Near Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake
Near Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake
Near Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake
Near Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake
Near Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake

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Hike Trail

Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake

No rating
7.8
mi
Distance
3,820
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
Lake

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
7.76mi
Distance
3,820ft
Elevation Gain
348ft
Elevation Loss
55%
Max Grade
11,245ft
High Point
7,669ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
The Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail rises into California's High Sierra toward the southernmost glaciers in the United States. Palisade glacier sits above a series of lakes, named First Lake through Seventh Lake, where you'll find some of the best trout fishing in the Sierra Nevada. Also, here in the John Muir Wilderness there are several peaks exceeding 14,000-feet along the Palisade Crest, part of the Great Western Divide. Here you'll find the 14,153-foot Mount Sill and Temple Crag, which is home to some of the tallest rock climbs in the entire Sierra Nevada Range. The beautiful rustic cabin along Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail that is now a Forest Service cabin was once a summer home of one of Hollywood's most famous character actors, Lon Chaney, Sr. The cabin is also significant because it was designed by Paul Revere Williams, the first African American that was granted a fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. The porch makes for a nice, quiet spot for lunch, and the access to Big Pine Creek North Fork makes it a good place to fill up on water before continuing your hike.

Route Conditions

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Nearby Hike Routes

Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake

Hike Route

Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake

Lake
strenuous
7.58 mi
+3,637 ft
First Falls Day Hike

Hike Route

First Falls Day Hike

Waterfall
easy
1.85 mi
+1,042 ft
Big Pine Lakes

Classic Hike Route

Big Pine Lakes

Commonly Backpacked
moderate
12.76 mi
+3,234 ft
Glacier Lodge to Palisade Glacier

Hike Route

Glacier Lodge to Palisade Glacier

Lake
strenuous
16.7 mi
+4,748 ft
Finger Lake via Big Pine Creek South Fork Trail

Hike Route

Finger Lake via Big Pine Creek South Fork Trail

Lake
moderate
4.12 mi
+2,719 ft
South Lake, Bishop Pass Trail

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South Lake, Bishop Pass Trail

Lake
moderate
5.47 mi
+1,214 ft
Contributors
onX Maps, Inc