Amies Photos > Sierra Peaks > Big Pine South Fork Trail

Big Pine South Fork Trail

The Big Pine South Fork Trail out of Glacier Lodge provides access to most of the peaks in the South Palisades area. The trail starts at Glacier Lodge at 8,000 ft and continues to Brainerd Lake at 10,200 ft. You may also turn east at Willow Lake to travel cross country to Elinore Lake at 11,000 ft.

Disappointment Peak and Middle Palisade.
Palisades Location Map
Trails in the Palisades Area
Brewers Lupine at Elinore Lake
Red Mountain Heather
Alpine Goosebery
Indian Paintbrush
Jeffery Pine on Big Pine South Fork trail

Disappointment Peak and Middle Palisade.

Taken from near Willow Lake.
Photo by Alex Amies, August 12, 2005

Palisades Location Map

The Palisades are reached by turning east on Crocker Street on Highway 395 at Big Pine.

Trails in the Palisades Area

North Fork (blue solid) and South Fork (red solid) Big Pine Creek Trails. Cross country to Finger Lake and Elinore Lake is shown in dotted red. Trails start at Glacier Lodge (8,000 ft). The lodge is no longer there but the place is still known by that name.

Brewers Lupine at Elinore Lake

Brewers Lupine at Elinore Lake (11,000 ft).
Photo by Alex Amies, August 12, 2005

Red Mountain Heather

Red Mountain Heather at Elinore Lake (11,000 ft)
Photo by Alex Amies, August 12, 2005

Alpine Goosebery

Alpine Goosebery along the South Fork Big Pine Creek Trail (elevation 9,000 ft).
Photo by Alex Amies, August 13, 2005

Indian Paintbrush

Indian Paintbrush near Lake Elinore (11,000 ft).
Photo by Alex Amies, August 12, 2005

Jeffery Pine on Big Pine South Fork trail

Jeffery Pine near the start of the Big Pine South Fork trail (el 8,000 ft). Jeffrey pines can be recognized by their height of 80-130 ft (24-39 m), needles 3 in a bundle 5-10 inches (13-25 cm), and oval cones 5-8 inches (13-20 cm). They are very similar to Ponderosa Pines, however the ranges a little different. Jeffrey Pines are found from 5,200 ft to 9,500 ft. Ponderosa Pines are found up to 7,000 ft - out of range for this tree.
Photo by Alex Amies, August 12, 2005