Castle Creek Trail #420

Dogs Off-leash

Features Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

To find the trail. Start from the Castle Creek Campground, cross the highway to the gated dirt road. The road soon forks, one fork going up the creek, the other crossing the creek. Take the left fork and cross the creek. The small, dilapidated structure is one of the last remnants of the Castle Creek Work Center. The trail begins just past the building and is marked by a 4x4 post.

The trail starts out heading west, but soon makes a switchback and begins heading up the canyon. The trail makes a couple more switchbacks as it continues to climb up the canyon. On the third switchback, there is a faint trail leading off to the right, this is an abandoned alignment of the trail, it is possible to follow it down tho the creek but after that it is lost in the thick brush.

The main trail continues to switchback up the slope and eventually gains the ridge. The tread is very faint in places through here but the trail follows an old fire line and the wide swath cut through the brush is still very visible. The trail initially climbs gently up the ridge but the grade soon steepens considerably. After about 0.5 miles of steep climbing, and the ridge turns slightly to the right.

After a final short burst of climbing the trail ends at Forest Road 76805. at this point the options are to either turn around, or turn right on the road and hike the short distance to Forest Road 451 (Blacktail Butte Road).