Hiking Project Logo

A beautiful route below towering peaks to one of the few surviving California glaciers.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List

17.3

Miles

27.8

KM

Out and Back

12,411' 3,783 m

High

7,825' 2,385 m

Low

4,674' 1,425 m

Up

4,674' 1,424 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

53%

Max Grade (28°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

This High Sierra route passes beautiful lakes and winds its way under tall peaks, all in an alpine environment. If this doesn't sound enticing enough, it culminates at a view of one of California's few remaining glaciers.

Need to Know

This route is largely within the John Muir Wilderness, so wilderness permits from Inyo National Forest are required for all overnight trips. Search Recreation.gov for more information.

Description

This is a fairly long route, but it's quite reasonable in terms of elevation gain. The trail from Glacier Lodge slowly climbs into the alpine along the side of a valley. After several miles, it converges with the creek at a waterfall. Here the trail takes you through a birch forest and past an old stone cabin, originally built by actor Lon Chaney in 1929-1930, in the area known as Cienega Mirth.

You'll eventually come out of the forested area into a basin several hundred feet above the lakes to the east. The impressive Temple Crag is on the other side of the lakes. Pass lakes 1, 2, and 3 then take an eastern fork of the trail towards the glacier.

This is where the steep hiking starts. After the first section of steep terrain you'll find the Sam Mack Meadows. These flat meadows provide a good place to camp for your first night. After Sam Mack Meadows, expect a little more difficulty finding the trail, as there is a lot of rock and very little soil. The route continues to climb steeply over several ridge lines and finally onto the Palisade Glacier. Once at the glacier, enjoy the view! When you've had your fill, turn around and retrace your steps back to the lodge.

Flora & Fauna

Trees: lodgepole pine, Jeffery pines, whitebark pine (at highest elevations). Wildflowers along streams and in meadows: tiger lily, red-orange paintbrush, white rein orchis, red columbine. Wildflowers at high elevations: alpine columbine, white heather, blue sky-pilot.

Contacts

Shared By:

Daniel Birdwell with improvements by Mark Osterman

Trail Ratings

  4.9 from 19 votes

#455

Overall
  4.9 from 19 votes
5 Star
89%
4 Star
11%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#73

in California

#455

Overall
25 Views Last Month
16,665 Since Apr 13, 2016
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
7%
0%
86%
7%

Photos

Sam Mack Meadow
Jul 18, 2021 near Big Pine, CA
Norman Clyde Peak over autumn woods
Apr 19, 2016 near Big Pine, CA
Cool view from Palisade Glacier.
Apr 7, 2016 near Big Pine, CA
Temple Crag.
Apr 7, 2016 near Big Pine, CA
Kid Mountain (~11,860 ft) stands across the valley as the trail ascends to the Baker Creek Trail junction.
Jun 21, 2017 near Big Pine, CA
Temple Crag sunrise.
Apr 14, 2016 near Big Pine, CA
loading

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 10, 2024
Colt Lapham
Jul 17, 2020
JAMES TEJEDA
1st & 2nd lake
Jul 16, 2019
Hayley Riggins
Jul 6, 2019
Marina L
Start 7:30am, back at 6pm. the first stretch of the trail up to aspen grove is sandy and exposed to sun, significant sun cover recommended if start…
Aug 24, 2018
Jorge Alvrz
Great views and mostly straightforward. Gets a bit technical with lose boulders on the final stretch to Palisade glacier. 18mi — 9h 00m
Oct 29, 2017
mountain dude 101
18mi
Sep 20, 2017
Gela MalekPour
Camped at Sam Mack Meadows for 2 nights, attempted to climb the glacier but had to turn back about a mile out due to unsafe conditions. 15.9mi
Aug 15, 2017
Shin Yamamoto
Three day backpacking trip 17.9mi
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.