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North Lake–South Lake Loop

Inyo National Forest · Inyo · Managed by Inyo National Forest (USFS)
Difficulty 73/100 · Very strenuouspoint to point#loop#high-sierra#alpine-lakes#john-muir-trail
Distance
47.2 mi
Total gain
9,320 ft
Net gain
465 ft
Net loss
0 ft
Elevation
8,075–11,972 ft
Days
5–7
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

This five-to-seven-day traverse links two classic Bishop trailheads — North Lake and South Lake — into one of the finest big loops in the Sierra. The route climbs Piute Pass, drops through the glacier-polished granite of Piute Canyon, follows the John Muir Trail through Evolution Basin beneath Mounts Mendel and Darwin, and exits over 11,972-foot Bishop Pass. Nearly half the trip is above 10,000 feet.

Highlights

  • Evolution Basin — alpine lakes beneath the Evolution Group's granite spires
  • Two of the Sierra's most dramatic passes, Piute and Bishop, 14 miles apart
  • The Muir Trail corridor with its endless granite benches and wildflower meadows
  • Bishop's resupply and shuttle services at both ends

Logistics

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead (9,320 ft · parking: End of North Lake Road, west of Bishop)
  • Water: Abundant — Piute Creek, the South Fork San Joaquin, Evolution Creek and Lake, and the Bishop Pass drainage.
  • Resupply: None on route; Bishop has full services, and shuttle services run between the lakes.
  • Shuttle: Required between South Lake and North Lake trailheads (~30 min apart); commercial shuttles and hitching both common.
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Inyo National Forest (USFS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Trailhead quota for North Lake entry (Piute Pass) applies during quota season.
  • Reservation window: 60% of quota released six months out, 40% two weeks out, at 7 a.m. PT.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed seasonally. Campfires are allowed in existing rings below 10,000 ft unless current Inyo NF fire restrictions are in effect. A California Campfire Permit is required for stoves and fires. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: High passes (Piute, Muir, Bishop) typically snow-free mid-July through September.

Heat: Cool; most of the route is above 9,000 ft.

Bugs: Mosquitoes peak in late June and July, especially in Piute and Evolution canyons.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Nearly 9,500 feet of total climbing at high altitude — acclimate in Bishop first
  • The Evolution Creek crossing can be deep in early July
  • Mosquitoes rule the meadows in early summer; September is the sweet spot
  • Bear canisters are required in Inyo National Forest wilderness

Map

Route track shown for reference only — navigate with map and compass. Track source: OpenStreetMap route relation 15402289 (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) (ODbL 1.0).

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits. Recreation.gov / U.S. Forest Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262. Accessed 2026-09-07. Year-round permit requirement, quota release schedule, bear canister rules, and Whitney-area fees.
  2. Inyo National Forest alerts and fire restrictions. U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/alerts/stage-1-fire-restrictions-effect. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Current Stage 1 fire restrictions affecting campfires and stoves.
  3. North Lake South Lake Loop route relation 15402289. OpenStreetMap contributors. https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/15402289. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: ODbL 1.0. Route geometry; distance and elevation statistics computed from this track.
  4. SRTM90 elevation data. OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-07. Elevation enrichment for computed gain/loss statistics.