Second Lake and Temple Crag

The pictures taken from this small rocky outcrop above Second Lake, marked here by a tentsite symbol, are ICONIC. If the pictures above look familiar, that’s because… well.. they are! Temple Crag from across Second Lake is one of the most frequently photographed “scenes” of the Eastern Sierras. Just a quick search on the internet of “Big Pine Lakes” will pull up countless pictures almost identical to each other of this exact lake/peak combo. (Seriously, try it 😂) And honestly, it’s easy to understand why! The setting is otherwordly!

Every alpine lake has its own qualities that make it stand out, but Second Lake has often been called the most beautiful of the numbered lakes in this part of the John Muir Wilderness. This could be because it's the biggest or because it's the easiest to explore in depth since there is a spur trail that travels between this lake and First Lake.