Castle Peak Hike

Castle Peak is another favorite hiking spot for me and Dan whenever we are in the Sacramento area. Located right off Interstate 80 near Donner Summit, it is about a 90-minute drive away, the perfect distance for a day hike. Timing is important too, because unless you are snowshoeing in this area (and some do), the winter is out, and at the height of the summer season, it can be extremely hot. We find late spring, early summer, or autumn the best time to make this hike. On May 30, just as things were starting to heat up in the valley, we headed up the hill to see if we could still conquer the mountain. The trailhead begins at an elevation of 7200 feet. The first two miles climb 680' to Castle Pass (elevation 7880'), and the last 1.5 miles to the top of Castle Peak has an elevation gain of 1220', for a final elevation of around 9100 feet. It's that last 1.5 miles that are the hardest, but so worth the effort once you make it to the top. The panoramic view from the peaks provide stunning views of Donner Lake, the surrounding mountains of the Lake Tahoe area, the Sierra Buttes, and on a clear day, Mt. Lassen. There was still a considerable amount of snow on the ground during our hike, including areas of the trail we needed to trudge through. At times I wasn’t sure if I was hiking, or cross-country skiing! But the ambient temperature was very pleasant, the skies were bright and blue, and the emerging wildflowers were delightful. I am happy to say we were once again able to make it to the top! Here are some pictures of our day.