Palisade Basin view of Barrett Lakes

This campsite is one we happened upon by chance while searching for a suitable basecamp to climb in the Palisades. We had been hiking all day, over two passes, and were just ready to set up shop anywhere when we came upon this beautiful sandy shelf among a sea of granite! Getting to this spot will require at least one overnight stay, so first and foremost, you'll need an overnight permit. These can be reserved in advance for $20 on reservation.gov, or for free in person at a ranger station (Lone Pine or Bishop are the closest two) the day before the trip after 11AM, or the day of the trip after 8AM. There is a quota (15 people per day for walk-ins), so get there early! In total, the trip is about 8.5 miles one way, with 3,500 feet elevation gain. It isn't easy. Start earlier than you think you should, and give yourself all day. If you want to extend the trip, stay a night along the way and break up the trip. After picking up your permit, head to Bishop. In Bishop, turn west on Highway 168 (Line St). Stay on Highway 168 for 15 miles, heading up into the mountains. At 15 miles in, turn left onto South Lake Rd. Take South Lake Rd to its end 7.1 miles later. This is the Bishop Pass Trailhead. Head into the upper lot (this is backpacker parking) and park. Pack up and start out on the trail! The Bishop Pass Trail is well-traveled, and you will undoubtedly see some others on your trip. Over the next 5 miles and 2,300 feet elevation gain, you will pass by many alpine lakes, and see some wonderful mountain views. Once you get to the top of Bishop Pass, the views are even more spectacular! You will now head toward Thunderbolt Pass. From Bishop Pass to Thunderbolt Pass is all cross-country travel. There is no developed trail, and only spotty use trails can be found. While it is only about 2.5 miles to Thunderbolt Pass, it is not an easy 2.5 miles, and will likely require about the same amount of time as getting to Bishop Pass. I highly advise looking up directions and trip reports for this portion of the hike to supplement the directions below. From Bishop Pass head southwest and around the northeast side of a small lake. Continue south from that lake toward a small notch. To your left is the massive Mount Agassiz, and to your right is a small granite knob with a series of granite slabs sloping southwest down toward Dusy Basin. Continue straight at the notch and begin navigating your way down slabs and benches. You will be looking at the pointy Isosceles Peak in the distance beyond a lake, with its striking east ridge wrapping around all the way to the Palisades. Below Isosceles is a lake, with a small meadow between you and the lake. Drop down toward the meadow. You will begin to see Thunderbolt Pass. It is a small, rocky notch where the east ridge of Isosceles wraps around and meets the Palisades on the east. Once at the meadow, head east-southeast across slabs and small patches of meadow, angling toward Thunderbolt Pass. Do not drop all the way down to the lake. The meadow will continue up a grassy drainage for a short while, heading due east. At the top of this grassy drainage, you will begin contouring on granite slabs and benches, eventually coming to a talus field of small-to-large boulders. Make your way over the talus field toward Thunderbolt Pass, which is now very obvious. The boulders will get much larger (car-sized) before reaching Thunderbolt Pass. Once at Thunderbolt Pass, the jagged west side of the Palisades will be to your left, and the expansive Palisade Basin will be to your right, with Barrett Lakes obvious about 900 feet down into the basin. Pick your way down the granite slabs and benches toward the small streams and ponds you can see about 300-400 feet below the pass. That is your water source for the trip. After filling up, you will head southeast up the granite slabs you can see on the other side of the drainage. There are a few sandy benches in the granite slabs that are fit for a campsite. Find your way to the coordinates, or choose a spot you like!

If the winter has been a big one, there will most definitely still be snow in July and possibly into August. The summer months are the only time the area is accessible. Pay attention to conditions before your trip, and bring appropriate gear. You may need an ice axe and crampons if there is still snow getting up to Bishop and Thunderbolt Pass.

The view of the Sierra Nevada from this spot is incredible! And, catching the light of a sunset on the many peaks visible in the distance is an unforgettable experience!

Bring everything you normally would for backpacking (tent or bivy, sleeping bag, pad, puffy jacket, stove, bear canister [recommended], food, water bottle/bladder, filtration, etc.). Aside from camping gear, bring your camera, a variable focal length lens, and a lightweight tripod if you have one.

Mosquitoes can be pretty bad, especially on the way up to Bishop Pass, so have that bug spray and head-net ready! A compass will also come in handy. The compass app on your phone is sufficient.

Bishop Pass is at nearly 12,000 feet, and Thunderbolt Pass is almost 12,200 feet. If you are susceptible to altitude sickness, look into acetazolamide (generic for Diamox), and perhaps bring some with you. If you aren't feeling well, do not continue. Altitude sickness can be very serious. Only going back down will alleviate the symptoms.

If you don't have a lightweight tripod, you can improvise a tripod from gear you already have, or even from natural features. I did not have a tripod for this trip, and used rocks in the area to set up a shot. I was even able to get photographs of the Milky Way on this night with nothing more than the camera body on a rock with the lens propped up on a smaller rock.

The light can be tricky in an area such as this. The light on the peaks in the distance and in the sky can make it difficult to capture details in the shadowed foreground. Try bracketing exposures and combining later to make it look like your eyes saw it!

This place is amazing. You are already backpacking, so just enjoy it! Maybe head down to the lake and fish if you like, or just explore the area!