Root Creek Trail, November 28, 2021

Root Creek Trail, in Castle Crags State Park, is a nice, easy little trail that is wheelchair accessible for the first ~3/4 mile. For almost all of its 1-mile length, the trail is wide and flat and well groomed. There are two or three very sturdy bridges that take one safely over streams and seepy spots.

Bridge. D. Burk. — One of two or three well made bridges along Root Creek Trail, Castle Crags State Park. This bridge takes one over a seepy area, rather than a stream. November 28, 2021. Photo by Don Burk.

Nearly the entire trail runs through deeply shaded forest, and is shared for some hundreds of yards with the Pacific Crest Trail. We saw nothing in bloom, which was to be expected at this time of year, but in spring this trail is a good place to see some of the 13 species of orchids that are supposed to bloom in the Park. Certainly, we have seen a handful of these orchids here ourselves.

Unknown fungi. D. Burk. — While there may not have been many herbaceous wonders to see, there had been enough rain to allow the fungi to spring up. We don’t know what these are, but if we find out, we’ll edit this caption. Root Creek Trail, Castle Crags State Park. November 28, 2021. Photo by Don Burk. ID update, January 27, 2022. Our in-house mycologist, Susan Libonati-Barnes took a stab at ID-ing these fungi and this is what she had to say: “These look like oyster mushrooms, as far as I can tell from the angle of the shot. Again, don’t eat anything based on photo ID!” Thank you, Susan!

This trail starts at Vista Point parking area, at the same trailhead that leads to Castle Dome, and officially ends at the very picturesque Root Creek. Unofficially, there is a side trail that continues up Root Creek that we had never noticed before. Curiosity getting the better of us, we followed this trail (actually consisting of multiple paths that lead in the same general direction) for perhaps a half mile until we came upon a magnificent waterfall splashing down the granite face below Castle Dome. It was an impressive sight, but just as impressive was the dangerous drop below the sketchy trail. While it is apparent that plenty of people use these trails, we do not recommend them for solo or inexperienced hikers. They are not maintained, extremely steep in some places, and downright dangerous in others.

Root Creek Falls. D. Burk. — Root Creek Falls, under Castle Dome, Castle Crags State Park. The Park’s brochure features a very similar photo (but much better) on its cover, taken when the stream volume was much greater. November 28, 2021. Photo by Don Burk.

For a much more safe and equally breath-taking views, go back and take the 0.25-mile, gently sloping Vista Point Trail at the eastern edge of the Vista Point parking lot to the top of a knoll with excellent views of the crags and Mt. Shasta. There are picnic tables, benches, and a telescope to augment your vista ogling.

Castle Crags. D. Burk. — Castle Crags at sunset, from Vista Point Trail on the approach to the viewing area. November 28, 2021. Photo by Don Burk.

If you plan to go, please note that there is a Park fee of $8 per vehicle ($7 for seniors), and dogs are not allowed on any Park trail. The vault toilet at the Vista Point parking lot was not open when we were there, but the Park ranger gave us advance warning and directed us to use restrooms at any campground. Root Creek and Vista Point trails provided a very pleasant outing on this weekend after Thanksgiving, and we highly recommend them at any time of the year.
~Laurie & Don Burk