Castle Lake Out and Back

The parking area for this hike is located on the north side of Mirror Lake Hwy (Hwy 150) about six miles east of Kamas.Starting at the parking for the !Yellow Pine Trailhead, cross the bridge to start this hike on Yellow Pine Trail. Continue east for a bit until the trail turns northeast and heads through a Forest Service gate (be sure to secure it closed behind you). The trail is wide and has a good surface for several miles. It consistently heads uphill to the northeast while crossing Yellow Pine Creek on several footbrigdes. The grade is mostly moderate with only a few short steeper sections. When you reach the upper regions of the drainage, you'll encounter unique sign in the form of a log with engraved with a chainsaw. The Yellow Pine Trail turns to the left and heads up to the Yellow Pine Lakes. To continue this hike, head to the right onto Castle Lake Trail. Stay on the southeast side of Castle Peak to continue on to Castle Lake. The first quarter mile after the fork can be hard to follow but look for cairns and ribbons along the way where the trail is faint or snowy.Castle Lake is a great spot to rest and have lunch. Once you're ready, turn around and head back the way you came.