Two group sites perched at 10,000 feet along Big Pine Creek, named for the glaciers visible at the canyon's head. This is base camp for serious Sierra adventures — glacier viewing, alpine lakes, and some of the range's most dramatic climbing terrain. Groups of up to 25 can claim either Clyde Glacier or Palisade Glacier sites.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 🏔️Elevation
- 10,000 ft
- 📍GPS
- 37.12833, -118.42222
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 760-935-4339
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
Both sites sit along Big Pine Creek in glacier-carved terrain that feels distinctly alpine. Clyde Glacier site offers mixed camping with parking for two 35-foot RVs and six 20-foot vehicles on paved spaces. Palisade Glacier restricts camping to tents only, though it's also paved and handles 25 people. Each site comes with campfire rings and grills.
At this elevation, nights get cold even in summer. The setting delivers immediate access to the kind of Sierra high country that usually requires a day's hiking — you're already surrounded by the granite amphitheater that defines Big Pine Canyon.
The Glaciers
Big Pine Canyon holds both the largest and southernmost glaciers in the Sierra Nevada. Palisade Glacier, the largest, looms above Big Pine Lakes on the North Fork drainage. Middle Palisade Glacier marks the southern extent of Sierra glaciation. These aren't distant views — they're the defining feature of the canyon.
Trails and Activities
The North Fork Trail climbs past waterfalls through Jeffrey pine, manzanita, and sage to reach Big Pine Lakes around 10,000 feet. From there, Palisade Glacier dominates the cirque. The South Fork Trail leads to smaller lakes fed by glacial runoff from Norman Clyde and Middle Palisade Glaciers.
Big Pine Creek and the alpine lakes offer fishing opportunities. Climbers use the steep, glacier-carved walls throughout the canyon. The nearby John Muir Wilderness extends the hiking possibilities, and a commercial pack station operates in the area for those wanting horse support for deeper wilderness access.