The Castle Dome of Castle Crags State Park is a must do hike/run/scramble for anyone that visits the area. Sitting at the top of the Park's Dome Trail, this granite dome offers one of Northern California's premiere scrambles as well as some great moderate rock routes, including great views of the surrounding granite formations and a full panorama of Northern Californias 14,127 foot Mt. Shasta. Starting around 2,600 feet above sea level, the summit of Castle Dome stands at around 5,000 feet offering an overall elevation gain of roughly 2,400 feet in less than two and a half miles.
This particular route starts in the same place as the Mt. Hubris Cosmic Wall FKT, the parking lot for the Vista Point TH. Follow the trail from the parking lot keeping left at the Root Creek junction, 1.5 miles past the Indian Springs junction, and towards the Castle Dome. Around the 2.5 mile mark the trail will become sandy and split into what look like a system of water washed gullies. Follow the predominant (obviously trafficked) wash towards the large granite dome and up a system of low angle slabs looking for the route of least resistance up to the top of the dome. Easiest route is identifiable via the ledge systems and chimneys that lead to a final higher angle but features scramble to the summit. See top photo for details, as well as references obtained via the Mountain Project page for this route.
The route consists of well groomed to technical trails with an average elevation gain of 800 feet per mile, before entering the low 5th class scramble segment on the dome taking you up the final 800 feet to the top in less than a half a mile. Descend the route the same way you came up, this car to car effort is done in an out and back style.
For information about Castle Crags State Park, visit https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106053028/castle-crags , https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=454 , or see https://fastestknowntime.com/route/cosmic-wall-mt-hubris-ca for information on other Fastest Known Times at the park.
