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Inyo National Forest
Hiking Pine Creek Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon is the gateway to several destinations in the John Muir Wilderness. Heading northwest on US 395 from Bishop, turn left on Pine Creek Road and drive 10 miles to the trailhead parking near the pack station. At 7400', the trails start at relatively low elevations, so expect some serious climbing. In addition to these day hikes, Pine Creek can be the entry or exit for several point to point backpacks.
We crossed Pine Creek Pass and descended to Honeymoon Lake from the south (out of the Bishop Creek trailhead). The top of the pass presents beautiful twin lakes dotted with boulders. The descent to Honeymoon lake passes through a meadow covered with evergreens, some three feet around, snapped like twigs, evidently testifying to severe avalanche activity during the enormously snowy winter of 1995. Rock walls rise vertically from the waters of Honeymoon Lake, with a couple of falls tumbling down the western side. - Bill Greer
1. HONEYMOON LAKE, LAKE ITALY, AND MOON LAKE - The trail ascends moderately from the pack station through a forest of Jeffery Pine, Juniper, Red Fir, Quaking Aspens, and Birch trees. Just through this, the trail merges with a mining road which leads to the Brownstone Mine. The slope is steep here but the grade is fairly moderate. Views include, the Owens River drainage, the volcanic tableland and the White Mountain range. The road ends just above the mine and turns once again into a trail, which ascends talus and scree with short, steep switchbacks. The trail then turns north to reach the northeast end of Lower Pine Lake.
The trail to Upper Pine Lake (10,200') continues along the northwest shore of Lower Pine Lake and ascends to the west side of the upper lake. The trail parallels the outlet stream from Upper Pine Lake.
HONEYMOON LAKE - 5.5 miles one way and reaching 10,400'. Continue past Upper Pine Lake. The trail ascends moderately to the Pine Creek Pass/Italy Pass trail junction. Take the right fork towards Italy Pass and continue west to Honeymoon Lake.
LAKE ITALY - 11.5 miles one way and reaching 12,300'. Continue on the trail past Honeymoon Lake to Lake Italy Pass (12,300'), where it then descends steeply into the Jumble Lake Basin. It follows the north slope of the lake and then drops into the Italy Lake Basin, and Lake Italy. Hikers on the trail described the Italy Pass cross as more of a bushwalking route than a maintained trail.
MOON LAKE - 10 miles one way and reaching 11,100'. The trail to Moon Lake follows the left fork of the Pine Creek Pass/Italy Pass j junction, towards Pine Creek Pass. Before reaching Pine Creek Pass, the trail climbs above timberline, leaving the Lodgepoles behind, and through white granite walls to reach 11,100'. From the pass it descends to French Canyon, and meets the signed trail branching left to Elba and Moon Lakes. The trail ascends steeply to Elba Lake (unnamed on the topo map), and then on to Moon Lake. The right fork of the junction in French Canyon will take you to Hutchinson Meadows, and Piute Pass in Bishop Creek Canyon.
2. GABLE LAKES - Use the same trailhead parking area as for Pine Creek trail. Walk uphill through the remains of an old mining operation to find the trail. This lightly used, rocky, steep, exposed trail leads tip to several Gable Lakes. The area is rich in mining history, but remember, the Antiquities Act protects all artifacts on federal lands from being removed.
 Move on to Trail Finder: Inyo National Forest
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