Here's more pics of my hike to Castle Crags, and one photo of a typical campsite in the campground. As I was saying...the campground is slated to be closed next year. Not sure what they are going to do about access to the trailhead to the Crags.
The campground was built in the 60's? And it has that "old school" look, with mostly tent sites,(no hook-ups or power). Max size for RV/trailers is 27', and I didn't see very many "large" sites, when I rode thru the campground.
The 1 mile road... leading from the campground to the trailhead does not allow RV's, so if you're in a motorhome without a tow vehicle, you're going to have a long walk to the trailhead, (I would hitch a ride myself)
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Just like our Interstate Freeway system in California, the Castle Crags trail system is in need of some maintenance. The brush is starting to close in on the trail along the last 1/4 mile to the "Dome Proper", and many snags need to be fell, before they fall on a visitor, or across the trail.
Castle Crags is a national Treasure...and should be treated that way. I knew that I was walking through a very special place when I was there.
The lower 2/3's of the trail is a mixed conifer forest, with some black oaks, and big leaf mable. Once you get on the trail, you can smell the Port Orford Cedars, Which gives you a glue, that you're walking though one of the most diverse Conifer Forests in California, with 27+ different types of conifers growing between the Cascade, Sierra, and the Costal Mountain ranges...can you say convergents!
Old fire scars on the Doug Firs, Cedars, and Pondrose Pines gives you even more glues.. on how this forest was shaped into what you see today. There are signs of many low intensity wildfires & control burns from the past, (last 200 years). Most of the fire activity was caused by lightning, and/or Native Amercans, burning the understory to improve the acorn production.
The top 1/3 of the trail show "signs" of more "high intensity" wildfire in the past. Large Ponderose Pines are the dominant vegetation left on the landscape, with patches of young White Fir, Cedar, and manzanita covering the understory. Add to that, many large dead and down logs mixed within the understory. This part of the Forest is in it's "Final stage of Succession", showcasing 500 year old Ponderosa Pines....priceless!
If you have a "Bucket List", you need to put the Castle Crags day hike, on it, before they close this incredible place...PS write your State Rep and ask them to save Castle Crags from the cut list!!!!!