2.8 hr
Overview
The Seven Gables trail climbs the East Fork of Bear Creek. I have separately met two experienced Sierra hikers who say that the area of Seven Gables, Vee Lake, and Bear Lakes Basin is their favorite in all of the Sierras. <br><br>Shortly after the trail's signed branch from the JMT, another sign says, "Dangerous, not recommended for stock travel". While some scrambling is required, it is not dangerous for hikers who take the right route\u2014after the snow has melted. <br><br>The first half of this hike is a regular trail with many cairns that make it easy to follow. A campsite near the creek at about 0.5 miles is the last site low enough for legal campfires. At about 1.5 miles, the route makes a rough 10-15 foot drop from the cliffs above Bear Creek. This requires care and the use of hands. After that\u2014although the route is popular, there are many cairns, and a trail is often a visible\u2014it is essentially an off-trail route. <br><br>A little further up, there is about a mile of talus. You can avoid crossing most of the difficult talus by climbing slightly above it on polished granite slabs and by climbing small grassy paths within the talus, but you cannot avoid about 400 yards of difficult talus. After the talus, it is an easy climb to the pond where the East Fork makes a sharp right. Pass the pond on the north side. To get around a steep cliff next to the pond, continue straight ahead and climb the rocks.<br><br>From there, you should not attempt to follow the creek. It leads to more small, but steep, cliffs. Instead, follow the cairns up a low gap east of the creek until the route drops down next to the pond directly west of Vee Lake. Then climb a narrow notch to Vee Lake. Near the top, the notch becomes very narrow and requires some scrambling, but at least in 2017, staying in the notch is easier than climbing above it.<br><br>Vee Lake is immediately above the notch. The lake has large and small rocky islands and peninsulas and extraordinary views from everywhere. There are great campsites on the n
Trail Stats
7.8 km
530 m
3434 m
2915 m
—
Photos
Outlet from Vee Lake with Feather Peak in the background
Outlet from Vee Lake with Feather Peak in the background
Claw Lake above Vee Lake. Tooth and Gruff lakes are slightly higher and easy to reach, but even more barren.
Claw Lake above Vee Lake. Tooth and Gruff lakes are slightly higher and easy to reach, but even more barren.
Morning at Vee Lake and Seven Gables. Pond on peninsula still iced over on 09/11/2017. Route to Big Bear Lake is up easy cliffs towards the right.
Morning at Vee Lake and Seven Gables. Pond on peninsula still iced over on 09/11/2017. Route to Big Bear Lake is up easy cliffs towards the right.
Pond on East Fork of Bear Creek with part of Seven Gables on the left
Pond on East Fork of Bear Creek with part of Seven Gables on the left