Palisade Lakes camping area
- Camping
Two lakes below Mather Pass in Kings Canyon NP; the lower lake is at about 3,230 m (10,590 ft). No campfires above 10,000 ft; camp on rock or sand away from the water.
John Muir Trail · Stage 12 of 18
Le Conte Canyon to Palisade Lakes
Stage 12 of the John Muir Trail covers 18.8 km from Le Conte Canyon to Palisade Lakes, with 899 m of ascent and 259 m of descent. The highest point is 3,308 m. Allow about 6 hours of walking, plus breaks.
18.8 kmdistance
899 mascent
259 mdescent
~6 hwalking time
harddifficulty
3,308 mhighest point
≈ 3.5 L
≈ 1,930 kcal
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Where to sleep and eat on this stage
Palisade Lakes
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed on an official page" are listed elsewhere but could not be checked on their own or an agency website. Your wilderness permit lets you camp where it is legal, at least 100 ft (30 m) from water and the trail; some lakes have extra limits. Bear canisters are required.
Help and services on this stage
Emergency: call or text 911 (no signal on most of the trail). Emergency & health guide
Nearest hospital
- Northern Inyo Hospital · Bishop · 24/7 emergency
+1 760-873-5811 · Map
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
Walk Le Conte Canyon to Palisade Lakes with Outest
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.