Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Big Pine Creek South Fork
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Big Pine Creek South Fork in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Big Pine Creek South 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 South Fork were gone within 10 minutes.
Big Pine Creek South Fork reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Big Pine Creek South Fork permit
As of September 2026, Big Pine Creek South Fork in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Big Pine Creek South Fork is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Big Pine Creek South Fork permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Big Pine Creek South 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 South Fork pro tips
- Plan the ford for a morning, when overnight cold has dropped the creek
- Carry footwear you can cross in, because the bridge has been gone since 2011
- Above Willow Lake, stop and find the next cairn before you move
- This is the fork with permits when the North Fork is sold out
- Stock parties should turn around at Willow Lake, per Inyo
More on Big Pine Creek South Fork: Live availability activityWhen Big Pine Creek South Fork permits open up
How much a Big Pine Creek South Fork permit costs
Big Pine Creek South Fork permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Big Pine Creek South Fork hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 2-4 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Big Pine Creek South Fork landmarks
- 1South Fork Creek crossing
The bridge was destroyed by avalanche in spring 2011. Expect a ford.
- 2Willow Lake
Where the maintained trail ends and cairns take over.
- 3Brainard Lake
Beneath the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers.
- 4Finger Lake
The upper lake under the Middle Palisade crest.
Brainard and Finger Lakes under the Middle Palisades, on a trail that fades to cairns and asks you to ford the creek.
About this permit
Big Pine Creek South Fork is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point above Big Pine, climbing the South Fork toward Brainard and Finger Lakes.
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. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window.
Two things make this the harder fork. Inyo states the bridge across the South Fork Creek was destroyed by avalanche in spring 2011, so the crossing is a ford, and the trail beyond Willow Lake becomes indistinct with rock cairns marking the way. The permit does not include the North Fork.
The route
Inyo is direct about the crossing: the bridge across the South Fork Creek was destroyed by avalanche in spring 2011, so expect to get your feet wet and use caution with high spring runoff.
Above Willow Lake the trail becomes indistinct, with rock cairns marking the way to the upper lakes. Brainard and Finger Lakes sit beneath the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers.
This permit does not include the North Fork, and Inyo asks you to check the area map to select the correct trail. Campfires are prohibited, and stock is not recommended beyond Willow Lake.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes the Big Pine South Fork trail to Brainard and Finger Lakes climbing beneath the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers with views of the jagged crest of the Middle Palisades. It is the quiet fork, and the reason is right there in the agency's own text: the bridge is gone and the trail runs out.
The feeling
You get wet feet early and you work hard the rest of the way. Above Willow Lake the trail stops being a trail and becomes a line of cairns across slabs, with the Middle Palisade crest getting bigger every hour.
Big Pine Creek South Fork hike highlights
- A creek ford where the bridge used to be, since spring 2011
- A maintained trail that fades to cairns above Willow Lake
- Brainard and Finger Lakes under the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
- No North Fork access on this permit
How hard the Big Pine Creek South Fork hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers comfortable with a ford and with following cairns on open ground.
Recommended experience: Prior off-trail navigation and at least one unbridged creek crossing.
Not recommended for: First-time Sierra backpackers, stock parties beyond Willow Lake, and anyone uneasy crossing moving water.
When to hike Big Pine Creek South Fork
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Late July through September is best, once runoff has dropped and the ford is manageable. Avoid peak snowmelt if you are not confident crossing moving water.
- Peak
- Late July through September
- Shoulder
- Early July and October
Summer
High water early, then a straightforward ford. Storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Almost no one else up here
- Advantage: Middle Palisade views from the upper lakes
- Advantage: Permits generally available
- Challenge: The ford is real during runoff
- Challenge: Cairn navigation above Willow Lake
- Challenge: Exposed upper basin in storms
Fall
Low water, cold nights, stable weather. Quota season to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Easiest ford of the year
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: Clear air for the crest views
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the upper lakes
- Challenge: Short days for a slow route
- Challenge: Early snow makes the cairns hard to find
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
65°
47°
Wed
66°
52°
Thu
72°
55°
Fri
87°
56°
Sat
87°
58°
Sun
86°
58°
Mon
85°
59°
Big Pine Creek South Fork photography guide
Golden Hour
Dawn on the Middle Palisade crest from Finger Lake.
Best Light
Late afternoon at Brainard Lake, when the glaciers above catch side light.
Beat the Crowds
There is nothing to avoid. This is one of the quietest Big Pine basins.
Classic Shots
- The Middle Palisade crest from Finger Lake
- The cairned slabs above Willow Lake
- Norman Clyde Peak from Brainard
Big Pine Creek South Fork rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- A stove, since campfires are prohibited
- Shoes or sandals you are willing to ford in
- A map and the ability to follow cairns above Willow Lake
Rules & regulations
- 01This permit does not include the North Fork
- 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
- 04Stock is not recommended beyond Willow Lake
- 05Maximum group size is 15
- 06Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness regulations apply if you enter the park, including no pets, no bear spray, and a group size limit of eight in Palisade Basin
Hazards & considerations
- The unbridged South Fork Creek crossing, especially during high spring runoff
- Route-finding above Willow Lake where the trail is indistinct
- Loose ground on the approach to the upper lakes
- Afternoon thunderstorms with no shelter in the upper basin
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Big Pine Creek South 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 South Fork · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Big Pine Creek South Fork FAQ
Is there a bridge on the Big Pine Creek South Fork trail?
No. Inyo National Forest states the bridge across the South Fork Creek was destroyed by avalanche in spring 2011, so expect to get your feet wet and use caution with high spring runoff.
Does a Big Pine Creek South Fork permit include the North Fork?
No. Inyo states this permit does not include the North Fork and asks you to check the area map to select the correct trail.
How hard is the trail above Willow Lake?
Inyo says the trail beyond Willow Lake becomes indistinct, with rock cairns marking the way to the upper lakes. Bring a map and be prepared to route-find.
Are campfires allowed on the Big Pine Creek South Fork trail?
No. Inyo prohibits campfires on this entry point.
Big Pine Creek South Fork trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Big Pine Creek South Fork permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Big Pine Creek North Fork
The neighbouring fork to the numbered Big Pine Lakes and the Palisade Glacier.
Tradeoffs
Maintained trail the whole way and better-known lakes, on a busier permit.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Bishop Pass -South Lake
Over the crest into Dusy Basin and the John Muir Trail.
Tradeoffs
Better trail and bigger country, on the most contested Bishop-area permit.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Taboose Pass
A steep crest crossing south of Big Pine to the John Muir Trail.
Tradeoffs
Much more climbing, and 2019 fire damage still on the ground.
Where to stay near Big Pine Creek South Fork
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