castle crags state park

You enter Castle Crags State Park from I-5 just south of Dunsmuir. From the main visitors' center find the narrow road that says Vista Point Trailhead. It is a seriously narrow, twisting road. When you are absolutely certain that you have somehow gotten off the correct road and are lost on an abandoned logging trail take a deep breath and keep going. You will, in fact, make it alive. It is actually possible to very very carefully pass a vehicle going the other way if you have to (we did, 3 times), but keep your fingers crossed that you don't have to!The "hike" to Vista Point is an easy 1/4 mile stroll. The view is amazing. Mt. Shasta in all it's snow-capped glory to the right, the incredibly rugged Castle Crags and a granite face straight ahead and to the left. If you're like me you will want to compose a lot of photographs, but it is also worth a few minutes to simply drink in the grandeur and appreciate nature's magnificence. Back at the trailhead parking lot, there is another trail called the Root Creek Trail. This is a fairly unchallenging walk of about a mile, mile and a half. It makes its way through conifers and ferns, crossing trickles of water with wooden footbridges a couple of times. It's shady and moist, and I imagine even in the summer it's probably cool. Very peaceful, very pretty. Part way down the trail the very vigorous trail up to the Crags branches off. We didn't take that trail but it's described in most guides as very steep and difficult, but with spectacular views at the end. The Pacific Crest Trail also crosses the Root Creek Trail and runs along with it for a short distance, so it's fun to be able to say you hiked the PCT, however briefly!At the end of the trail is a beautiful spot overlooking the Root Creek, with a couple of small cascades. We sat there for quite a while, feeling peaceful.One important point: At the beginning of the Root Creek Trail is a sign saying that it's ADA/wheelchair accessible. Sadly, the last few hundred yards, which access the pretty spot by the creek itself, are NOT wheelchair accessible. It's still a beautiful hike, but if I used a wheelchair I would be very disappointed to not be able to reach the final payoff.All that walking and drinking in the scenery (and navigating that scary road!) works up an appetite. Luckily, the cool town of Dunsmuir is just up the highway. Check out the Burger Barn or the Dunsmuir Brewing Company!

This was one of the nicer state parks we've stayed at. The facilities were clean and the sites were well maintained. The only downside is the interstate noise and not being able to take our dogs on the trails. We live in WASHINGTON and hike a lot in Oregon so the no dogs on trails is a real bummer for us. Not sure if it's a state thing or just the park.

It had been 30 years since I last visited Castle Crags. When driving home to California from Seattle recently I decided to spend the night in Dunsmuir. It was a perfect early November autumn day when I came into California. Mt Shasta was beckoning bright and clear -with a new skirt of snow - in late afternoon sunshine. I'd always wanted to revisit the Crags, so on a whim I turned off in Castella for some quick snapshots.I entered Castle Crags State Park with limited daylight left. A quick look at the park map showed a vista point within a short distance, so up the mountain I went. There was mention of certain vehicles being unsuitable for the road to Vista Point, but that didn't quite prepare me for the 1 mile road from hell. It's a one lane road (well, 1/2 lane, really, cos on both sides are piles of slippery pine needles)Once you're on that road you're committed to stay on it. It goes steeply uphill and it's curvy. There's no place to turn around. There's abyss on both sides at times but if you slip off you'll hang up in trees. Comforting thought. I was extremely lucky nobody came down. I didn't know how we would have managed, one of us would have had to go backwards. Yield to uphill traffic it says... but how do you drive backwards for a mile? Eventually this road ends and then the hike starts. It's only 1/4 mile one way. I had to rush because the light was fading rapidly. It's very dark in there. After 10 minutes uphill hiking I made it. The views actually made me gasp! I wasn't expecting to see snow capped Mount Shasta AND the Crags from that spot. I didn't catch the views with my iPhone, it couldn't handle the light. So I don't have anything for an upload right now. But the pix in my camera should turn out OK. I just snapped away until the sun was gone and then hurried off the mountain. I was lucky again and didn't meet anybody on curvy skinny road. I won't go here again because of the road. Too scary for me. But the spot at Vista Point is a little slice of heaven. There's a bench with fantastic views, a great spot for a picnic. There are other hiking trails in this park, but they require a bigger time commitment. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through this beautiful park. You can camp here as well. There is a hiking trail that leads from the campground to Vista Point. It's much more strenuous, but if you have the time that is a safer bet than the half-lane-slip-off road. Fall is a great time to come here. It was nippy, but the trees were yellow, providing a great frame for the mountains and their craggy peaks. I will upload my photos in a few days. But I already know they will not match what I actually saw that day. There are maps and park info available at the side of the gate house where you self register. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=454

This is a nice stretch of the Upper Sacramento River. Campsites are available directly along the river. Be sure to drive up to Vista Point for one of the best views in California - in one direction the craggy peaks of Castle Crags, in another the snow covered Mt. Shasta. The only negative is the road noise from interstate 5, but I'm still giving it five stars for the unique beauty of this state park.

We have been at Castle Crags when it was crystal clear. We took the vista trail on that day and were delighted to see some beautiful views of Mount Shasta from there.On our recent visit in September 2014, we visited on a drizzly damp overcast day. The ranger was quite nice when we stopped to revisit the park. It was humorous to note that she told us about the trail also, but mentioned, there would not be a view of Mount Shasta that day. Its exactly as I would expect given the rainy weather.The campground area here is quite nice with trees and nice areas to camp.

We popped by their on our way up to the Oregon coast, so it was only a one night stay. We did get in some hiking the day we arrived and on the day we left, but there were lots of trails we didn't get a chance to try. The bathrooms were clean, and there were some good sites above the highway, tho the further away the less the freeway noise disturbed. However, the trains that came thru and that lots of people complained about really didn't bother us. Once asleep, we didn't hear them. Stay at the upper campground loop where the sites are pretty, private and farther away from the trains.

Beautifully maintained park & assortment of hiking trails. My family & I have been here, many times, to picnic & hike & its always been a great experience.

Extremely hard hike on the Crags trail uphill all the way!! Suggest going to the top then stopping at the springs on the way back. Hard to continue once you stop at the springs first! We stayed at the campground near the river which we loved-until the trains came by. Soooo loud!! No joke.

The Crags are a must see for anyone who loves hiking and rock climbing. It's a long hike out to The Ogre with many other climbs in the vicinity of varying skill levels, but a really great hike.

This place is picturess, has great hikes and stunning views! Lots of options and you get great scenery from your car but get out and walk for the best experiences. One hike has a 2000 foot elevation gain and is a bear! But the pain is so worth it! You will really enjoy the vistas and this is Mother Nature at her best!

We camped for two nights at Castle Crags over the labor day weekend. Great camping spot. Restrooms were super-clean. There is a convenience store and a gas station just outside the park.The park itself was great. We went for the "Crags trail to castle dome". This is a pretty strenuous hike. Do not go with kids ! It is all up-hill. First 2 miles were good hiking trail. Last 1 mile, you need to scramble your way through the rocks. The view was breathtaking ! You will get a nice view of Mt Shasta in addition to the majestic castle crags ! Highly recommended !If you are in a mood for an easy hike, go for the river trail. It's a pretty nice trail next to the Sacramento river.

If you like to hike, or just appreciate outstanding views, Castle Crags is a great place to go. We'd driven past the Crags on I-5 for years before we decided to stop at the park on a trip to Mt. Shasta.We climbed to the top, which is about 3 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing. It was a bear. Four years later we did it again. And it was just as hard and just as rewarding. The views are breathtaking from every direction.And you really feel like you've done something when you finish. Plus you might be sore...There are a number of easy to moderate hikes, as well. And if you just want to see the Crags in all their glory, there's a nice viewpoint. It's not far from I-5, so it's a quick stop.

We only stopped here for about 1/2 hour on our way north but it was a pleasant place to picnic. The view of the Castle Crags was spectacular. It was hot, but there was a nice shady picnic spot with picnic tables and restrooms (flush toilets!) close to the entrance. Yellow jackets were a bit of a pest but we found that by placing decoy food on another picnic table, they left us alone. The ranger was very friendly and when we told her we just wanted to have lunch and use the rest room facilities, she waived the $8 day use fee. If we have more time on our way back, I'd love to spend more time here and walk up to the vista point.

We really liked the campground at Castle Crags State Park. We found a camp site which was quite private and secluded, in a hollow down a little ramp from the parking space, and near enough to the showers to be convenient (site 43). It had great shade from the trees. You do hear the sound of the freeway constantly in this campground, although it's a background noise, so I think it would bother some people more than others. I was personally able to tune it out quite easily (but I live near a freeway too). You definitely hear a few trains toot their horns too. If you don't mind that, it's a great place. The only real problem we had with it was the 106 degree heat in July. It didn't cool down until quite late, although it was a pleasant 60 degrees or so by morning. I have to agree with the reviewer who said it would be better in spring or fall. Still, it's a convenient stop off Hwy 5, and has some nice looking trails. There was plenty of space, no need to book ahead. We enjoyed the viewpoint of the crags. The gas station with a store right down the road were both very convenient. We went to the store a few times for chilled drinks, ice creams, etc. We didn't like the look of the riverside campground on the other side of the railway tracks. The sites were very close together and mostly quite exposed. The best ones were all taken.

A wonderful place to hike and enjoy the backgroud of Mount Shasta. You can drive up to the trails to Castle Crags. Plan to spend a day at the park. Drive to the near by Castella and view the river at it's best and bring your fishing pole.