Hiking Seven Lakes Basin via the Pacific Crest Trail: Lakes and Vistas!

This day hike or short backpacking trip to Seven Lakes Basin on the Pacific Crest Trail is one of the best in the Mount Shasta region. The basin holds Upper Seven Lake, Lower Seven Lake, and several smaller lakes, with swimming the best in Upper Seven Lake. On the way to Seven Lakes Basin, you’ll be treated to vistas of the Trinity Alps and Mount Shasta.

It takes a bit of easy cross-country hiking to explore all of Seven Lakes Basin, as the main trail becomes very difficult to follow beyond Upper Seven Lake. If you want to wander the entire basin, be sure you are adept at finding your way in the wilderness.

You can also easily visit Lake Helen and climb nearby Tri County Peak.

The Seven Lakes Basin journey is Hike 50 from 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California, fourth edition. I discuss the same route in Hike 56 of Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions. Here’s the description of the Seven Lakes Basin from 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California, fourth edition.

Key Data: Seven Lakes Basin Hike

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, Mount Shasta Area map from Green Trails Maps
Information: Mount Shasta Ranger Station, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Campfires: you need a California campfire permit, backpackers

This hike gives you the best of the Klamath Mountains with little effort. You’ll have 360-degree panoramas of far Northern California mountains, cool and clear mountain lakes to dip into, a varied palette of wildflowers, and several excellent campsites if you decide to backpack.

Seven Lakes Basin Trailhead Driving Directions

To reach the trailhead, take the Central Mount Shasta exit (Exit 738) from Interstate 5. Cross the freeway and go west and south on South Old Stage Road and W. A. Barr Road. Arc around Lake Siskiyou as the way becomes Forest Road 26. Follow this paved road past several dispersed camping spots to Gumboot Saddle, 18.3 miles from the freeway and 2.5 miles beyond Gumboot Lake and its campground.

Seven Lakes Basin Trail Map

Pacific Crest Trail to Seven Lakes Basin

Begin on the saddle’s south side and head south on one of the most beautiful Pacific Crest Trail sections in Northern California (hikers and equestrians only). You quickly reach an open area with an unimpeded vista of the jagged spires of the Trinity Alps to the west, with forested mountains filling in the northerly and southerly views.

Travel south, undulating gently along the spine of the ridge, occasionally shaded by a Jeffrey pine, western white pine, red fir, or white fir. Note the various flowers, including blue lupines and yellow sulfur flowers.

The first decent campsite appears on the left at 0.3 mile, followed by the inaugural view of Mount Shasta, with Mount Eddy and Gumboot Lake coming shortly thereafter. A westward glance shows the Mumbo Lakes and Mumbo Basin just below.

Seven Lakes Basin and the Shasta Area PCT Are Shown in Detail on this New Map

Leaving the PCT for Seven Lakes Basin

A trail fork on a saddle awaits at 2.4 miles and adds new peaks to your day’s checklist. To the near east the granite spires of Castle Crags dominate, with Seven Lakes Basin just below and Boulder Peak rising above Echo Lake. Far to the southeast are Lassen Peak, Magee Peak, and Burney Mountain.

The Official Seven Lakes Basin Trail Past Lake Helen to Upper Seven Lake

The route starts along the ridge with beautiful views. After .3 mile look for the signed trail on the right that leads 200 feet to sweet little Lake Helen. Lake Helen sees few visitors, a

nd it’s surprisingly deep, as you’ll discover if you swim in the latter part of summer when the water warms up enough for a brisk swim. There’s a campsite on the west side of Lake Helen that’s right on the water and should not be used; it’s also accessed by a rough four-wheel-drive route that descends steeply from the west.

The main route, a decommissioned old road, continues south Lake Helen before curving back north and then dropping east down to Upper Seven Lake, a 1.2-mile descent from the PCT.

The Shortcut to Upper Seven Lake

To quickly reach the Seven Lakes Basin from the PCT trail junction mentioned above, ignore the sign for Helen Lake and the Seven Lakes Basin trail and go 30 feet farther on the Pacific Crest Trail. A faint and unmarked path drops down on the right, soon intersecting the main Seven Lakes Basin Trail that you then follow down to Upper Seven Lake, a total 0.5 mile distance.

Upper Seven Lake and Lower Seven Lake

The clear and cool waters of Upper Seven Lake invite you to swim, but two campsites by the water are too close, so explore farther from shore for a level spot. Lower Seven Lake lies 100 yards to the south but has no campsites.

My Youtube Video of Seven Lakes Basin

My Northern California Hiking Trails Youtube channel has dozens of similar videos.

Heading Cross-Country Toward Echo Lake

You can hike cross-country to explore the basin. The actual trail fades as it runs east toward Echo Lake, which lies below Boulder Peak. Do not attempt to visit this lake: It’s privately owned, and the owner is hostile to visitors.

Climbing Tri County Peak: Where Shasta, Trinity, and Siskiyou Counties Meet

Tri County Peak is located just a couple hundred yards south and 125 feet of elevation above the gap above Seven Lakes Basin. Leave the Pacific Crest Trail for the moderate scramble up the slope to the meeting point of Shasta County, Trinity County, and Siskiyou County. A modest plaque marks the summit of Tri County Peak, but you’ll love the views of the Trinity Alps, the Trinity Divide (including Mount Eddy), plus Seven Lakes Basin, Castle Crags, Gray Rocks, and distant Lassen Peak.

Hiking Trail to Lake Helen

To reach Lake Helen, leave the Pacific Crest Trail at the gap and go right. After 0.3 mile you’ll see a trail on the right that quickly leads you to the forest-ringed lake.

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