Trail Run Project Logo

A steep and rocky trail up 14er Castle Peak.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

0.8

Miles

1.2

KM

31%

Runnable

14,060' 4,285 m

High

12,846' 3,915 m

Low

1,214' 370 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

30%

Avg Grade (17°)

45%

Max Grade (24°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildlife

With a good 4WD car (Jeep, FJ, Xterra, etc.) a competent driver can make it almost all the way to the start of the Castle Peak trail. Most people will have to park much further down, however, especially during the spring and early summer. During the winter, the road is closed just beyond the lowest point mapped.

Runner Notes

This trail is too steep and rocky to truly run. There are plenty of much better options in the area.

Description

From the upper trailhead at 12,800 ft (see Castle and Conundrum; top mapped parking), run into wide open Montezuma Basin. From here, follow a poorly marked and difficult, rocky trail to the left. Your goal is to run up to Castle Peak's northeast ridge. Don't fret too much if you can't find the trail. Aim for the saddle in the ridge and you'll be fine. Run up steep talus to 13,400 ft, at which point the ridge is mellow.

Continue up 300 ft further along the right side of the ridge before reaching the ridge proper (13,700 ft). Things become more difficult from here. From here, the grade is very steep and the rock very loose. It doesn't quite require scrambling, but it's close. Fortunately the trail here is a little clearer, at least for a little bit, so you can't get too off route.

Run/scramble up the remaining 500 vertical ft of loose, steep rock. The summit is visible from about 14,000 ft, so don't get too amped up for the false one. After the false summit, drop just a bit to a small saddle. The summit's less than 300 ft up. Push on.

From here, turn back, or continue on to Conundrum Peak.

Flora & Fauna

Up this high, there's not much other than marmots and pika.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tyler Prince with improvements by Ashley Peterson

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#12813

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
100%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1,161

in Colorado

#12,813

Overall
2 Views Last Month
3,116 Since Mar 19, 2015
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%

Photos

Making the hike back over the saddle from Conundrum.
Feb 25, 2024 near Aspen, CO
On the ridge for a smoky sunrise.
Feb 25, 2024 near Aspen, CO
View from the summit of Castle Peak. To the left is the saddle to which you'll descend. Conundrum is right in front of you, with its technical couloir just right of center. Conundrum's summit is up and to the right of the couloir.
Mar 20, 2015 near Aspen, CO
The downclimb from Castle Peak to its saddle with Conundrum. The chute pictured here is about as technical as it gets (not too bad). The rocks on the sides are loose, so be careful if you go around.
Mar 20, 2015 near Aspen, CO
A view of the hike to come along the Northeast Ridge. The added weight of skis doesn't help.
Mar 20, 2015 near Aspen, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.