인요군‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 호수

At Fifth Lake, your perspective will begin to change. Instead of the centerpiece of your photos being Temple Crag, here your focus shifts to Two Eagle Peak (west), Cloudripper (northwest), and Mount Robinson (southwest)! Renowned local painter Robert Clunie (1895-1984) created some of his greatest works camped between Fourth and Fifth Lake. In the summer of 1929, Clunie spent eight weeks submersed in the landscapes of Big Pine Canyon, and returned every year thereafter for the next three decades to paint these incredible mountains. His art is truly incredible, and gained great popularity after his death in 1984.

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!

FIRST Lake is, ironically, the LAST place for this water to rest before heading down through Big Pine Valley as the North Fork Big Pine Creek and entering, as a tributary, the Owens River 6,000ft below! To the east you are offered a lovely view to Mount Alice, while to the south Temple Crag commands your attention! The water in First Lake, as well as the ither Big Pine Lakes, often can be seen with a beautiful teal hue, caused by the refraction of sunlight on particles of glacial silt in the water!

Hungry Packer Lake rests nearly 2,000ft below the summit of Picture Peak, easily recognized by the notch sharply cut in it’s apex, and aptly named what with how frequently it is photographed! The name of this lake was officially adopted by the US Board of Geographic Names in 1965, although likely had been referred to as such for long before. And after climbing nearly 2,000ft from the Sabrina Lake trailhead over six miles, you may be a hungry packer too once you arrive here!

Hungry Packer Lake forms a majestic alpine scenery in front of Picture Peak. The hike to the lake can be difficult due to the distance, the elevation gain, and also because it involves a few creek crossings. It is recommended to wear waterproof hiking boots and use trekking poles.

A few miles after Whitney Portal you will find this scenic mountain lake, forming a nice pool all surrounded by rocks. The hike to the lake has some elevation gain, but it’s only a moderate slope it does not require permission to visit, and it’s also allowed to camp overnight. This is a popular trail that also leads to Mount Whitney and other peaks in the area, so you might see more people during weekends, mostly during summer. Lone Pine Lake can also be accessed during winter months, and you might find a beautiful frozen lake.

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.

First Lake is one of many reservoirs in this section of the John Muir Wilderness and Inyo National Forest. This is a gorgeous lake that you'll view from above from the North Fork Big Pine Creek Trail with Mount Alice towering in the background.