Pine Lakes
Stephanie P.

WITHOUT REGRETS! Except for one. The Crew and I backpacked to Third Lake, yes, there are so many lakes their names are numbered. It's a 7ish mile hike in with a gradual uphill grade. Unfortunately, my pack was too heavy and really not packed correctly. This is a two night backpack with the main objective being the further exploration of an area we've been to a number of times over the past 3 years.There is so much beautimous in the area that I just can't resist the urge to further explore it. We hiked through the Big Pine Lakes basin beneath the imposing peaks of the Palisade Crest and the largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada, the two hundred year old Palisade Glacier. This was a beautiful backpacking experience with spectacular views of the surrounding thirteen and fourteen thousand foot peaks and the beautiful creeks and lakes along the way. We took the Big Pine Lakes trail along the North Fork of Big Pine Creek to reach our goal of Third Lake. This hike is at a relatively high altitude. The trailhead is at ~7,700' and our destination is at ~10,200'. The pace will be slow. The Big Pine Lakes trail zigzags through a slope of sage, Manzanita and Jeffrey Pine before it reaches Second Falls and follows along the creek to its headwaters. Along our way we'll be passing by additional alpine lakes, First Lake and Second Lake..... at this point you probably have a good idea of what the name is for the lake further upstream from Third Lake..... In addition to passing the sequentially numbered lakes, we'll also pass by a stone cabin built by movie actor Lon Chaney while we walk through a forest of Lodgepole Pine. Permit, bug repellant, and bear canisters are a must. There are bear lockers at the trailhead. IN A PACK: This was the last backpacking trip The Crew did with our beloved leader who was one of the 7 who lost their lives in Keyhole Canyon, Zion, UT 9/14/15. My one regret, posting this as my 450th review by 12/31/15. I missed it by 30 seconds. Grrr!!! We had an amazing time in Big Pine, as we do when The Crew is together. Although we didn't see as many lakes on this trip as we did on our Virginia Lakes trip, the water in these lakes were absolutely amazing beautiful. Keep calm and hike on. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up.

First Lake
Geneliz Q.

Went backpacking here with my boyfriend on the first week of August. We got to the parking lot at 3am and slept in the car til sunrise. We kinda overslept and didnt start our hike til 6:45am.. The North Fork Trail is really beautiful. You start the hike flat then once you pass the bridge, it will start ascending. I remember we got to a road where there weren't any signs -- make sure to turn right and follow the water! You will once again climb up until you see a big waterfall next to the John Muir Wilderness sign. We decided to take our breakfast there and just hangout for maybe 15 mins. It's a continuous ascend as you walk next to the waterfalls. Past the falls will be mostly shaded flat ground. There was a house (i think a ranger station?) somewhere in this forest and we were told by other hikers that the cabin is the halfway mark YAY! I remember seeing a small part of the blue greenish water and i started semi running to the destination ahaha. I was truly amazing when i saw the First Lake. IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKE I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!! And that is not an exaggeration! In my head, i don't need to travel to Banff or elsewhere cuz we already have this beauty in our backyard! We took some pics and checked out Second Lake right next to it. I think I enjoyed the First Lake view more than Second but Second is def more quiet. We decided to hangout right in between the two lakes and eat our lunch there. Took a quick nap and then we headed up to Black Lake.. On our way up, we realized that dark clouds are starting to build up and then we heard thunder! The stupidest thing we did -- please dont ever do this -- is that we kept climbing up thinking itll be faster to keep going up since we're almost near Black Lake. The rain started pouring and we were forced to build camp near the trees on our way up :( we waited an hour til the rain ended, packed up, and kept going. Tbh, Black Lake was very uneventful compared to the first two lakes we saw :( sure it looks pretty since it has that mirroring effect but as soon as we got there, my boyfriend and i decided we want to go back to First Lake and set up camp there. It rained much of the night but the following morning was incredibly beautiful. Few things to note: -You need a permit to stay here overnight -No fires -Lake water is freezing cold -Bring a bug spray just in case -You need a bear can for your snacks -You can fish at the lake -- Trout This is my new favorite trail and I cant wait to do the loop next time and check out all the remaining lakes. Will definitely come back!

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2 years ago

One of the most beautiful places i've ever been. Not the easiest hike, but definitely worth it.

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12 years ago

I loved this trail. We only made it to Third Lake, but we are planning on coming back. It was absolutely breathtaking.

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10 years ago

Backpacked this last October. You've never seen anything like this. Get off your computer and go.

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Ask the Community - Big Pine Lakes

Does anyone know if the lakes are safe to swim in?? I'm sure they're totally frigid, haha...but I'm that insane person who at least wants to just jump in..any thougts?

Ive only been there once, but I've seen people jump in the lake from lower & even higher rocks. You probably won't be able to swim in it for a long time because of the freezing temp. I've also seen people kayak and just chill on big, round floaties… Read more

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Review Highlights - Big Pine Lakes

5 hours to get to the first lake, but we stopped quite often to take pictures so its possible to get there way quicker.

Mentioned in 13 reviews

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Big Pine Creek Campground

Big Pine Creek Campground

(13 reviews)

I come here every year, usually in June or mid-August to hike the Big Pine Lakes trail. This year,…read morethe only reservation I could get was for April. We stayed over the weekend and it was absolutely freezing!!! Driving up, you could already see the mountains covered in snow and I knew right away we were in trouble! It got down to 21 degrees! I had double gloves, double layers, double everything and I still couldn't feel my fingers!!! Lol. I was so glad I brought my snow cleats because they helped a lot since the trails were covered in snow! For safety reasons, we decided to only hike up to Lake 2. The usual beautiful turquoise blue lakes were nowhere to be found and instead replaced with a half frozen lake. It was still a cool sight to see and I'm grateful I got to experience it at least once in my life because I swear, I will never stay here again in April! No way! Hahhaha. I definitely would not recommend camping here that time of year unless you have an RV or are really prepared for winter conditions. We were a big group which made the experience a lot more fun. I love this campground and there's a reason it's so hard to book. It's truly beautiful up there. If you're lucky enough to snag a reservation, definitely check it out.

You can't beat this campground for its proximity to the Big Pines Creek trail head. If there's one…read morebit of practical hiking advice I can offer, it's to camp here for at least two days before hitting the trail if you live at a low elevation. I was not acclimated and it made my hike unexpectedly grueling. It's an absolutely beautiful hike, and I wish I was less focused on simply breathing! The entirety of the campground is surprisingly fancy as campgrounds go. Lots of manicured public spaces. But the store always seemed closed which probably had something to do with the government shutdown happening at the time. Directional signage within the campground (to specific site numbers and to the trailhead) is pretty awful and I wasted a decent amount of time trying to find my site. I got up pretty early to hit the trail (just as the sun rose), and had to use AllTrails to point me to the trailhead. In early Oct, it can get pretty cold up there so setting up camp at 4:30pm wasn't ideal. Try to get there earlier bc it cools down really fast. My specific site (26) was really private and very nice. It looked just like the pictures on Recreation dot gov. It sits beside a bubbling little stream, yet mosquitoes were never an issue. It was also the most level and tidiest tent pad I've ever had the pleasure of sleeping on. There was a major drop-off between the car pull-in and the campsite, so I had to be extra vigilant about not breaking my neck during the frequent back and forth loading and unloading.

Cottonwood Lakes

Cottonwood Lakes

(5 reviews)

Not going to lie, this hike unexpectedly really beat me up. I intended to do the entire loop but…read morewas just so exhausted/overwhelmed when I woke up that I ended up turning back, although I took a different way back. I only made it to Lake 3 but to be fair, it started heavily pouring with intermittent thunder and lightning. The elevation gain destroyed me with my 20+ pound backpack, but I eventually made it to Lake 3 where I joined 2 other girls who basically adopted my clueless self. It is beautiful but perhaps would have been better without the cloudy skies. Overall, I would do this trip again but with more training!!

The Cottonwood Lakes are a series of 5 lakes in the high Eastern Sierra Nevada at about 11,000'…read moreelevation where you can catch California golden trout. This is a great place to camp out if you are looking for a place to acclimate before doing a high altitude hike such as Whitney. For convenience, you can just camp out at the trailhead which is at 10,000'. It takes about an hour to get from the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead to the Whitney Portal. I arrived here on July 3rd in the afternoon and spent one night and the following day fishing and hiking the area as a warmup to Whitney, which I was hiking on July 5th. Ultimately, I did not have any altitude sickness issues beyond a very mild headache which I could treat with ibuprofen. From the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead, the Cottonwood Lakes are about 5.5 miles away, so 11 miles roundtrip. Cottonwood Lake #3 is the largest of the five, and I ended up catching all my trout here. However, I didn't spend much time, if any, at the other lakes due to time constraints. I caught 4 trout in about an hour and a half. It's a very beautiful area, with large open meadows and lots of wildlife. I saw a deer and a pair of coyote while hiking to the lakes. There are also hordes of mosquitos so be sure to bring powerful mosquito repellant. Cottonwood Lakes can also be the midpoint in a hike to Mt. Langley, but that's another review.

Sabrina Basin Trail - About to eat lunch! Water was too cold to take a dip!

Sabrina Basin Trail

(7 reviews)

Great place to visit for all family! We discovered this place by chance, but we fell in love with…read morethe natural beauty--clear water, drinkable air, and a pure, peaceful atmosphere!

Everywhere online says that this trail is a 6 miler, but it is most definitely 7 to get Blue Lake…read more Just keep that in mind when you don't reach the lake at 3 miles. Also keep in mind that this is a backpacking trail where you can continue beyond Blue Lake and reach numerous other lakes such as Dingleberry Lake, Hungry Packer Lake, Moonlight Lake, etc. However, my group of friends opted for a day hike since we aren't experienced backpackers. Soon after beginning the hike you get to Sabrina Lake which is neat in and of itself, but was not our final destination. If you wanted it to be, it could, as there are plenty of people enjoying the basin on their boats. Fun fact, Sabrina is pronounced SUH-BRAH-EE-NUH, not SUH-BREE-NUH, as one local informed us haha. Anyway, this hike was unlike any other I've been on due to the terrain. I've never been to the Sierras and it's so cool that it's like a dessert, alpine hybrid. There are beautiful alpine flowers (pink, purple, and orange) along the entire hike, two mini falls/streams that you have to cross, and plenty of rocky switchbacks. I would not call this a very intense hike as there aren't any portions that involve climbing or jumping. The only challenge I can imagine is if you didn't bring snacks/lunch to enjoy once you reach the beautiful Lake Blue. Lake Blue is crisp looking and crisp FEELING. You will definitely get hypothermia if you stay in for longer than a couple minutes. My feet were almost instantly numb, and my two friends that dared to (quickly) dunk their bodies in were extremely thankful for the hot noon sun that warmed and dried them fairly quickly. Make sure to bring bug spray because in the areas where you cross streams, there are HUGE SWARMS OF MOSQUITOS. Also there are bears and long-horned goats apparently, so be prepared in all situations. Happy hiking!

Big Pine Lakes - hiking - Updated May 2026

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