Seven Lakes Basin

About trip

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 do an overnighter. To reach the trailhead, take the Central Mount Shasta exit 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 to Gumboot Saddle, 18.3 miles from the freeway and 2.5 miles beyond Gumboot Lake and its campground. Begin on the saddle’s south side and head south on the Pacific Crest Trail (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 Mumbo Lake and Mumbo Basin just below. 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 Mountain rising above Echo Lake. Far to the southeast are Lassen Peak, Magee Peak, and Burney Mountain. To quickly reach the Seven Lakes Basin, ignore signs and go 30 feet farther on the Pacific Crest Trail. A faint and unmarked path drops down on the right, soon intersecting a four-wheel-drive road that you follow down to Upper Seven Lake, a total 0.5 mile distance. The lake’s waters 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. You can hike cross-country to explore the basin. The actual trail fades as it runs east toward Echo Lake. Do not attempt to visit this lake: It’s privately owned, and the owner is notoriously cranky and very hostile to visitors.