Avoid Crowds At This Majestic California State Park And Take In The Mountain Views

Castle Crags' dramatic granite spires tower above a protected forest and alpine lakes along the largest river in the Golden State. This stunning, remote state park might just be the best-kept secret in Northern California.

The park sits between two small towns, Dunsmuir and Castella, about 200 miles north of Sacramento, the capital of the state. It is an easy, three-and-a-half-hour drive up Interstate 5 from Sacramento International Airport (SMF), which receives nonstop flights from all over the United States. Interstate 5 follows the curve of the mighty Sacramento River. You will start to notice both the rushing water and the area's natural beauty after you pass Redding, an underrated West Coast mountain city. From there, it is less than an hour until you will start to see the sheer granite cliffs of Castle Crags ahead of you.

These cliffs, with their steep spires, are breathtaking. They tower over the northwestern edge of the state park and are more than 170 million years old. Some of them rise more than 6,000 feet in the air. Plus they have a uninterrupted view of Mount Shasta, a snow-capped volcano in the Cascade Range. With so much natural beauty, it is shocking that this majestic California state park is barely visited.

The best way to explore the state park and find the most beautiful view of the cliffs is definitely by foot. There are 28 miles of hiking trails, suitable for all levels, in Castle Crags State Park. Many of them begin at the Vista Point parking lot. The Vista Point Trail is an easy, quarter-mile trail. The trail may be short and flat, but it leads to beautiful views of Castle Crags, Mount Shasta, and the Grays Rocks. The Rock Creek Trail heads in the opposite direction. This three-mile, out-and-back trail is an accessible path. It climbs through the dense forest before opening up at Rock Creek Falls. The multi-tiered waterfall flows through a narrow gorge. With the mountains in the background, the falls are picture-perfect.

But the most popular hike in Castle Crags State Park is also one of the hardest ones. The Crags Trail gains more than 2,000 feet in elevation as it climbs through the forest and up to the rocky base of Castle Dome. The five-mile hike is steep and challenging, but the view of the granite rocks does not get any better than this. The famous Pacific Crest Trail, which is considered one of the longest hikes in America, covers 2,650 miles between Mexico and Canada, and also crosses through Castle Crags State Park. 

Between the time it takes to drive this far north in California and the number of hikes you want to do once you get there, it is best to make Castle Crags State Park an overnight trip (at least!). The state park has 76 campsites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis for just $25.00 each night. Each site includes a picnic table, a fire ring, and a food locker, since this is black bear country. There is even drinking water, showers, and toilets near each campground. Be sure to arrive early to claim your spot for the night.

By setting up your campsite early, you will have time to scope out possible fishing spots. Striped bass, sturgeon, and trout can be caught on this section of the Sacramento River, which has a number of access points in Castle Crags State Park. Also, Castle Crags is an official International Dark Sky Place. This makes it an ideal spot for stargazing once the sun goes down. It might actually be hard to make yourself go to sleep out here at night. You can blame the dark silhouettes of the majestic mountains and the twinkling sky above.