Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Treasure Lakes - South Lake
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Treasure Lakes - South Lake in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Treasure Lakes - South Lake 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 Treasure Lakes - South Lake were gone within 10 minutes.
Treasure Lakes - South Lake reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Treasure Lakes - South Lake permit
As of September 2026, Treasure Lakes - South Lake in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Treasure Lakes - South Lake is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Treasure Lakes - South Lake permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Treasure Lakes - South Lake 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.
Treasure Lakes - South Lake pro tips
- Book this when Bishop Pass is gone: same trailhead, far better odds
- The junction comes early, so watch for it rather than following the crowd uphill
- Carry a stove, since fires are banned here
- Park at South Lake early, because the lot serves three trails
- Do not confuse this with the Treasure Lakes near Mount Dade, which is the Little Lakes Valley permit
More on Treasure Lakes - South Lake: Live availability activityWhen Treasure Lakes - South Lake permits open up
How much a Treasure Lakes - South Lake permit costs
Treasure Lakes - South Lake permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Treasure Lakes - South Lake hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Treasure Lakes - South Lake landmarks
- 1South Lake trailhead
Shared with the Bishop Pass trail as far as the first junction.
- 2Hurd Peak
Separates the Treasure Lakes basin from Bishop Creek Canyon.
- 3Treasure Lakes
High alpine lakes rimmed by the crest, under Mount Thompson and Mount Goode.
One ridge over from the Bishop Pass parade, in a granite basin most people walk straight past.
About this permit
Treasure Lakes at South Lake is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point above Bishop, branching off the Bishop Pass trail into a quiet granite basin below the Sierra crest.
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.
This permit does not include Bishop Pass entry and does not connect to the John Muir Trail. It is the short, quiet option from a very busy trailhead.
The route
From South Lake the trail runs with the Bishop Pass trail to the first junction, then branches toward Treasure Lakes. Hurd Peak separates the basin from Bishop Creek Canyon.
Inyo is clear about the limits: the permit for Treasure Lakes does not include Bishop Pass entry, and this trail does not connect to the John Muir Trail. It is a destination, not a corridor.
One naming trap Inyo calls out: for the Treasure Lakes near Mount Dade, use the Little Lakes Valley trail instead. Two different places share the name.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes the Treasure Lakes trail starting at South Lake, combined with the Bishop Pass trail until the first trail junction, then leading to a beautiful, less visited granite basin separated from the Bishop Creek Canyon by Hurd Peak. The high alpine lakes are rimmed by the Sierra Crest, dominated by Mount Thompson and Mount Goode.
The feeling
You share the first half mile with everyone heading to Bishop Pass and then turn right and lose them all. The basin is bare granite and cold water with the crest standing over it, and it is quiet in a way that Bishop Pass never is.
Treasure Lakes - South Lake hike highlights
- A shared start with the Bishop Pass trail as far as the first junction
- A granite basin separated from Bishop Creek Canyon by Hurd Peak
- Lakes rimmed by the crest under Mount Thompson and Mount Goode
- No Bishop Pass and no John Muir Trail connection
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
How hard the Treasure Lakes - South Lake hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- 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-route2/5
Best for: Parties who want one high alpine night without a pass crossing, and anyone shut out of Bishop Pass.
Recommended experience: Comfort with a short steep climb at altitude.
Not recommended for: Anyone planning to reach the John Muir Trail, which this trail does not connect to.
When to hike Treasure Lakes - South Lake
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is the reliable window. It is a good early-season option in a year when Bishop Pass is still snowbound.
- Peak
- July through September
- Shoulder
- Late June and October
Summer
Warm days on the granite, cold nights, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Quiet basin next to a very busy trailhead
- Advantage: Short enough for a single night
- Advantage: Permits far easier than Bishop Pass
- Challenge: Crowded parking at South Lake
- Challenge: No shelter from storms in the basin
- Challenge: Cold nights
Fall
Cold and clear, quota season to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: Sharp light on the crest
- Advantage: Easy permits
- Challenge: Hard freezes
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early snow closes the road
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°
Treasure Lakes - South Lake photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening on Mount Thompson and Mount Goode from the lower Treasure Lake.
Best Light
Early morning, when the basin is still and the crest is lit.
Beat the Crowds
The turn off the Bishop Pass trail does most of the work. Almost nobody follows it.
Classic Shots
- Hurd Peak from the junction
- Treasure Lakes with the crest behind
- Bishop Creek Canyon from the basin rim
Treasure Lakes - South Lake rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear canister: Inyo requires containers for food and trash here
- A stove, since campfires are prohibited
- Warm layers for a high granite basin
- Water treatment
Rules & regulations
- 01This permit does not include Bishop Pass entry, and the trail does not connect to the John Muir Trail
- 02No campfires
- 03Bear containers are required for storage of food and trash
- 04Maximum group size is 15
- 05For the Treasure Lakes near Mount Dade, use the Little Lakes Valley trail instead
- 06John Muir Wilderness regulations apply
Hazards & considerations
- Altitude, since the trailhead is already high and the basin is higher
- Afternoon storms on open granite with no shelter
- Snow in the basin into early summer
- Loose rock on the approach to the upper lakes
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Treasure Lakes - South Lake.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Treasure Lakes - South Lake · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Treasure Lakes - South Lake FAQ
Does a Treasure Lakes permit include Bishop Pass?
No. Inyo National Forest states the permit for Treasure Lakes does not include Bishop Pass entry, and that this trail does not connect to the John Muir Trail.
Which Treasure Lakes does this permit cover?
The Treasure Lakes above South Lake, below Mount Thompson and Mount Goode. Inyo notes that for the Treasure Lakes near Mount Dade you should use the Little Lakes Valley trail instead.
Are campfires allowed at Treasure Lakes?
No. Inyo prohibits campfires on this entry point and requires bear containers for food and trash.
When can I reserve a Treasure Lakes permit?
Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months ahead at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks in advance.
Treasure Lakes - South Lake trail conditions and trip reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Treasure Lakes - South Lake permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Bishop Pass -South Lake
The main event from the same trailhead, over the pass into Dusy Basin.
Tradeoffs
Much bigger country and a JMT connection, on a far more contested permit.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Lamarck Lakes
A short climb from the North Lake road to another quiet lake basin.
Tradeoffs
Similar effort and similar solitude, in a different drainage.
- Same AreaPermit required
Sabrina Lake
The third Bishop Creek trailhead, up the Middle Fork toward Blue and Dingleberry Lakes.
Tradeoffs
A longer walk to the lakes, on a quieter permit.
Where to stay near Treasure Lakes - South Lake
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