It may not seem like it right now, but prime hiking season is just around the corner. You’ll definitely want to be prepared for when those warmer temperatures hit, so start thinking about the trails you’d most like to visit as conditions improve. One easy out-and-back trail that should be on your radar is the Root Creek Trail in Castle Crags State Park. At just over two miles, this ADA-accessible trail makes for an easygoing adventure. However, it also leads you straight through the richest and most gorgeous surroundings, keeping you in a trance every step of the way.
Castle Crags State Park is one of the most dramatic landscapes that Northern California has to offer. Exploring it yourself is a must, and the short and sweet Root Creek Trail is the perfect way to do so.
Located within the park, the Root Creek Trail is just 2.2-miles long. It's also very flat and wheelchair-accessible, making it perfect for hikers of all types and skill levels. Don't be fooled by its simplicity, though. It also boasts some outstanding forest scenery!
As you start out on the trail, you'll quickly be led into a landscape of towering pines. The trail closely follows the crystal-clear Root Creek, so you'll witness plenty of green and mossy scenery.
You'll find that the wheelchair-accessible route starts on the Crags Trail from the Vista Point parking lot. However, if you'd like a bit of a challenge, you can always continue onto the "unofficial" section of the trail which starts when you pass out of the state park and into the Castle Crags Wilderness.
This part of the trail is less maintained, but it's worth trekking if you can. You'll eventually shift out of the dense, mystical forest scenery and come upon spectacular vistas of the surroundings, including the extraordinary Root Creek Falls.
The sight of Root Creek Falls is simply breathtaking as it tumbles gracefully over a gorge. Right above it is the well-known spire of Castle Dome, completing the already remarkable view. It's quite the view for a relatively short and easy trail!
Exploring Northern California's wild landscapes can sometimes feel like exploring a different world. You just never know what you'll stumble across when doing so. In this case, the magnificent Root Creek Falls makes for a grand finale to a simple out-and-back trail.
