Castle Peak                                                        
  1. DIFFICULTY:   Difficult
  2. ESTIMATE DISTANCE TO CLIMB (feet):   2000 (Trail Cross Section)
  3. DISTANCE FROM I80/395 INTERCHANGE (miles):   42.7
  4. START LAT/LONG:   N39 deg 20.46', W120 deg 20.84'
  5. END LAT/LONG:       N39 deg 21.97', W120 deg 21.11'
  6. ROUTE TO TRAIL BEGINNING( first number is distance in miles):
    0.0 West I 80
    Take Castle Peak Exit
    Right turn after exiting
    Right turn after exiting
    0.3 park at end of pavement
  7. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP QUADRANGLE:   Norden. A small trail map which loads rapidly and a large printable trail map which takes several minutes to load into a separate window.
  8. TRAIL SYNOPSIS:   Starts off in a pine forest and travels up to a pass with stunted pine trees and a rocky alpine meadow. Then trail heads up through a steep, rocky section to the top of Castle Peak. Before the pass the trail gains 800 ft over a distance of 2.4 miles and after the pass the trail climbs 1200 ft in less than 0.5 miles.
  9. TRAIL DESCRIPTION (first number is distance in miles):
    0.0 park at end of pavement and follow jeep trail
    1.5 intercept Pacific Crest Trail. Follow Pacific Crest Trail to pass.
    1.6 at Castle Pass. Take trail that goes to the right.
    2.7 on top of Castle Peak.
  10. GEOLOGY:  
  11. PLANTS:  
  12. ANIMALS:  

Trail Map     Trail Cross Section