{"id":4923,"date":"2019-03-10T16:52:37","date_gmt":"2019-03-10T23:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=4923"},"modified":"2025-05-14T10:14:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:14:32","slug":"pacific-crest-trail-castle-crags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/10\/pacific-crest-trail-castle-crags\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Through Castle Crags State Park and Wilderness"},"content":{"rendered":"

The steep granite slopes of Castle Crags tower above this Pacific Crest Trail hike through Castle Crags State Park, Castle Crags Wilderness, and Shasta-Trinity National Forest. You gain a lot of beauty for a modest effort, and you’ll likely also have solitude<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Castle Crags’ steep granite peaks viewed from the Pacific Crest Trail in Castle Crags Wilderness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This Pacific Crest Trail jaunt is usually done as a one-way day hike with a car shuttle, best done by beginning at the Dog Trail trailhead on Castle Creek Road (Forest Road 25) and ending at the Soda Creek Exit on Interstate 5 (Exit 726). If you want a shorter one-way version, just go a half-mile toward Castle Crags State Park from the intersection of the Dog Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail to gain a great view of Castle Crags and the forested slopes encompassing Castle Creek, including Grey Rocks to the south.<\/p>\n

The Pacific Crest Trail (California Section P)<\/h2>\n

The Pacific Crest Trail is easy to follow: all trail intersections are usually signed, and you’ll recognize the triangular Pacific Crest Trail symbol posted at irregular intervals along the route. You’ll be traveling on the initial part of California Section P of the PCT, which runs from the I-5 Soda Creek exit to end at Carter Meadows Summit\/Forest Road 93 after traveling through the northern portion of Trinity Alps Wilderness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alternate Trails to Reach the Pacific Crest Trail<\/h2>\n

Note also that this hike description begins outside Castle Crags State Park<\/a>. Starting at the Dog Trail trailhead allows you to stay on the Pacific Crest Trail nearly the whole way (and, incidentally, avoid having to pay the park entrance fee, although I strongly advocate supporting our state parks). However, you can do a shorter hike with less elevation gain if you start or end at either Vista Point Trailhead in the park (trailhead for the Castle Dome Trail and the Root Creek Trail\/Root Creek Falls Trail), or at the Bob’s Hat Trail near park headquarters, and use these trails to get to or from the Pacific Crest Trail. (The Castle Dome Trail is the best option = least elevation gain.) You can also choose to do the entire hike in the opposite direction by starting at the Soda Creek Exit on Interstate 5.<\/p>\n

Backpacking and Camping<\/h2>\n

Those wanting a spring backpacking trip to train for higher elevations can backpack this segment of the Pacific Crest Trail, but the only obvious campsites border the east fork of Sulphur Creek. You cannot camp in Castle Crags State Park outside of the campground, but backpackers can camp in Castle Crags Wilderness west of the park, provided they find a level campsite away from the trail.<\/p>\n

All Castle Crags Hiking Trails are Shown in Detail on this New Map<\/h2>\n
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Comprehensive Trail Map for the Greater Mount Shasta Region<\/h4>\n

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This map is perfect for exploring Mount Shasta and the nearby areas of natural beauty:<\/strong><\/p>\n