Castle Rock Hike

This is the most unique and fun trail. However, this trail is not for the faint hearted. The Castle Rock Trail is listed as strenuous and is .6 mile in length. After the .6 mile mark, the trail merges into the Grandview Rim Trail. From this intersection, if you turn right you will be going out to Turkey Spur for another scenic view and then retrace your steps and follow the upper trail called the Grandview Rim Trail back to the parking area (this is approximately 3.2 miles all together). The other option is to turn left and this will bring you back to the main parking area (this is approximately 1.1 miles in total). This trail is listed as strenuous. The steps that are made out of rocks are uneven. The trail is about 3 feet in width and the gorge is just off to one side as you are walking along. This trail is not recommended in rainy weather or when there is ice or snow on the ground because the rock surface can make this very slippery. If you are interested in geology, this trail is for you. You will be within and arms length of the rock striations that make-up the gorge. Along this .6 mile trail you will see a coal seam at approximately the .4 mile mark and also a variety of conglomerate, shale, sandstone and limestone along this trail. If you are afraid of heights, this trail might give you the butterflies.