The Seven Summits Trail has achieved notoriety as the primo mountain bike ride – 31 kilometres along a high ridge at an elevation averaging 6500 feet. Surprisingly, not one of the seven summits is traversed on the trail, their summits are all accessed by side trails.
Trail runners and fast hikers can do this in one long day – they may even be able to get to a few summits along the way. There are no established campsites and only one source of water from a pipe at 18.1 km along the entire length. The trail tread is often reduced to fine powder by all the bikers making for a dusty walk. The scenery is average so there is little point to extending a backpack to enjoy the sights.
The trail is virtually always done from north to south – there is a slight elevation drop in that direction. It is always possible to do parts of the trail – obvious exit points would be the Plewman Trail, Hanna Creek Trail off Unnecessary Ridge, or at Red Mountain ski hill. If hiking, a shuttle vehicle is necessary.
Rating: ♦♦◊◊◊
Location: The spine of the Rossland Range from Nancy Greene Summit to Record Ridge on the Old Cascade Highway.
Difficulty: D2
Elevation gain/loss: Gain +1131m (3711′); Loss 1314m (3983′)
Key elevations: North TH 1575m (5166′); High Point at 7.5kms 2200m (7216′); South TH 1412m (4630′)
Distance: 31kms (19mi)
Time: 10+ hours
Access: Any vehicle
Season: June through October
Map: 82F/4 Rossland/Trail
Drive:
South Trailhead at Record Ridge – From the Mining Museum, drive .4km and turn right onto the Old Cascade Highway. Pavement ends in .8km.
12.6km Park on the right at 1412m (4630′)
North Trailhead at Nancy Greene Summit (Strawberry Flats) – From the Mining Museum, drive north on Hwy 3B, 20km to the Nancy Greene Summit at 1575m (5166′). Park at the paved highway parking area.
Trail:
0.0 North TH. From the parking area at Strawberry Pass on the highway, start on a winding set of switchbacks through forest. There are trail junctions with the Rossland Range winter cabin network as it contours around Mount Lepsoe. Trees are replaced by wildflower meadows.
6.5kms 2110m (6920′) Saddle south of Mt Lepsoe. Climb 80m (240′) to the summit of #1 Mt Lepsoe 2180m (7152′)
8.0km High point at 2200m (7216′). Old Glory is to the right. The ridge is to the west of Mt Plewman.
9km Climb 90m (300′) to the top of #2 Mt Plewman 2241m (7351′).
10.3km Plewman Basin Trail descends from Unnecessary Ridge 720m (2360′) in 5kms to Hwy 3B.
Climb 345m (1130′) in 2.5km to the summit of #3 Old Glory 2377m (7795′)
13.7km Hanna Creek Trail descends 415m (1316′) in 3.3km to Highway 3B.
15.5km. To climb Kirkup, leave the cut up to a minor peak on the Kirkup ridge. It has a large abandoned wooden structure called the “yurt”. The story goes that it was built without proper authorization by individuals wanting to start a ski touring operation only to be shut down by the province. #4 Mt Kirkup 2066m (6778′). Descend 124′ to the saddle and climb 60m (200′) to the summit of #5 Grey Mt 2050m (6725′). If you stay on the trail, pass through some forest and shade, a relief on a hot day.
Descend 7 switchbacks to the Long Squaw ski run. To descend from here, it is 7kms on a very steep, rough ATV track down Long Squaw. Descending on South Side Road would be a better idea.
The trail dips down as it nears Granite Mountain
18.1km Cross the signed water spring at 18km. Watch carefully for signed junctions around Red Mountain as the trail intersects with many roads and ski runs.
Climb 160m (525′) to the summit of #6 Granite Mt 2038m (6686′). (There needs to be seven summits?)
Climb 12 switchbacks back to the ridge.
19.1km White Wolf Ridge 1991m (6530′)
20.3km Record Notch
21.4km North end of Record Ridge 2027m (6650′). Climb 92m (302′) to the summit of #7 Record Mt 2120m (6952′). Start a long traverse down the west side of Record Ridge to a low point, cross to the east side and descend meadows and the rocky ridge around or over the top of the Rock Knob 1760m (5774′).
29.5km Join a road for the last 1.5 km.
31km South TH on the Old Cascade Highway 1412m (4630′). 13 km from Rossland.