Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → ⊗ Seven Teacups

  ⊗ Technical Route ⊗
♦ Intrepid Top Pick!

Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Sequoia National Forest, California

Distance: 6.3 miles total, 0.3 miles technical (if you have a shuttle vehicle, you can cut 1.4 very boring miles off of the approach)

Elevation Ascent/Descent: 800 feet/800 feet (using a shuttle vehicle will eliminate 500 feet of elevation gain)

Time Required: 4-7 hours

Rappels: ~5, lengths up to 60 feet

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required. This is a class C canyon, so be prepared for flowing water and don’t go if the water flow is dangerously high. Some of the rappels are optional jumps – only jump if you’re comfortable that the water is a safe depth. This is a popular route, so you’ll probably see other people. Excellent beta can be found online – ropewiki, of course, has good beta, but the Modern Hiker post on the route is surprisingly good.

What’s Nearby?: Freeman Creek, Silver City Ghost Town

The Seven Teacups is a fabulous Class C canyon, and an excellent introduction to swift water technical routes; it consists of a short section of Dry Meadow Creek before it joins the Kern River. The route has numerous excellent sliding and jumping opportunities as well as some nice rappels, although you need to be aware of the potential for flow-related challenges on some of these – particularly the notorious “toilet bowl” towards the end, from which escape can be difficult. Also, when you exit please do not attempt to simply float down the Kern River to the Johnsondale Bridge – there is an extremely dangerous Class V rapid that has claimed several lives (including that of a canyoneer) downstream of the confluence with Dry Meadow Creek; you should cross the river and return via the trail on the south side.

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → ⊗ Seven Teacups