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Big Pine Creek Waterfalls

Second Falls


The Big Pine Creek Waterfalls are the series of waterfalls and cascades primarily on the North Fork of Big Pine Creek. But the real objective for visitors to this part of the John Muir Wilderness is the wonderfully colorful glaciated lakes surrounded by very tall mountains (some of which peak above 14,000ft). It's classic Eastern Sierra scenery, and the waterfalls were merely my excuse to include the gorgeous High Sierras backcountry scenery on this website.

Now when I was invited to join a backpacking group for a weekend backpack (which happened to be my 1st backpack in at least 5 years), I didn't expect much from the waterfalls and cascades here. But once we got on the trail, the cascades and waterfalls were much bigger and more vigorous than I expected (though I have to admit the expectations were quite low).

The main waterfalls of the lot are First Falls and Second Falls. Second Falls is probably the most impressive cascade as it looks very tall as it snakes its way down granite gullies beneath Mt Alice. Roughly a couple of miles into the Upper Trail yields great views of the falls in the distance. As you get closer to the falls, you can see the sloping nature of the cascade. And once you're at the top of the falls, you can hear the falls tumble loudly, but it's not that photographable at this point.

The First Falls is really more of an elongated cascade that's not easy to photograph. The Lower Trail on the south side of Big Pine Creek is where you can catch closeup glimpses of sections of this cascade. The Upper Trail mostly yields shaded views as trees tend to block the view.

Other cascades can be found beneath First Lake, between First and Second Lake, between Second and Third Lake, and just above and below Fifth Lake. We camped at Fifth Lake and I think we logged about 23 miles round trip (as a loop as we didn't go out the same way we came in) with 3500ft elevation gain. And I'm not including the day hike to 6th Lake.

Directions: From Big Pine (we based ourselves in a motel here the night before the start of the backpack) off the US395, we took Crocker Rd west as it eventually became Glacier Lodge Road. We then continued for another 10 miles or so until we got to the Pack Station where we started the hike.

There are two endpoints or starting points for Big Pine Creek. The first one is at the Pack Station less than a mile from the end of the Glacier Lodge Road. The other is at the very end of that road. We actually had one person guard the packs at the end of the road while the other one picked up the car from the Pack Station (without the packs) and drove back to the end of the road to recover the other hiker and the packs (basically saving one more mile of 60+ lbs on the body).

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Distant view of Second FallsDistant view of Second Falls

Closer look at Second FallsCloser look at Second Falls

Somewhere at the top of Second FallsSomewhere at the top of Second Falls

A cascade or rapid somewhere downstream of First LakeA cascade or rapid somewhere downstream of First Lake

First LakeFirst Lake

Cascade draining into Second LakeCascade draining into Second Lake

Second Lake and Temple CragSecond Lake and Temple Crag

Not a waterfall shot, but couldn't resist getting this shot of Mt Robinson over 5th LakeNot a waterfall shot, but couldn't resist getting this shot of Mt Robinson over 5th Lake

Cascade draining Second Lake into First LakeCascade draining Second Lake into First Lake

Part of First FallsPart of First Falls

Footbridge over bottom of First FallsFootbridge over bottom of First Falls


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