AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Diablo State Park

Castle Rock Trail via Red Road

14.3 mi · ▲ 2,982 ft · 6 hr 15 min

Castle Rock Trail via Red Road is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Cowell, CA. It climbs 2,982 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi449 – 1,293 ft · steepest grade: 17%14.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.91986, -121.98904
Nearest town Cowell, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Castle Rock Trail via Red Road

14.3 mi · ▲ 2,982 ft · 6 hr 15 min

Elevation 450–1,293 ft

Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park

Trailhead: 37.91986, -121.98904

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

  1. Start on Fire Road 7-14, heading SE.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  6. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  7. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.7 miSharp right onto Red Road, heading E.
  9. 0.9 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  12. 1.4 miTurn left onto Little Pine Creek Road, heading S.
  13. 250 ftSharp right onto Falcon Road, heading SE.
  14. 0.7 miTurn right onto Castle Rock Trail, heading SE.
  15. 0.9 miReach Castle Rock Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.9 miTurn left onto Falcon Road, heading S.
  17. 0.7 miSharp left onto Little Pine Creek Road, heading E.
  18. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 1.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.4 miBear right onto Red Road, heading NW.
  22. 0.9 miSharp left, heading NE.
  23. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 500 ftSharp left, heading W.
  25. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 0.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right onto Fire Road 7-14, heading W.
  29. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/castle-rock-trail-out-back-22-km-92ab

Trail surface

1% paved99% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:55 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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