Palisades by Day
Most day hikers who visit the lakes of Big Pine Creek bypass a trail that provides the best view of the spectacular Palisades group of peaks. From this vantage point, it is possible to see the panorama of both peaks accessed by the South Fork as well as those visible from the North Fork of Big Pine Creek. From the North Fork trail at an intersection between First and Second Falls, the Baker Lakes trail gradually ascends the south wall of the valley crossing over to Logging Flat. This area with a big stand of Jeffrey Pines was once logged using teams of oxen back in the 1880s. Further on up the trail crosses Grouse Spring and then climbs up to a broad meadow where views to the south across the canyon are breathtaking. The total distance is approximately 4.5 miles. There also is an unmarked packer's trail that drops back down into the North Fork drainage.
North Palisade by telephoto from above Black Lake
A longer and more strenuous effort covering around 9 miles will take you to the Palisade Glacier itself reaching an elevation of 12,250 ft. Halfway between Third and Fourth Lake, take the trail to Sam Mack meadow and then Sam Mack Lake where a route climbs to the top of a ridge and a scramble to reach the terminal moraine of the glacier.
The South Fork trail which branches off just above the bridge across First Falls climbs gradually up the South Fork drainage with stunning views especially of Middle Palisade. A short switchback section reaches a point on a shoulder of a small cliff where views open up to reveal the rest of the southern group of Palisades peaks. The trail ends at Brainard Lake which lies enclosed in a rocky basin at 10, 240 ft a distance of five miles from the trailhead.