Castle Crags State Park

Castle Crags is in the CA State Park system. It is gorgeous park with many options for visitors. The short trail is very stroller friendly and handicap accessible following a cement path as it brings one to a viewpoint of the Crags and Mt Shasta. It is well worth the drive. The road to the viewpoint is narrow and one way, but as it winds through a beautiful forest ever increasing in elevation, only one thought was on my mind. What if. Most of the road is not passable to an incoming vehicle and that kind of puzzled me. It must be a nightmare of a situation on busy weekends. That said, luckily I didn't have to back up either direction. And the view was well worth it. The viewpoint parking lot is very small and probably fills very quickly at peak times. For those with more time, the day trip (4-6 hours depending on stride) to Castle Dome is awesome. It is challenging as it is pretty much an uphill slog, and very hot and dry in the summer (bring plenty of water on this trail). If you summit Castle Done, with or without ropes, the view is magnificent. It's well worth your effort if scaling rock formations is on your to-do list.
7 years ago (13-12-2017)

This is the perfect spot to stretch your legs or camp overnight to break up a long drive. The hikes are easy to moderate and the campsites are quiet considering the proximity to Interstate 5.
7 years ago (12-12-2017)

Nice Vista point that is wheel chair accessible. If you only have time for one thing, go here - good view if the castle crags and Mt. Shasta. There are several shorter trails that are good for all levels or you can hop on the PCT.
7 years ago (19-10-2017)

This is a great place for a pit stop. Castle Creek is absolutely crystal clear as it runs below the peaks and cliffs of Castle Crags. Some amazing views and scenery make this a worthwhile stop.
7 years ago (23-09-2017)

Most beautiful place to camp, hike and swim. Hiking up to the Crags and Indian Springs is magical. The power here is phenomenal.. we frequent this part of the world because it's like nowhere else.
8 years ago (10-08-2017)