Get your Zen On

For years and years I had wanted to go explore the Root Creek Trail at Castle Crags. After hearing about a huge waterfall up on that creek the time had finally come! Mike and I decided to venture out to find this waterfall. Armed with sketchy directions and a need to explore we headed to Castle Crags.

This trail is one of the nicest trails! It's super easy (means flat!), only 2.2 miles long and scenic. Unfortunately, the lilies and other wildflowers that I had read about had not bloomed yet. I was kind of bummed about that. I had read that they are amazing.

The end of the trail is the best in my opinion. It is beautiful the way the light dances on the water. The huge elephant ear plants create a green oasis near the creek. The pink flowered wild onion adds the needed pop of color.

When Mike and I were there, there was a gentleman getting his zen on at one of the pools along the creek. He was writing poetry and playing his flute. For some odd reason he didn't seem too out of place there! I know, weird.

We ventured upstream from the end of the trail to find the waterfall. It's actually pretty easy to find. The trail, when you get to the edge, is kind of scary. It's that decomposed granite that is like ball bearings under your feet. I almost didn't get a shot of the waterfall because I was too afraid to let go of the tree I was gripping for dear life to keep from plummeting over the cliff!

I finally managed to get a shot. It's not the best so I had better go back and try to do better, right?

DIRECTIONS:

Take Interstate 5 to exit 724 in Castella, California (located 14 miles south of Mount Shasta City and 44 miles north of Redding). At the bottom of the offramp, turn northwest onto Castle Creek Road. Drive 0.3 miles and turn right into the park entrance. Inside the park, bear right and drive almost two miles up Vista Point Road to the parking area at the road’s end. This road goes through the campground in Castle Crags State Park before heading up Kettlebelly Ridge. You will pass the start of Crags Trail just before reaching the parking area at the top of Vista Point Road.