Your reward will be the most beautiful, still turquoise lakes in all of California! Keep reading to learn more about the hike as well as read about my experience hiking to Big Pine Lakes. It’s no easy feat, but if you put in the work, you will most definitely be rewarded. That’s right you’re not going to find any influencers with a lighting crew or Instagram model girls here! The hike to Big Pine Lakes via the North Fork Trail is still a well-kept secret among avid hiker and outdoor enthusiasts. Hands-down, this bucket list hike to Big Pine Lakes was the #1 highlight of my latest Eastern Sierra road trip! I mean, who knew there was a little slice of Banff National Park right here in Eastern California? If the views of Temple Crag and the surrounding mountain ranges don’t take your breath away, the color of the bright, turquoise lakes will most certainly captivate you. But, for most people, thirteen miles roundtrip is a good distance for a day, and an even better distance considering that one will have seen some of the most beautiful lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.The hike to Big Pine Lakes is easily one of the best day hikes in all of California. From Third Lake, experienced hikers, or multi-day backpackers can continue on either toward Sam Mack Meadow, the Palisade Glacier, or Lakes Four through Seven for a longer hike or trip. Depending on the time of year and the amount of precipitation in the mountains, the western border of Third Lake may look more like a muddy beach than a lake. For backpackers, Third Lake also has excellent campsites that receive substantially less use than the sites located at Second Lake. From Second Lake, the trail ascends gradually over the course of a mile to Third Lake (10,249 feet elevation, 6.5 miles from the trailhead), which the shallowest of the three lakes. While an argument can be made for both lakes being stunning, Second Lake is the most popular lake to camp at for backpackers, as there are a number of excellent sites, and perfect views of the Temple Crag. There are also a number of great campsites for overnight use in this area. My personal suggestion for hikers or backpackers visiting the area – call them whatever you want, because they are amazing.īackpackers, or day-hikers who have sufficient time can travel along a spur trail located five miles from the trailhead (in between First and Second Lake), and can explore around both the West side of First Lake, and the East side of Second Lake, where old unexplained mining equipment and the remnants of a dam remain. For unknown reasons, the lakes – and the waterfalls along this trail were given generic names – “First Waterfall” “First Lake” “Second Lake” through “Seventh Lake”. As a matter of fact, the only thing unknown – and unspectacular about these lakes is their names. The lakes popularity, however, precedes social media, as the trail up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek has long been one of the most popular destinations in the Inyo National Forest. These lakes are the glacial lakes of the Big Pine basin, specifically located off the North Fork of Big Pine Creek and for the most part, there is no photoshopping of the photos of these lakes – they actually do look like that way in real like, with brilliant shades of cerulean blue. And, if you’ve seen these photos and there wasn’t a caption, you probably wondered where these lakes were, and if the photos were photoshopped. Chances are, if you have any sort of social media presence, you’ve seen with increasing frequency some sort of picture of people, tents, or both laid out artfully in front of tall mountains and crystal blue lakes.
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