Castle Lake and Mount Shasta from near Heart Lake (Photo by John R. Soares) mostly level as you continue, bringing you to Peak, Magee Peak, and numerous other Cascade the spine of Mount Bradley Ridge at 3 miles. A volcanoes lead to Mount Shasta, with Mount Eddy 0.2-mile scamper northeast (left) brings you to a to the west of the largest California volcano. knob with the best views. If you want more hiking, continue farther Look south at the immediate prospect of serrated toward Mount Bradley or hike the 0.5 mile path granite crests of Castle Crags. Eastward Lassen that skirts the east side of Castle Lake.
51 Seven Lakes Basin
Length: 6 miles round-trip Hiking time: 5 hours or 2 days High point: 6,825 feet Total elevation gain: 1,400 feet Difficulty: moderate Season: early June through late October Water: available only at Seven Lakes Basin (purify first); bring your own Maps: USGS 7.5’ Mumbo Basin, USGS 7.5’ Seven Lakes Basin Information: Mount Shasta Ranger Station, Shasta–Trinity National Forest
122 Seven Lakes Basin • 123
6850' One-way spires of the Trinity Alps to the west, with for- 6800' 6750' ested mountains filling in the northerly and 6700' southerly views. 6650' Travel south, undulating gently along the 6600' 6550' spine of the ridge, occasionally shaded by a Jef- 6500' frey pine, western white pine, red fir, or white fir. 6450' 6400' Note the various flowers, including blue lupines 6350' and yellow sulfur flowers. 6300' 6250' The first decent campsite appears on the left at 6200' 0.3 mile, followed by the inaugural view of Mount 0 mile 1.5 3.0 Shasta, with Mount Eddy and Gumboot Lake com- ThisHike 51. Se hikeven Lakes Basin gives you the best of the Klamath ing shortly thereafter. A westward glance shows Mountains with little effort. You’ll have 360- Mumbo Lake and Mumbo Basin just below. degree panoramas of far Northern California A trail fork on a saddle awaits at 2.4 miles mountains, cool and clear mountain lakes to and adds new peaks to your day’s checklist. To dip into, a varied palette of wildflowers, and the near east the granite spires of Castle Crags several excellent campsites if you decide to do dominate, with an overnighter. Seven Lakes Basin To reach the trailhead, take the Central Mount just below and Boul- Mount Shasta to Shasta exit from Interstate 5. Cross the freeway der Mountain rising the left, the Trinity and go west and south on South Old Stage Road above Echo Lake. Alps to the right and W. A. Barr Road. Arc around Lake Siskiyou Far to the southeast —it doesn’t get any as the way becomes Forest Road 26. Follow this are Lassen Peak, better than this. paved road to Gumboot Saddle, 18.3 miles from Magee Peak, and the freeway and 2.5 miles beyond Gumboot Lake Burney Mountain. and its campground. To quickly reach the Seven Lakes Basin, ignore Begin on the saddle’s south side and head signs and go 30 feet farther on the Pacific Crest south on the Pacific Crest Trail (hikers and Trail. A faint and unmarked path drops down equestrians only). You quickly reach an open on the right, soon intersecting a four-wheel- area with an unimpeded vista of the jagged drive road that you follow down to Upper Seven
To I-5
Shasta–Trinity 0 1 National Forest MILES
Gumboot Lake Echo Upper Lake Upper Seven Gumboot Lake ific Cre Lake Pac st T ra Gumboot il Seven Lakes P Basin Saddle Upper Road 26 Mumbo Lake Boulder Lower Peak Mumbo Seven Basin Lake Mumbo Lake Lake Helen 124 • Klamath Mountains
Lake, a total 0.5 mile distance. The lake’s waters You can hike cross-country to explore the invite you to swim, but two campsites by the basin. The actual trail fades as it runs east toward water are too close, so explore farther from shore Echo Lake. Do not attempt to visit this lake: It’s for a level spot. Lower Seven Lake lies 100 yards privately owned, and the owner is notoriously to the south but has no campsites. cranky and very hostile to visitors.
Mount Shasta from above the Seven Lakes Basin (Photo by John R. Soares)