Your guide to backpacking at Castle Crags

Castle Crags is one of the most beautiful areas of Northern California, and is absolutely worth having on your California backpacking bucket list! The area, which includes Castle Crags State Park and Castle Crags Wilderness, has majestic 6,000 foot tall granite spires that reach up into the sky and overlook Mt. Shasta. While many people tackle the challenging day hike to the famous Castle Dome, not many people realize you can also go backpacking there! This is by far the most epic place we’ve gone backpacking and we want you to be able to experience the magic of backpacking at Castle Crags, too. In this guide we share everything you need to know to go backpacking Castle Crags. Specifically, we share about our experience spending the night at the epic Castle Dome in the Castle Crags Wilderness.

4 reasons you should go backpacking at Castle Crags

There are a lot of amazing places to go backpacking in Northern California! Below are four reasons why we think backpacking at Castle Crags should be on the top of your Northern California backpacking bucket list:

Spectacular Views: Castle Crags has some truly spectacular views. At the top of Castle Dome, you will be face to face with massive granite spires that almost resemble the Italian Dolomites. If you are brave enough, you can scramble up the Dome for a sweeping view of Mount Shasta in the distance. 

Solitude: While this hike is semi-popular with day-hikers, the top of the dome gets very quiet in the evening. Expect a peaceful, quiet stay since most of the sites are spread a couple hundred yards apart! 

Star Gazing: Castle Crags State Park is located in a wilderness area with very little light pollution. This makes it a great place for stargazing. On a clear night you can see millions of stars, as well as the Milky Way galaxy. On a night with a full moon, the moonlight almost makes the crags glow!

No reservation required: Backpacking at Castle Crags is first-come-first-served. Generally speaking, the camp sites are not fully occupied, which makes it easier to have a flexible camping schedule. 

What to expect along the trail

Whether you tackle this as a day hike or an overnight trip, The Crags Trail to Castle Dome is a fun challenge. The trail is a 5.2 mile long (round trip) out and back with a little over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. This is generally considered a challenging hike or backpacking trip, and visitors should prepare accordingly. It can be especially hard in summer, as the trail is quite exposed and this part of California can get quite hot. In late spring the trail can also be impacted by snow. Make sure to do your research into the weather and trail conditions before heading out!

Below we detail what you can expect on the trail as you ascend toward Castle Dome.

The first mile and a half

The first mile and a half of this hike is fairly unassuming, and honestly, the most boring part of the trail. This part of the hike winds through a shaded forest surrounded by large evergreen trees. Be aware that in the summer, poison oak can line the trail. Plan to step carefully, know how to identify poison oaks, and wear long pants for extra protection. This part of the trail is fairly well maintained with some (but not tons) of roots and rocks sticking out from the trail.

Indian Springs Water Refill

After about a mile and a half you will finally catch your first glimpse of the epic crags! Shortly thereafter you’ll come to a fork in the trail. At the fork you’ll notice a sign pointing left toward Indian Springs. This 0.2 mile detour will take you to a fresh spring that usually runs year round. This is the only spot on the entire trail to refill drinking water. Make sure to pack a portable water filter so you can fill up here!  

After Indian Springs the trail will begin to open up and you’ll get frequent views of the crags in the distance. This part of the trail is fairly well maintained. However, you may start to notice more craggy rocks sticking up from the trail surface. Watch your footing!

The summit – arriving at Castle Dome

The last half mile or so is directly next to the massive craggy spires! They will be jutting up beside you as you continue your ascent toward Castle Dome. The trail here is extremely rocky, and there are a few sections where you may need to use your hands to navigate up the rocks and boulders in the trail. Trekking poles may be helpful here, and on your eventual descent.

The last couple hundred yards are entirely exposed on top of Castle Dome. Here, you will get spectacular views of all of the craggy spires surrounding the dome. There are a handful of flat camp spots on the Dome, spaced a few hundred yards apart. Spend some time exploring the area — there are some great views of Mt. Shasta to be had! Just be careful, as there are also many steep drop offs.

Securing a Backpacking permit for Castle Dome

One of the best parts of backpacking here is that you aren’t required to have a reservation or to get a permit! However, assuming you enter via the state park, you will need to pay the state park entrance fee of $8 to drive your car into the park. You’ll also need to pay a small overnight fee to park your vehicle by the ranger station. You can call the rangers to inquire about current rates for overnight parking.

What to pack for backpacking at Castle Crags

Castle Crags can be windy, cold, sunny, hot, and rainy all in one day! You need to be prepared for the elements. I recommend all of the items listed below for backpacking at Castle Crags!

• Be prepared for strong winds. The top of the mountain can get quite windy – so much so that it can blow away or snap your tent! We encountered this issue when we spent a night at the summit. Be prepared to use guylines to combat potential winds. We used the 2 person REI Half Dome tent for this backpacking trip.
• Bring layers. In summer the hike to the top of Castle Dome can be quite warm, but at night the air will quickly start to cool off. Be prepared with warm puffer jackets (we’re big fans of the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket for women and men), and a warm sleeping bag. We’re obsessed with the Sea to Summit Spark 0F Down Sleeping Bag (unisex).
• Pack enough water. There is no water at the top of the dome, and the nearest source is along a side trail over a mile away from the summit. As such, make sure you pack up plenty of water for cooking, drinking, and any other needs you may have. We each packed 4 liters of water for a one-night trip, as well as a portable water filter.
• Watch out for poison oak (and consider wearing pants!). At lower elevations along this hike you may encounter significant amounts of poison oak. Make sure you can identify the plant in the wild. Long pants can also help provide protection.

Leave No Trace Tips for Castle Crags

When backpacking at Castle Crags, there are a few key Leave No Trace principles to be aware of:

• Prepare to pack out all of your trash AND poop. There are no facilities, bathrooms, or trash cans at the top of the dome (or anywhere on the trail). The dome is also extremely rocky, making it difficult or impossible to dig a cat hole if you need to poop. Please preserve this landscape by packing out your toilet paper and waste.
• Camp only in established campsites, and avoid trampling sensitive alpine vegetation. It plants are trampled more than a few times it is difficult for them to survive. The plants at the top of Castle Crags are a big part of what make this place so magical, so lets make sure to give plants a chance!
• Plan ahead. Part of leaving no trace is planning! Cell service is very limited at the top of the dome. Make sure to download your trail maps ahead of time, and let family or friends know where and how long you’ll be camping. 
• Do not build a campfire. While you CAN obtain a campfire wilderness permit, building a campfire at the top of the dome is not a great idea. The winds can pick up quickly and ferociously, which can cause a campfire to spread into a wildfire. You also shouldn’t use the surrounding plants as kindling, since their decomposition adds precious nutrients to the rocky soil. Please help protect this dry California environment.

Going to the Bathroom while backpacking at Castle Crags

In addition to general leave no trace advice, see below for some bathroom specific advice for this area. You will need a WAG bag if you camp here, as you must pack EVERYTHING out — even your solid waste!!

Final thoughts on backpacking at Castle Crags

I hope you found this guide to backpacking at Castle Crags to be helpful! If you plan a journey here please treat the environment with respect, and be careful to leave no trace. Not a lot of people know they can go backpacking at Castle Crags which makes this area a true hidden gem. Let’s keep it beautiful!

Looking for other activities to do after (or before!) your backpacking trip? Check out our blog post on how to spend 48 hours in Dunsmuir, California. Dunsmuir is just 5 minutes down the road and filled with beautiful waterfalls and more epic hikes!

Make sure to follow @gwynandami on Instagram for more hiking guides and travel itineraries! Have questions about this backpacking trip (or something else)? Send us a DM on Instagram!

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