Can you die without walking? Travel to American National Parks (15) Enjoy the ever-clear lake with all your body. Seven Lakes/Lake Helen Hiking
Written by Sayaka Kato
Continuing from the previous article, we will introduce trails in the Shasta area of Water City. Shasta is dotted with many clear water areas such as lakes and streams, but this time it's a trail with beautiful lakes again.
What's more, this time you can swim in the lake in the summer. Both of the two lakes are truly beautiful, with few people and are a great place to cool down and relax. Be sure to walk and try a swim. This is a private lake in the wilderness.
This time, we will be focusing on beginners to intermediate students. This trail has very little difference in elevation and has many spectacular view points, so it's a easy-to-go half-day hiking trail. You can also swim in the lake, or enjoy bird watching or nature trips.
It's a trail that is fairly open on weekdays and is full of nature and your space. If you're going to Shasta and want to experience nature on your own feet, we highly recommend this trail.
The trails here are walkable towards the lakes Seven Lakes and Lake Helen. It is also a trail with a fork to reach the famous PCT (Pacific Crest Trail).
Incidentally, the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) is a long-distance nature trail in the United States that connects California, Oregon and Washington on the west coast, extending from the Mexican border to the north to the Canadian border. Along with the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, it is one of America's three major long-distance nature trails that hikers admire. With a total length of 2,650 mi (4,260 km), this trip takes four to six months to walk the entire distance, and it is said that about 60% of people will be successful.
This is also a trail that leads to PCT, so by walking along this trail you will be able to get a glimpse of the PCT. When walking along the trails in the Shasta area, you sometimes encounter backpackers carrying large luggage, and they are surely hikers trying out the PCT Pacific Crest Trail.
The red line is the trail I walk this time. Black dotted line PCT
table of contents
Recommended trails around Shasta: Seven Lakes/Lake Helen
Hiking Guide
data
- For beginners and intermediate students and above
- Season May to October (Trails open from March)
- Trailhead elevation: Approx. 1860m
- Round trip: Approx. 12.5km (7.8 miles)
- Elevation difference: 398m (1,309 ft)
- Course time: 3 to 5 hours round trip (including breaks)
Good things to carry on hiking
- Drinks (More in the summer, about 2 liters)
- Cold weather clothing that can adjust the temperature (wind can be cold on some days.)
- hat
- sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Snacks and more for eating while hiking
- If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
- Swimsuits (You can swim in the lake in the summer. There is no place to change clothes, but bring them if you need them.)
- Other normal hiking equipment
How to get to Mount Shasta (by car)
- It takes about 5 hours to drive north on I-5 from San Francisco. Approximately 245 miles (392km) in a straight line
- It's 3 hours from Sacramento. Also drive north on I-5
- Airports near Shasta are about 1 to 1.5 hours (on I-5) by car from Reading or Medford Airport.
Trailhead
Address: Address: Mumbo Summit (Gumboot PCT Trailhead) Mt Shasta, CA 9606 (If you enter this in your GPS you will arrive at the trailhead.)
There is a parking lot at the trailhead, but there is no bathroom. There are two trails extending from the car park, with two separate trailheads.
This trailhead begins on the right as you enter the parking lot and follows the trailhead towards GUMBOOT TRAILHEAD, which runs across the road from the parking lot. This time we started from the trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on the other side of the road.
Hiking departure
The photo shows the beginning of September, and as of just after 10am there were very few cars and there was plenty of space. It's September, but the temperature is still summer! It was also a very hot day.
At first, there is a gentle slope and a rather flat road. There is also shade as you walk along the trail surrounded by trees. After 10-15 minutes, your vision will gradually open up and you will see the surrounding mountains.
The photo was in the beginning of September, when California fires were occurring everywhere, and despite this, this spectacular view was amazing! The air was not clearer than usual due to smoke, but it was still quite clean.
The slope gradually begins, but the view continues. Gradually, you will see Mount Shasta on your left. Gunboot Lake and Upper Gunboot Lake are also visible on the left.
The autumn and yellow leaves are starting to begin little by little, giving the impression of the end of summer. Still, it's still hot and hot. The temperature is still the same as summer. lol
If you continue further, you will see Manbo Lake and Upper Manbo Lake on your right. Walking along the trail reveals lakes everywhere.
Approximately an hour after departure, there is a fork at the PCT Pacific Crest Trail. If you go straight, you'll head to Seven Lakes/Lake Helen, which you're looking for. The trail to the left will lead to the PCT. This trail stretches out into a very beautiful view. I feel like I'd like to try PCT someday, but I'll continue to move further towards today's destination.
You can see a PCT continuing all the way up the middle of the mountain. And it's a spectacular view.
As I continued beyond the fork, I began to see Seven Lakes, which went later on to my left.
If you continue along the trail, you will find Lake Helen on your right (Lake Helen is also located just before Seven Lakes). Lake Helen is easy to overlook because it is not visible from the main trail you are walking in, but if you are careful, you will find a fork trail that goes to the right, and if you continue there you will find Lake Helen. It's easy to overlook, so be careful (it's easy to download GPS first).
You can go from either Seven Lakes or Lake Helen, but you can go on the trail to Lake Helen, just before the finish line.
This is a slightly difficult trail to understand. If you climb a little hill, you'll be right beyond that...
Lake Helen appears. There's no one there. This lake is yours! lol
I immediately swam. The water is not too cold or too warm, just right, and it's just so refreshing.
This is truly the bounty of nature. My body and head are refreshed after swimming.
After that I also took a nap. It was the best. It's quiet and really relaxing. I think this is the best part of American hiking trails. There are lakes where you can swim everywhere, so you can easily make time with yourself and nature without getting crowded. This really feels a lot like coming to America. After swimming and taking a break, we set out for Seven Lakes, which is our goal.
After swimming, we head back to the main trail.
If you walk further in the direction of your journey, you will see a fork into Seven Lakes. It's about 10 minutes from the fork at Lake Helen. The fork here is a bit difficult to understand, so be careful.
As you can see in the photo, the fork to Seven Lakes takes you to a trail that turns sharply to the left. You might accidentally overlook it and go straight, but the fork to Seven Lakes is downhill.
After descending down the gravel road, Seven Lake (Upper) appears.
A beautiful and clear lake.
It's bigger than Lake Helen and the lake is also very beautiful.
There's no one here except for myself. It's a really quiet place.
Of course you can swim here too. The temperature is also just right.
Lower Seven Lakes is also just a short distance from here. You can easily walk from the upper, but the upper is more beautiful.
After a good rest, I'll go back the path I walked.
This time we had a thorough swim and hike for a total of 4.5 hours, including breaks. This trail is quietly surrounded by a beautiful lake. I recommend it.
Notes regarding the spread of COVID-19
As of December 2020, various countries are likely to experience a variety of situations, including entry restrictions due to the strengthening of quarantine systems, restrictions on admission to national parks, and restrictions on travel within the country. These conditions may change without notice, so when traveling, be sure to obtain local information such as embassies and consulates of each country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety website (infectious disease risk information) and national park websites, and check the information about the transfer location, the countries where you plan to travel, and the area around the destinations you plan to visit before making any effort to plan and take reasonable steps.
Kato Sayaka
Leave your hiking and travel plans to Mount Shasta. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.
