50. Castle Lake to Heart Lake and Mount Bradley Ridge

Length:	7 miles round trip
Hiking time:	5 hours or 2 days
High point:	6,050 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,300 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	mid-May through late October
Water:	available from lakes; purify first
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Seven Lakes Basin, USGS 7.5' Dunsmuir, USFS Castle Crags Wilderness
Information:	Mount Shasta Ranger District, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

This hike gives you summer swimming in alpine lakes, opportunities to wander through lush meadows, and spectacular views of major California mountains, including Mount Shasta. Most hikers do the trek in 1 day, but you can certainly camp near Heart Lake or in the forest past Little Castle Lake.

Leave I-5 at the Central Mount Shasta exit and head west and south on South Old Stage Road and W. A. Barr Road. Cross the dam at Lake Siskiyou and turn left 0.2 mile farther. Drive the paved road 7.1 miles to Castle Lake.

First examine the signboards that discuss the natural and human history of Castle Lake. Consider a swim if it's warm, and then take the trail across the lake's outlet.

The steep and rocky trail affords excellent views of Castle Lake and its glacially carved surroundings as you ascend. You'll pass numerous red and white firs before reaching a saddle at 0.6 mile. Keep your eyes peeled for an unmarked trail on the right (about 100 feet before reaching a seasonal pond).

Follow the path with its accompanying meadows, flowers, and views for 0.5 mile to reach Heart Lake at 1.1 miles. Here you can swim in the warm, shallow waters and immerse yourself in the glorious view of Mount Shasta to the north and Castle Lake just below. Explore the lake's environs and find a small pond and a couple of level areas for camping.

Retrace your steps and rejoin the main trail at 1.6 miles. Drop through a rocky gully and enter a meadow at 2 miles. An unmarked trail on the right quickly brings you to the shallow waters of Little Castle Lake, encircled by dense chaparral. Make your way to the southern shore for an impressive reflection of Mount Shasta on the surface.

Hop across the outlet stream, drop down, and then walk through a red fir forest. A great campsite waits on the right side of the trail at 2.8 miles. From there, descend briefly and then rise sharply to the spine of Mount Bradley Ridge at 3.3 miles. A 0.2-mile scamper northeast (left) brings you to a knob with the best views.

Look south at the immediate prospect of serrated granite crests of Castle Crags. Eastward Lassen Peak, Magee Peak, and numerous other Cascade volcanoes lead to Mount Shasta, with Mount Eddy to the west of the largest California volcano.

If you want more hiking, continue farther toward Mount Bradley or hike the 0.5 mile path that skirts the east side of Castle Lake.