How to Get a Big Pine Creek South Fork Permit
Brainard and Finger Lakes under the Middle Palisades, on a trail that fades to cairns and asks you to ford the creek.
Check Big Pine Creek South Fork permit availabilityRecreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
Permit Cost
2-4 days
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Big Pine Creek South Fork
Big Pine Creek South Fork is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point above Big Pine, climbing the South Fork toward Brainard and Finger Lakes. Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window. Two things make this the harder fork. Inyo states the bridge across the South Fork Creek was destroyed by avalanche in spring 2011, so the crossing is a ford, and the trail beyond Willow Lake becomes indistinct with rock cairns marking the way. The permit does not include the North Fork.
Inyo National Forest describes the Big Pine South Fork trail to Brainard and Finger Lakes climbing beneath the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers with views of the jagged crest of the Middle Palisades. It is the quiet fork, and the reason is right there in the agency's own text: the bridge is gone and the trail runs out.
The Experience
You get wet feet early and you stay honest the rest of the way. Above Willow Lake the trail stops being a trail and becomes a line of cairns across slabs, with the Middle Palisade crest getting bigger every hour.
Inyo is direct about the crossing: the bridge across the South Fork Creek was destroyed by avalanche in spring 2011, so expect to get your feet wet and use caution with high spring runoff.
Above Willow Lake the trail becomes indistinct, with rock cairns marking the way to the upper lakes. Brainard and Finger Lakes sit beneath the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers.
This permit does not include the North Fork, and Inyo asks you to check the area map to select the correct trail. Campfires are prohibited, and stock is not recommended beyond Willow Lake.
What to Expect
A creek ford where the bridge used to be, since spring 2011
A maintained trail that fades to cairns above Willow Lake
Brainard and Finger Lakes under the Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers
A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
No North Fork access on this permit
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Permit Requirements
This permit does not include the North Fork
No campfires
Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk where containers are not required
Stock is not recommended beyond Willow Lake
Maximum group size is 15
Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness regulations apply if you enter the park, including no pets, no bear spray, and a group size limit of eight in Palisade Basin
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- •A stove, since campfires are prohibited
- •Shoes or sandals you are willing to ford in
- •A map and the ability to follow cairns above Willow Lake
Hazards & Safety
The unbridged South Fork Creek crossing, especially during high spring runoff
Route-finding above Willow Lake where the trail is indistinct
Loose ground on the approach to the upper lakes
Afternoon thunderstorms with no shelter in the upper basin
Best Time to Visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Late July through September is best, once runoff has dropped and the ford is manageable. Avoid peak snowmelt if you are not confident crossing moving water.
Pro Tips
Plan the ford for a morning, when overnight cold has dropped the creek
Carry footwear you can cross in, because the bridge has been gone since 2011
Above Willow Lake, stop and find the next cairn before you move
This is the fork with permits when the North Fork is sold out
Stock parties should turn around at Willow Lake, per Inyo
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Big Pine Creek South Fork permit?
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Big Pine Creek South Fork permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Big Pine Creek South Fork?
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The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Late July through September is best, once runoff has dropped and the ford is manageable. Avoid peak snowmelt if you are not confident crossing moving water.
How difficult is Big Pine Creek South Fork?
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Backpackers comfortable with a ford and with following cairns on open ground.
What gear do I need for Big Pine Creek South Fork?
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Essential gear includes: A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup, A stove, since campfires are prohibited, Shoes or sandals you are willing to ford in, A map and the ability to follow cairns above Willow Lake.
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