Castle Crags Trail

Castle Crags Trail is a moderately difficult 6.5 mile out and back outside of Dunsmuir California up to the base of the Castle Crags Dome. No ropes required unless… you require a summit!

Driving

– 100 minutes from Medford. Take I-5 south to California exit 728 and turn right a couple exits after Dunsmuir. Drive past the gas station/ market and quickly turn right into Castle Crags State Park. Pay $8 at the ranger office and then turn right. Pass all of the campsites, follow the many signs directing you to the Viewpoint, and in almost 2 miles you will dead end into a parking area.

Parking

– This area is well maintained asphalt with dozens of spots and vault toilets and the signs from the parking lot will direct you to the Viewpoint.

Hiking

– Don’t go to the stupid Viewpoint! Okay, you can go, it’s short, but that’s not the point of this trail. Hike down past the toilets and across the road you came in on and you will see some legitimate trailhead signs including PCT trails and some other trails… just start along this legitimate trail. In 1/4 mile take the left turn uphill. Soon you will cross the PCT and continue uphill. At about 1.5 miles there is another intersection with the left turn headed to Indian Springs. It’s a short detour so take it, see the spring, then back to the trail and back uphill.

Now another 1.5 on steeper rocky trail. Nothing crazy just steeper and rockier. Up and up you go until the trail ends at a sign. The reason there needs to be a sign is because there is no real summit to this trail. The top of the trail is just the beginning of a bunch of rocky scrambles. Off to the right is a cool overlook with some old cable and chain boundary markers. To the left are some goat trails to other rock toppings. Just have fun and look around. When you’re done, back down you go.

6.5 miles. Views. Boom.