Castle Lake, California, United States

4.5 (98 reviews) Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #3 in Mount Shasta Bodies of Water • Mountains • Hiking Trails

Pristine Lake to swim and boat

Have come to this local lake to swim, canoe and picnic and take the trail up 2 miles to Heart lake many times. I never get tired of the beautiful environment. Would highly recommend. May camp next time. It is pristine and picture perfect. There are snakes but they avoid you. Very clean to swim and canoe in. Great trail two miles up to Heart Lake.
Mount Shasta review images Mount Shasta review images Mount Shasta review images Mount Shasta review images

Address

, Mount Shasta, California, United States.

Website

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04

Current local date and time now

Sunday, May 12, 2024, 17:22

User Ratings

4.5 based on (98 reviews)

Excellent
79%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%

Reviews

  • 5107geoffm 5:00 PM Sep 4, 2020
    Very Pretty Lake - Easy Hike Around
    Short 7 mile drive from main road to Castle Lake. Road paved to the lake including parking area. Easy trail around the lake with numerous spots along the trail for swimming or wading in the lake to cool off. There are not any large areas around the lake (except for one area near the parking lot with a picnic table) for groups to gather, picnic, hang out for the day. This lake is great for scenic easy hike around the lake.
  • 4PNW Wanderer 5:00 PM Nov 4, 2020
    Castle Lake, The Summer of Love?
    Our last visit was in 2015. The scenery was breathtaking. The water was clear and it truly felt like we were on an Alpine Lake in northern Europe. I must have taken a hundred photos. After our time on the water, we spread a blanket out on a small beach and enjoyed a picnic lunch. It really was a perfect afternoon. Fast forward to 2020. The scenery is the same, but the vibe at Castle Lake has changed considerably. We walked to the viewpoint and discovered a couple on the beach making out quite vigorously. They didn’t seem phased by the presence of six other people, so we quickly decided to whisk my pre-teen nephew away. Another small beach had been taken over by what looked like a bachelor party. Pot and BBQ smoke clouded the view of the lake, and their hoots and hollers and loud music were effective in driving away any other people who wanted to take in the view of the lake. A few steps further down the trail, a naked woman slowly strolled out from behind some bushes and jumped into the water. If I hadn’t known better I would swear it was 1967. But wait…there's more. On our way out we witnessed a single-car accident. My brother checked on the driver and we called 911. Luckily she appeared unhurt. Another car stopped, and the woman exclaimed, “I can help, I’m a healer let me get my crystals.” Well, that wraps up our bizarre excursion to Castle Lake. I’m not sure if we hit it on an “off” day, but it’s one afternoon I won’t forget any time soon.

See also