Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Big Pine Creek North Fork
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Big Pine Creek North Fork in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Big Pine Creek North Fork opens on your dates.
When it opens
- 6 months
- First come, first served from six months before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific60% of quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
- 2 weeks
- First come, first served from two weeks before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific40% of quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
Source: recreation.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Big Pine Creek North Fork were gone within 10 minutes.
Big Pine Creek North Fork reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Big Pine Creek North Fork permit
As of September 2026, Big Pine Creek North Fork in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Big Pine Creek North Fork is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Big Pine Creek North Fork permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Big Pine Creek North Fork runs May 1 through November 1.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Eastern Sierra, CA
Step 1: Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Big Pine Creek North Fork pro tips
- Start before sunrise: the lower climb is sage and manzanita with no shade
- Camp at Fifth Lake or beyond if you want the basin to yourself
- Take the Black Lake side trail one way for the Palisade Glacier view
- The two-week release adds permits on top of the six-month window
- Check the trailhead name at booking, since North Fork and South Fork are different reservations
More on Big Pine Creek North Fork: Live availability activityWhen Big Pine Creek North Fork permits open upChance of an opening
How much a Big Pine Creek North Fork permit costs
Big Pine Creek North Fork permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Big Pine Creek North Fork hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 2-4 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Big Pine Creek North Fork landmarks
- 1First Falls
The trail climbs across sage and manzanita slopes above the falls.
- 2Second Falls
Near the wilderness boundary. No camping until a quarter mile past it.
- 3Black Lake
Side trail with views of the Palisade Glacier, rejoining near Fourth Lake.
- 4Seventh Lake
The far end of the lake chain, north of Temple Crag and Mount Sill.
Seven numbered lakes below Temple Crag, tinted glacier-blue by the last real glacier in the Sierra.
About this permit
Big Pine Creek North Fork is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point above Big Pine, climbing into the John Muir Wilderness toward the Big Pine Lakes and the Palisade Glacier.
Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead. From November 2 to April 30 the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window.
Inyo separates this permit from the South Fork, so check the area map before booking. Camping is barred from the trailhead to a quarter mile past the wilderness boundary near Second Falls, and campfires are prohibited outright.
The route
The hike starts across sunny sage and manzanita covered slopes above First Falls and enters the wilderness boundary near Second Falls. Camping is prohibited from the trailhead to a quarter mile past that boundary, so the climb has to be done in one go.
Above that the lakes come in sequence. Inyo notes a side trail to Black Lake offering views of the Palisade Glacier and the Sierra Crest before looping back to the main trail near Fourth Lake, which is the standard way to make a loop out of the basin.
Regulations are strict: no campfires anywhere, and food and refuse must be stored in a bear-resistant container or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes the Big Pine North Fork trail going to the popular First through Seventh Lakes north of Temple Crag and Mount Sill, past a chain of lakes where you can see the effects of past glacial activity: glacier polish, and erratics, those oddly balanced boulders left standing on the polished granite as the glacier melted.
The feeling
The first miles are hot, open sage and manzanita above First Falls with no shade at all. Then the canyon closes in and the lakes start, one after another, each one a shade of milky turquoise from the glacial flour coming off the Palisade Glacier.
Big Pine Creek North Fork hike highlights
- A climb through open sage and manzanita with no shade before the wilderness boundary
- First through Seventh Lakes north of Temple Crag and Mount Sill
- A Black Lake side trail with Palisade Glacier views, rejoining near Fourth Lake
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
- A separate permit from the South Fork
How hard the Big Pine Creek North Fork hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers who want glacial lakes and Palisade views on maintained trail.
Recommended experience: One prior climb of 2,000-plus feet carrying a pack.
Not recommended for: Parties hoping to camp low, since the first legal ground is past the wilderness boundary.
When to hike Big Pine Creek North Fork
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is when the upper lakes are clear. Start early in any month, because the lower trail bakes.
- Peak
- July through September
- Shoulder
- Late June and October
Summer
Hot below, cold at the lakes, thunderstorms most afternoons.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Whole lake chain accessible
- Advantage: The glacial colour is at its strongest with meltwater running
- Advantage: Black Lake loop open
- Challenge: Serious heat on the lower climb
- Challenge: One of the busiest Bishop-area basins
- Challenge: Storms over open granite
Fall
Cold and clear, with the quota season running to November 1.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Cool climbing
- Advantage: Quiet basin
- Advantage: Easier permits
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the lakes
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early snow in the upper basin
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
73°
55°
Tue
81°
50°
Wed
87°
56°
Thu
90°
62°
Fri
90°
64°
Sat
89°
67°
Sun
88°
66°
Big Pine Creek North Fork photography guide
Golden Hour
First light on Temple Crag from Second Lake, when the peak lights up over the turquoise water.
Best Light
Mid-morning at Third or Fifth Lake, when the sun is high enough to bring out the glacial colour.
Beat the Crowds
Second and Third Lakes take almost all the traffic. Fifth through Seventh are usually empty.
Classic Shots
- Temple Crag reflected in Second Lake
- The Palisade Glacier from the Black Lake side trail
- Glacier polish and erratics on the benches between lakes
Big Pine Creek North Fork rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- A stove, since campfires are prohibited on this permit
- Three litres of water capacity for the shadeless lower climb
- Sun protection
Rules & regulations
- 01No camping from the trailhead to a quarter mile past the wilderness boundary near Second Falls
- 02No campfires
- 03Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk where containers are not required
- 04Maximum group size is 15
- 05John Muir Wilderness regulations apply, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon regulations apply if you enter the park, including no pets
Hazards & considerations
- Heat on the exposed lower switchbacks
- Afternoon storms in an open glacial basin
- Snow and ice near the Palisade Glacier through midsummer
- Bears working the lake basin
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Big Pine Creek North Fork.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Big Pine Creek North Fork · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Big Pine Creek North Fork FAQ
Does a Big Pine Creek North Fork permit include the South Fork?
No. Inyo National Forest issues them as separate reservations, and the South Fork permit states plainly that it does not include the North Fork.
Where can I camp on the Big Pine Creek North Fork trail?
Not until a quarter mile past the wilderness boundary near Second Falls. Inyo prohibits camping from the trailhead to that point.
Are campfires allowed on the Big Pine Creek North Fork trail?
No. Inyo prohibits campfires on this entry point, so bring a stove.
Which lakes does the Big Pine North Fork trail reach?
Inyo lists First through Seventh Lakes north of Temple Crag and Mount Sill, with a Black Lake side trail that rejoins the main trail near Fourth Lake.
Big Pine Creek North Fork trail conditions and trip reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Big Pine Creek North Fork permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Big Pine Creek South Fork
The other fork, toward Brainard and Finger Lakes under the Middle Palisades.
Tradeoffs
Rougher trail and a creek ford, but far fewer people.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Bishop Pass -South Lake
The next canyon north, over Bishop Pass into Dusy Basin.
Tradeoffs
Crosses the crest and reaches the John Muir Trail, on a busier permit.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Treasure Lakes - South Lake
A short trip into a quiet granite basin below Mount Thompson.
Tradeoffs
Much less mileage and easier permits, without the glacier.
Where to stay near Big Pine Creek North Fork
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
Trip planning
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