South Lake is the highest of the three large lakes in the Bishop Creek Canyon lakes basin. It sits at 9.868 feet above sea level. It is a popular start point for hiking into the wilderness along the Bishop Pass Trail, which connects to Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. Many other gorgeous hikes are accessed from this trailhead for day hikes, fishing, and mountaineering providing some of the most spectacular views of the craggy Sierra Nevada.

*This section of road is closed during winter and offers excellent cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when winter snowfall is deep.

The lake is wonderful for all types of water sport like swimming, paddling, kayaking, and boating; rentals of watercraft are available here from nearby Parchers Resort. This lake, like the others in the large and impressing Bishop Creek drainage, is stunningly colorful in fall.