Castle Lake

Dunsmuir, California

Description

Castle Lake in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is a glacial lake with picturesque views of Mt. Shasta. In the middle of the lake, researchers float a platform in the middle of the lake to study the lake's environment. This is a great destination to swim to.

Nearby Hike:
Heart Lake is a great 2-mile roundtrip hike starting from the Castle Lake parking lot.

Season:
Castle Lake Road and the parking lot are typically open by Memorial Day and are open until the fall when it starts snowing.

Note:
UC Davis and University of Nevada, Reno have a research station on the west shore of the lake to monitor climate changes and its effects on the lake's ecosystem.

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Features

Chillin

Fishing

Kayaking

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

Groups

Lake

Swimming Holes

Castle Lake Reviews

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Heart Lake in the Klamath Mountains

Scenes like this are rarely so accessible. Heart Lake is nestled in a bowl below Castle Peak, on the edge of the Castle Crags Wilderness just west of I-5 and the city of Mt. Shasta. The parking lot and trailhead are both located on the shore of Castle Lake, a much larger lake that is stunning in its own right, backed up against a rugged wall of rock. Castle Lake is lovely, but Heart Lake is eve...

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