Castle Crag State Park for the Win

What an amazing experience this was! I left my campsite near Marysville (two hours north of Truckee) on 7/08 hoping to find a place where I could boondock overnight somewhere near Castella, CA. I had a package to drop off at Ammirati’s Market for a friend and PCT hiker near the State Park Entrance. The business was very accommodating and even suggested I try to see if Castle Crag State Park might have something for overnight. Score!! They just so happened to have a space large enough for my truck and 18 foot trailer. And, since my planned hike up Castle Dome was on the 9th and was located in the state park it was perfect for me.

I woke early the next morning. Hooked up my trailer and drove it down to a large parking lot. I dropped it there (of course with the preapproval of the Rangers) while I headed up another mile to the trailhead to start my hike. Castle Dome has been a bucket list item of mine for years. Now I was finally getting the opportunity to knock it out.

The first half mile started off pretty easy, only gaining about 115 feet in elevation. While the next half mile steepened a bit. Gaining about 420 feet in elevation. Mile 2 gains another 650 feet in elevation and the final mile to the summit gained a whopping 1,000 feet in elevation. The views at the summit were amazing and the scenery as I ascended and descended were spectacular. So many mountainous views all around, including a great view of Mount Shasta.

I completed this hike with 6.1 miles and 2,248 feet in total elevation gain. I didn’t see a single hiker on trail until about halfway down from my descent. And, I walked right up on a deer who didn’t seem to mind that is was there.