This was one of the nicer state parks we've stayed at. The facilities were clean and the sites were well maintained. The only downside is the interstate noise and not being able to take our dogs on the trails. We live in WASHINGTON and hike a lot in Oregon so the no dogs on trails is a real bummer for us. Not sure if it's a state thing or just the park.
We camped for two nights at Castle Crags over the labor day weekend. Great camping spot. Restrooms were super-clean. There is a convenience store and a gas station just outside the park.The park itself was great. We went for the "Crags trail to castle dome". This is a pretty strenuous hike. Do not go with kids ! It is all up-hill. First 2 miles were good hiking trail. Last 1 mile, you need to scramble your way through the rocks. The view was breathtaking ! You will get a nice view of Mt Shasta in addition to the majestic castle crags ! Highly recommended !If you are in a mood for an easy hike, go for the river trail. It's a pretty nice trail next to the Sacramento river.
We popped by their on our way up to the Oregon coast, so it was only a one night stay. We did get in some hiking the day we arrived and on the day we left, but there were lots of trails we didn't get a chance to try. The bathrooms were clean, and there were some good sites above the highway, tho the further away the less the freeway noise disturbed. However, the trains that came thru and that lots of people complained about really didn't bother us. Once asleep, we didn't hear them. Stay at the upper campground loop where the sites are pretty, private and farther away from the trains.
If you like to hike, or just appreciate outstanding views, Castle Crags is a great place to go. We'd driven past the Crags on I-5 for years before we decided to stop at the park on a trip to Mt. Shasta.We climbed to the top, which is about 3 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing. It was a bear. Four years later we did it again. And it was just as hard and just as rewarding. The views are breathtaking from every direction.And you really feel like you've done something when you finish. Plus you might be sore...There are a number of easy to moderate hikes, as well. And if you just want to see the Crags in all their glory, there's a nice viewpoint. It's not far from I-5, so it's a quick stop.
A wonderful place to hike and enjoy the backgroud of Mount Shasta. You can drive up to the trails to Castle Crags. Plan to spend a day at the park. Drive to the near by Castella and view the river at it's best and bring your fishing pole.
We really liked the campground at Castle Crags State Park. We found a camp site which was quite private and secluded, in a hollow down a little ramp from the parking space, and near enough to the showers to be convenient (site 43). It had great shade from the trees. You do hear the sound of the freeway constantly in this campground, although it's a background noise, so I think it would bother some people more than others. I was personally able to tune it out quite easily (but I live near a freeway too). You definitely hear a few trains toot their horns too. If you don't mind that, it's a great place. The only real problem we had with it was the 106 degree heat in July. It didn't cool down until quite late, although it was a pleasant 60 degrees or so by morning. I have to agree with the reviewer who said it would be better in spring or fall. Still, it's a convenient stop off Hwy 5, and has some nice looking trails. There was plenty of space, no need to book ahead. We enjoyed the viewpoint of the crags. The gas station with a store right down the road were both very convenient. We went to the store a few times for chilled drinks, ice creams, etc. We didn't like the look of the riverside campground on the other side of the railway tracks. The sites were very close together and mostly quite exposed. The best ones were all taken.
We only stopped here for about 1/2 hour on our way north but it was a pleasant place to picnic. The view of the Castle Crags was spectacular. It was hot, but there was a nice shady picnic spot with picnic tables and restrooms (flush toilets!) close to the entrance. Yellow jackets were a bit of a pest but we found that by placing decoy food on another picnic table, they left us alone. The ranger was very friendly and when we told her we just wanted to have lunch and use the rest room facilities, she waived the $8 day use fee. If we have more time on our way back, I'd love to spend more time here and walk up to the vista point.
Beautifully maintained park & assortment of hiking trails. My family & I have been here, many times, to picnic & hike & its always been a great experience.
This is a nice stretch of the Upper Sacramento River. Campsites are available directly along the river. Be sure to drive up to Vista Point for one of the best views in California - in one direction the craggy peaks of Castle Crags, in another the snow covered Mt. Shasta. The only negative is the road noise from interstate 5, but I'm still giving it five stars for the unique beauty of this state park.
We have been at Castle Crags when it was crystal clear. We took the vista trail on that day and were delighted to see some beautiful views of Mount Shasta from there.On our recent visit in September 2014, we visited on a drizzly damp overcast day. The ranger was quite nice when we stopped to revisit the park. It was humorous to note that she told us about the trail also, but mentioned, there would not be a view of Mount Shasta that day. Its exactly as I would expect given the rainy weather.The campground area here is quite nice with trees and nice areas to camp.