Visit This Underrated California State Park For Unique Mountain Views
By Hillary Louise Johnson
VACATIONS
While travelers on Interstate 5 often overlook it, Castle Crags State Park is a beautiful spot to enjoy the outdoors and offers one of California's most rewarding trails.
Castle Crags has a high level of accessibility, making it a great location for all. The Pacific Crest Trail also passes through the park, and the local granite draws rock climbers.
The Crags Trail to Castle Dome is challenging yet easy to navigate. Although the trail is steep, rising 2,000 feet in 2.5 miles, the views are spectacular.
An easier alternative is the nearby Root Creek Trail, a shady stroll through the forest that is wheelchair-accessible for the first mile and leads to a waterfall in its final half-mile.
The park has several other trails, such as the Sacramento River Trail and the paved 0.3-mile walk to Vista Point for a new view of Mt. Shasta and the crags.
Castle Crags State Park offers forest or riverbank camping spots and a special campsite for Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers who have made it there on foot.