Castle Rock Trail - 1W03 • Hike • California • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Aug 11 2024

emilystardust

Routes 386
Photos 49
Triplogs 792

43 female

Joined Jun 23 2015
Phoenix, AZ

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Big Bear - Jacinto, CA

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Big Bear - Jacinto, CA

Hiking		Aug 11 2024
		emilystardust • Triplogs 792

Hiking	1.56 Miles	566 AEG

Hiking	1.56 Miles	1 Hour 13 Mns	1.51 mph
	566 ft AEG	11 Mns Break

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Quick hike before we headed out. Nice view of the lake and some climbing up rocks at the end. We looped back down which was nice as we started seeing a ton of people when we got back to the main trail.

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Oct 11 2023

fricknaley

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Big Bear - Jacinto, CA

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Big Bear - Jacinto, CA

Hiking		Oct 11 2023
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Hiking	4.10 Miles	990 AEG

Hiking	4.10 Miles
	990 ft AEG

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We hiked up to Castle Rock and scrambled around for some excellent views, then continued up higher and went out to Bluff Lake, which was surprisingly pretty.

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hi

May 14 2022

mikemcg

Guides 2
Routes 127
Photos 1,478
Triplogs 129

male

Joined May 07 2019
Tempe, AZ

Castle Rock Trail to Champion Lodgepole Pine, CA

Hiking		May 14 2022
		mikemcg • Triplogs 129

Hiking	5.28 Miles	1,044 AEG

Hiking	5.28 Miles	3 Hrs 27 Mns	2.13 mph
	1,044 ft AEG	58 Mns Break

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Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail - 1W11

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

We were at Big Bear Lake for the Spartan Race, and decided on a relaxing evening hike. The Castle Rock Trail begins at a moderate incline, enough to get the heart going. It is a wide, well-maintained trail that passes through the pines and between large boulders. There are multiple overlooks with views of Big Bear Lake. We took a detour over to Castle Rock, a 100-foot outcropping, which we climbed up, to admire the 360° views of Big Bear Lake and the multiple peaks in the distance (including Snow Summit, the site of the Spartan Race).

We continued up the trail to its ending at FR 2N86, then continued to the trail along Bluff Lake, which was pretty and peaceful, with numerous chirping birds. There was a professional photographer taking engagement photos of a couple at a rock structure near the lake. We went beyond the lake and checked out the Champion Lodgepole Pine Tree, then turned and made a loop around the lake. The last 30 feet of the trail was flooded and swampy just before completion of the loop, and my left leg sunk about 1.5 feet into thick mud. I carefully extricated my foot and was able to salvage my shoe after a prolonged battle with the mud. We then headed back down to the trailhead and the Big Bear nightlife.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Lodgepole Pine

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Big Bear Lake Bluff Lake Castle Rock

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

Big Bear Lake

76-100% full

Bluff Lake

76-100% full

1 archive

Jul 06 2019

SunDevil3

Guides 3
Routes 7
Photos 514
Triplogs 94

43 male

Joined May 21 2004
Phoenix, AZ

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Big Bear - Jacinto, CA

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Big Bear - Jacinto, CA

Hiking		Jul 06 2019
		SunDevil3 • Triplogs 94

Hiking	1.20 Miles	770 AEG

Hiking	1.20 Miles	2 Hrs		0.69 mph
	770 ft AEG	15 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

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Prepping for a 3-day GCNP backpacking trip this October with my 8 year old daughter so figured Big Bear would be a good place to get some high altitude training in for that.

What a beautiful trail this is! Abundant shade from that harsh sun exposure up above 7k ft and it felt quiet and peaceful for a trail as heavily trafficked as this. The trail gets a bit difficult to follow as you near the peak but there are so many acceptable "wrong" routes to take across the rock at that point it does not matter much.

About one mile in, we spotted a decent path to scramble up the castle boulders so we diverted from the prescribed trail at that point. We made it all the way up to the second tallest of the boulders which, from our path, appeared to be the highest you can get without ropes (or some serious cojones.) There was probably another way to free climb up to the highest boulder had we continued to the end of the trail but I did not see one from my vantage point. There was a group of about eight climbers who got to the top of the big rock about the same time we arrived atop it's slightly shorter sister rock but they certainly came better prepared than we did.

Hike out is an easy descent back to the TH.

NOTE: Parking is very limited immediately at the TH with spots for only about 6-8 cars on the side of the road. Rangers had wisely advised us to keep any parking outside the white fog lines at the side of the roadway lest you get ticketed or-- seemingly just as likely-- destroyed by one of the many locals who drive like a bat out of hell around those mountain curves. More parking is available in small pockets/pull-outs up the road in either direction for those who don't mind a little extra walking to/from the TH.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Throwing a Wendy

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"Being unselfish is a natural high, like hiking or paint thinner."
- Homer J Simpson

Aug 03 2015

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,797
Photos 14,494
Triplogs 5,894

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Castle Rock - Plantation - Skyline - Pine Knot, CA

Hiking		Aug 03 2015
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	17.17 Miles	3,765 AEG

Hiking	17.17 Miles	6 Hrs 17 Mns	2.82 mph
	3,765 ft AEG	12 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Castle Rock Trail - 1W03

Plantation Trail - 1W12

Skyline Trail - 1E12

Seven Oaks Trail - 0E01

Pineknot Trail - 1E01

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Castle Rock Trail 1W03
Steep start through nice creek, albeit dry now. Quick lake view. Huge pines. 600 ft ascent to full lake view!

Plantation Trail 1W12
One of those trails with an uninviting name that turns out nicer than anticipated. Decent shade midday.

Skyline Trail 1E01
A bit confusing at the top of Castle Creek. Higher up after Plantation it's easier to decipher. This is a constant zig zag along the ridge. Tree shade is typically sparce. Some nice areas. Built for mountain bikers. It must have been a lot of work as it is well done too!

Yeast smell yesterday and today. Must be some of the chaparral.

Seven Oaks Trail 0E01
Looks most used by downhill mountain bikers. Not new millennium friendly. A continuous slide of semi steep surface gravel. The oaks are not what most desire, rather the live oak / blue oak variety. The bottom has larger oaks and large pine cones. Hot gnatty hell. Doubt anyone hikes here from Big Bear Lake, especially in August. Nevertheless I liked the change of pace with foliage similar to Arizona'state southern Bradshaw range. Euphoria drive kicked in ascending back to Big Bear.

Pine Knot Trail 1E01
Only half as busy as Sunday. Amazing how much cooler it is just over the rim back into Big Bear valley.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Southern Alligator Lizard

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] San Gorgonio Mountain

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

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- joe

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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