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A trail over Castle Pass from the Serene Lakes to Palisade basins in the Royal Gorge area.


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Map Key

1.2

Miles

2.0

KM

88%

Runnable

7,128' 2,173 m

High

6,894' 2,101 m

Low

146' 44 m

Up

272' 83 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A valid trail pass is required from the Royal Gorge ski resort for winter skiing. This trail is for winter use only when snow covered.

Description

This multi-track trail is a ski trail in the winter and a popular running trail in the summer. It is part of a network of trails that provide access to the Royal Gorge open space area. It can be accessed from the Reindeer Trail and the closest trailhead parking is at Summit Station on Kidd Lakes Rd at the northwest corner of the Serene Lakes community. During the snowy months, it is usually groomed for both Nordic and skate skiing by the resort.

The trail heads west through lodgepole/fir forest out of the Serene Lakes basin over Castle Pass and down into the Palisade Creek basin. The climb up the east side of the pass is easy while the descent on the west side is on rocky, loose trail. On the west side, there are excellent views of the palisade rock formations on Palisade Peak on the north side of the trail. The trail winds down through the pass to the Hellman's Way Trail which leads out to the Point Mariah Trail.

The eastern leg of this trail is over Truckee Donner Land Trust managed land while the western leg is on US Forest Service land.

Flora & Fauna

The trail cuts through a lodgepole/fir forest and during the summer is populated by a large collection of Sierra wildflowers. The forest is the home to deer, ground squirrels, bobcat, martens, coyotes, bears and the occasional mountain lion. There is a wide variety of Northern Sierra birdlife.

Contacts

Shared By:

George Lamson

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#7

in Royal Gorge

#30587

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#7

in Royal Gorge

#3,409

in California

#30,587

Overall
2 Views Last Month
446 Since Dec 31, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Palisade Peak pokes through the trees when seen from the Castle Pass Trail in Royal Gorge.
Dec 31, 2016 near Truckee, CA

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