Grampahawk - Mar 20, 2020 1:07 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2020
very windy and cold
Easy hike up the trail, then a class 3-4 scramble once over the treeline. The high winds made it dicey. A few gusts almost blew me off.
adamschneider - Jul 13, 2016 3:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2016
fun climb, no gear needed
The "dish" wasn't even remotely scary, and the gully was a piece of cake. Faced with a choice of "the stairs" on the left or the slabs on the right, I went up the slabs. But I took the stairs on my descent, and I definitely noticed the exposure!
gordonye - Jul 8, 2016 3:20 am Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2016
Roped up
Climbed with Mike Chen. We came to climb Mt Hubris but the weather was too wet. Castle Dome was short and sweet.
mnpalerm - May 28, 2012 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2011
Awesome!!
Incredible scramble! Very fun, and great view of Shasta from the top!
hatchgrey - Jan 6, 2012 1:17 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2011
Awesome!
It was a nice hike, we stopped at the springs for a detour and ultimately climbed to the top of the dome. the granite grips so well on that dome.
ckerth - Jan 2, 2012 4:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2011
Regular Route
Nice climb to kick off the beggining of a long road trip.
colinr - Dec 24, 2011 9:48 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2011
Winter?
A clear, warm day with small, 1/2-inch deep patches of snow few and far between in the final section of trail...probably will melt by the time the next storm arrives.
Did this one in high school (1996) and I still remember the awe of the crags. Didn't climb the dome...don't have to to peer over the sheer edge!
Zarathustra - Mar 21, 2011 1:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2009
First Timer
Camping at the state park with family, I hiked to the base of Castle Dome with my 15-year-old son and my two brothers-in-law. None of us had ever done anything this risky on exposed granite before. On a whim we scaled the lower part of the regular route. We got to a ledge where the four of us could all sit just below the stairs, take in the breathtaking views, and peer over the sheer edge.
Without a stitch of rope (and my son wearing vans) we thought it prudent not to keep going. Still, for a first-timer I was pretty impressed with our success as far as we got. I don't think I've ever been that pumped with adrenaline. My palms are sweaty just typing about it.
Bob Burd - Aug 29, 2010 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2010
Crags Trail
Made the kids join me for most of this hike, stopping at the park on our way to Medford, OR. Trip Report
blueshade - Aug 2, 2010 11:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2010
Awesome scramble
This is a great park, lots of nice scrambling. Climbed Castle Dome and then played on a bunch of the other surrounding formations. Very nice views of Castle Dome and Mt. Shasta on the trail going up. Also climbed in '05.
rhyang - Jun 21, 2010 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2010
Up the stairs, down the gully
Fun little scramble after the Cosmic Wall. Sunny and breezy day.
alpinedon - Sep 14, 2009 3:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2009
Post Cosmic Wall
Bobbie P. and I scrambled up the regular route after completing our climb of the Cosmic Wall. Seemed mandatory.
Wallylongridge - Jun 10, 2009 10:42 am Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2009
Reg. Route
Up the Stairs down the Face. Nice views of Shasta & the Cosmic wall.
I was sick the whole way up and took the liberty of leaving my lunch on the trail. I did not want to tackle the stairs in the that condition.
edevart - Oct 25, 2008 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2008
Reg Route
Great, quick hike in a quiet and empty State Park. On the way to fish the October Caddis on the Upper Sac. Golden leaves galore and great views of Shasta.
What a breathtaking location! Uninterrupted views in all directions.
Soloed up and down the "slabs" to the right of the "stairs" with chance-met "Sal" from Redding. Sal had never done anything like this before and was "willing to give it a go" as he said. Kudos - for a first-timer he did really well. However, without the comfort of a rope, neither of us fancied the exposure on the stairs.
The info on this page does the author great credit. It's accurate, informative and useful. My only comment would be to rate the "slabs" solid 4th Class rather than 4-. There are a couple of friction moves involved that are quite challenging, especially when downclimbing.
The approach took about 1.5h and the climb half an hour each way. I wish we had trails like this on Vancouver Island. You guys down there are spoiled.
Hiking Metal Maniac - Jan 11, 2024 12:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2021
Castle DomeStandard route from the trailhead, mostly on trail, class to get to the top of the dome.
SOUNDTRACK: Blackwitch Pudding: Acid Castle Magic
https://hikingmetalmaniac.blogspot.com/2021/06/castle-dome.html
Grampahawk - Mar 20, 2020 1:07 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2020
very windy and coldEasy hike up the trail, then a class 3-4 scramble once over the treeline. The high winds made it dicey. A few gusts almost blew me off.
adamschneider - Jul 13, 2016 3:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2016
fun climb, no gear neededThe "dish" wasn't even remotely scary, and the gully was a piece of cake. Faced with a choice of "the stairs" on the left or the slabs on the right, I went up the slabs. But I took the stairs on my descent, and I definitely noticed the exposure!
gordonye - Jul 8, 2016 3:20 am Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2016
Roped upClimbed with Mike Chen. We came to climb Mt Hubris but the weather was too wet. Castle Dome was short and sweet.
mnpalerm - May 28, 2012 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2011
Awesome!!Incredible scramble! Very fun, and great view of Shasta from the top!
hatchgrey - Jan 6, 2012 1:17 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2011
Awesome!It was a nice hike, we stopped at the springs for a detour and ultimately climbed to the top of the dome. the granite grips so well on that dome.
ckerth - Jan 2, 2012 4:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2011
Regular RouteNice climb to kick off the beggining of a long road trip.
colinr - Dec 24, 2011 9:48 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2011
Winter?A clear, warm day with small, 1/2-inch deep patches of snow few and far between in the final section of trail...probably will melt by the time the next storm arrives.
FarNorCalGirl - Jun 26, 2011 2:44 am
So BeautifulDid this one in high school (1996) and I still remember the awe of the crags. Didn't climb the dome...don't have to to peer over the sheer edge!
Zarathustra - Mar 21, 2011 1:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2009
First TimerCamping at the state park with family, I hiked to the base of Castle Dome with my 15-year-old son and my two brothers-in-law. None of us had ever done anything this risky on exposed granite before. On a whim we scaled the lower part of the regular route. We got to a ledge where the four of us could all sit just below the stairs, take in the breathtaking views, and peer over the sheer edge.
Without a stitch of rope (and my son wearing vans) we thought it prudent not to keep going. Still, for a first-timer I was pretty impressed with our success as far as we got. I don't think I've ever been that pumped with adrenaline. My palms are sweaty just typing about it.
Bob Burd - Aug 29, 2010 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2010
Crags TrailMade the kids join me for most of this hike, stopping at the park on our way to Medford, OR. Trip Report
blueshade - Aug 2, 2010 11:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2010
Awesome scrambleThis is a great park, lots of nice scrambling. Climbed Castle Dome and then played on a bunch of the other surrounding formations. Very nice views of Castle Dome and Mt. Shasta on the trail going up. Also climbed in '05.
rhyang - Jun 21, 2010 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2010
Up the stairs, down the gullyFun little scramble after the Cosmic Wall. Sunny and breezy day.
alpinedon - Sep 14, 2009 3:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2009
Post Cosmic WallBobbie P. and I scrambled up the regular route after completing our climb of the Cosmic Wall. Seemed mandatory.
Wallylongridge - Jun 10, 2009 10:42 am Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2009
Reg. RouteUp the Stairs down the Face. Nice views of Shasta & the Cosmic wall.
Bubba Suess - May 28, 2009 9:36 pm
Too sick to finishI was sick the whole way up and took the liberty of leaving my lunch on the trail. I did not want to tackle the stairs in the that condition.
edevart - Oct 25, 2008 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2008
Reg RouteGreat, quick hike in a quiet and empty State Park. On the way to fish the October Caddis on the Upper Sac. Golden leaves galore and great views of Shasta.
cdog - Jul 31, 2008 1:06 am
fun in the sun: July 2002had a great hike up to the dome with my girlfriend Amy, via the dog route
Adamus - Sep 4, 2007 5:24 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2007
Regular RouteVery hot, but it was worth it. The whole route was fun. The stairs were fairly exposed, but very solid. A good break from driving.
vancouver islander - May 9, 2007 4:11 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2007
Regular routeWhat a breathtaking location! Uninterrupted views in all directions.
Soloed up and down the "slabs" to the right of the "stairs" with chance-met "Sal" from Redding. Sal had never done anything like this before and was "willing to give it a go" as he said. Kudos - for a first-timer he did really well. However, without the comfort of a rope, neither of us fancied the exposure on the stairs.
The info on this page does the author great credit. It's accurate, informative and useful. My only comment would be to rate the "slabs" solid 4th Class rather than 4-. There are a couple of friction moves involved that are quite challenging, especially when downclimbing.
The approach took about 1.5h and the climb half an hour each way. I wish we had trails like this on Vancouver Island. You guys down there are spoiled.