From out of nowhere, they rise suddenly out of the peaceful forest, causing some to wonder for a moment if they've entered the twilight zone. Even more hikers marvel at how delightfully out of place these countless crags and spires seem to be. To show how tricky mountains can appear, there are vistas along this fee charged hike that render the illusion that missile-shaped Castle Dome is almost as big as Mount Shasta in the distance. Height and girth stats reveal a blowout of course, but it proves the Dome and the taller crags in this low elevation alpine-like zone are breathtakingly ominous. The incessant climb (some folks use the term relentless) begins in a peaceful and shady forest, with a visit to the cool and clear waters of isolated Indian Springs serving as a deserved halfway point break. Two thirds of the total hike are filled with view after view of the nearby Klamath (including the crags) and Cascade Mountains (including Mount Shasta), so you'll be reaching for the camera a lot. On the first part of the journey, you walk in a mixed forest of Douglas fir, giant incense cedar, sporadic dogwood, and occasional black oak, Sadler oak and canyon live oak. In early spring look for shooting stars (purplish flower) and Indian warrior (reddish flowers) poking through the needle and twig-littered forest floor. At 1.3 mile, the trail flattens, ushering in a surprise view of Castle Crags.

This view becomes more commanding when you take the quarter mile long spur trail (left) at 1.6 mile to Indian Springs. The trail carves through an impressive thicket of white-leaf manzanita dotted with ponderosa pines to the base of some gray rock obtrusions (the southern edge of Castle Crags). A trickling gulch partially dammed by a gargantuan Douglas fir (it went down in the winter of 1997-'98), neighbors a huge, moss-covered rock slab decorated with miniature waterfalls that seep quietly, which comprises Indian Springs. Bigleaf maples tower over mature dogwoods and juvenile cedars here.

Back on the main trail, inaugural views of Mount Shasta appear as the previous shade vanishes. A maize of switchbacks escort you into Castle Crags proper, resembling the stark gray walls and steep cliff faces that typify the Sierra Mountains. They continue to jut impressively over the final half mile. Bush chinquapin ekes out a hearty existence through cracks, crevices and pockets. Sugar pine and white fir are outnumbered by the ponderosa pine and Douglas fir here.

Thank you for visiting the American Trails website: http://www.AmericanTrails.org

Home - News and Action Alerts -Trail Tracks Newsletter - Resources and Library - Your Comments - Membership Form - Member Groups - Board of Directors - Trails State by State - Calendar