Big Pine Lakes
by Jeff Molyneaux (35)
6 days ago

2 Completed 2 Reviews

By FAR, the most beautiful hike I have done in California!!

Big Pine Lakes
by Aaron Wicht (50)
15 days ago

2 Completed 1 Reviews

The parking lot is just west of big pine ca up a 2-3000 ft climb in mostly dry high dessert stuff. you begin walking through mostly rocks and chapparel for the first 1-3 miles, then u see the first waterfall and u hike right beside it as u gain another 1-2000 ft.. now you are in aspen trees, we did this in october and it was truly magical, good flow on streams, yellow aspens falling as we climb higher, several stream crossing and climbing more and more passing an old rangers cabin.. before reaching turquise lake one.surrounded by 14000 ft pinnacles to the south and west.. . u can hear a waterfall coming from lake 2 into 1 but we trek on and end up camping at the shores of lake 3 high peaks also surround it. .. also turquise from the glacier run off. cold that night... up early we go see lake 4 and set up camp by lake 5. we spend the day fishing here and fooling around just enjoying the views and the lake. i get in to wash off.. very cold that night, frost in the morning.. the next morning we hike back down to the car and enjoy a meal at a classic cafe off 395, then its 5 hour drive back to san diego.. ps great workout i lost 5 lbs on this hike , also this was my first backpacking adventure and it hooked me.. can't wait to see more of the majestic east sierras

North Fork Big Pine Creek
by Donna Coon (41)
7 months ago

3 Completed 2 Reviews

By far the toughest longest hike I've done, my calves are still sore, but the payoff of First and Second Lake, Amazing and so worth it. Stunning views in every direction. Next time I'm backpacking it so I don't have to walk all the way back to camp after reaching the lakes.

Saline Valley Hot Spring
by Mango Abend (286)
8 months ago

6 Completed 6 Reviews

This is the best of the best. 50 miles dirt road adventure to get into this oasis in Death Valley. Not a trip for the weak. Plan on spending at least a week there. 5 hot springs there.

Split Mountain
by Robert Yamashita (51)
10 months ago

1 Completed 1 Reviews

Short mileage but huge elevation gain. Not a trip for the timid - there are long stretches of relatively easy grade interspersed by significant steep climbs. Route finding down is tricky (easy going up). Tough but worth the trip. Be prepared, bring extra water, there is not an easily accessible water access on the way up.

North Fork Big Pine Creek
by Andre Navarro (89)
11 months ago

4 Completed 1 Reviews

North Fork Big Pine Creek
by Doris Lance (625)
11 months ago

11 Completed 12 Reviews

Nestled 2.9 miles on the North Fork Big Pine Creek trail in the John Muir Wilderness is the historic Lon Chaney cabin where I enjoyed lunch among the aspen trees. Parking is available at the designated spots near the Big Pine Creek campground at 7,700'. The cabin is now an abandon ranger's station but a delightful spot at 9,220.' The Sego Lilies, Prickly Poppies, Soda Straws and Applegate Paintbrushes were blooming along the trail.

First Falls and Second Falls Trail
by David Dykstra (2888)
over 1 year ago

99 Completed 86 Reviews

Easy Hike and empty in the winter if the road is snow free.

Palisade Basin
by Frederich Devaney (2373)
over 2 years ago

22 Completed 17 Reviews

I did not hike the complete loop, which is good, because a backpack over Gun Sight Pass may have required some rope. I hiked from my Dusy Basin camp, through Knapsack Pass into the Palisade Basin. From there I climbed over Gun Sight Pass, then up the valley towards Mt. Sill. Made it over halfway to the top of Mt. Sill, then the Palisade Crest clouded, and I turned back. That was a bummer, but thunderstorms came about 1 1/2 hours later. For a change, I made a good decision.
This was a hike you rarely have a chance to do, and I'm glad I did. Looking straight up at Middle Palisade from its base is breathtaking - really breathtaking. One of the surprises along the head of the Basin, was the tiny, black frogs swimming around in the nearly freezing, snowmelt ponds. I didn't know frogs lived in cold water, too. Columbine peaked out from the cracks in the rocks. Twice I came across Mountain Lion tracks. But what made this an absolutely grand hike, was the raw, eternal, and truly awesome feelings brought from hiking off the beatan path. I wish I took more pictures, but I walked about with by jaw open the whole time. Put it on your wish list, you won't be disappointed.

Saline Valley Hot Spring
by Michael Huffman (280)
about 3 years ago

0 Completed 3 Reviews

Having visited hot springs throughout the world, these are indeed most dear and special to me. Although the water contains a large number of minerals, unlike many hot springs, these do not contain sulfur. The springs seep up from underground at a few locations. Most notably are the two areas that have been lovingly developed and cared for by volunteers over the years. The lower spring has two concrete soaking pools, a well maintained and manicured lawn and is more socially oriented than the upper, less developed Palm Spring. In the 1960s, the hot springs in the valley became popular among hippies and free-thinkers, and were eventually improved by volunteer labor, to include concrete tubs, a shower, a sink, and three outhouses (which the Park Service later replaced with concrete-lined latrines). For improved access, two airstrips were built, the "Chicken Strip" and "Tail-Dragger Strip" (the latter is now closed).

The Saline Valley Warm Springs, as they are called, have become controversial in recent years. The improvements would have violated Park Service policy if they had taken place today, and nudity is against park regulations. There has been compromise so far; a park host is always on duty, visitors are limited to 30 days per year, and the springs do not appear on any official NPS map. A "clothing optional" policy is still permitted at the springs, but nudity is frowned upon elsewhere at the site. The Timbisha Indian tribe, which was displaced from the area in 1933, says it objects to the nudity at the springs, and will shut them down if it ever regains ownership of the valley. I often wonder if they were ever fully clothed when they, in ancient times, enjoyed the waters?

There are 3 sections of springs, the upper, middle and lower springs. The middle and lower springs have been developed with concrete soaking tubs and showers are present. The upper spring is in an undeveloped natural state and surrounded by a chain link fence in order to keep the foraging "wild" burros out. In late 2005, seismic activity disturbed the flow of water to the lower springs. The only functional section remaining after that was the middle springs. However, the flow appears to be returning to the lower springs, and is increasing, making both springs functional.