Seven Oaks Trail Rehabilitation Survey
Board members from the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation, along with US Forest Service personnel responsible for trail maintenance, today surveyed the lower trail head of the Seven Oaks Trail in the Santa Ana River drainage South of Big Bear. As part of the official San Bernardino National Forest trail system, the Seven Oaks trail travels approximately 2.5 miles from Forest Service Road 2N10, near Grand View Point, downhill to 2N06, near Camp Radford. While the trail is at least 30 years old and documented on many versions of USGS topo maps, it is currently overgrown and impassable in most areas.
The purpose of the survey was to assess the best ways the Trails Foundation could begin the effort to rehabilitate this multi-use trail that enjoys spectacular views of San Gorgonio Peak, the highest point in Southern California. Once repaired, the Seven Oaks trail can provide a unique pathway for hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers to travel between the Big Bear and Santa Ana River Valleys.
(View the latest Seven Oaks Trail Rehabilitation information here.)
This is a wonderful trail. There have been some people from the Mountain Top Hiking Club trying to keep it open. The last time we were there, less than a mile from the top, there was a huge yellow pine that had fallen and obliterated the trail. We were working from the bottom up and were unable to find a way to the top portion of the trail.
I think this one tree will require major human and machine power get cleared. I hope the resources can be pulled together to make it happen!
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