The entire hike was a little over 9 miles, about 4.5 miles each way. BIG PINE LAKE hike DETAILSįor this hike, we chose the North Fork Trail to go to Lakes #1-2. Of course, it’s still hike-able in the winter, but you will reach completely different conditions and will likely need snowshoes, crampons, etc. After all, Mammoth Ski Resort is not too far away. The weather is generally a lot better, with temperatures warming up to 70 degrees in April.ĭuring the winter, it gets extremely cold up in the Bishop area. The best time to hike Big Pine Lakes is from April to October. Trailhead: Park at the Big Pine Lakes Campground and then head outside, turn left (away from going downhill) When to Hike Big Pine Lakes The Sierras are always in the background and add to the dramatic landscape of the Big Pines Lake area. But you can see from the photos that the views were still gorgeous. Unfortunately, when we went, it was cloudy. On a sunny day, the water color is absolutely stunning turquoise. It is one of the most famous hikes in the area because of its spectacular views and accessibility. If you are heading to the Bishop and Eastern Sierras area, you have probably heard of Big Pine Lakes. Big Pine Lakes is a famous area near Big Pine, CA about 1 hour south of Bishop – and for good reason! The trail brings you to multiple jaw-dropping alpine lakes and because it’s a there-and-back trail, you can turn around whenever you feel like it.

Big pine lake slot limit