Can I get to Castle lake?

[sagerat]

How close can I drive? Is there a trail down to lake?

[sagerat]

Somebody must know something. I'm not really interested in the fishing, thinking about access to the pumice plain elk area...

[Wolfdog2314]

Can't help ya too much... But I buddy from back in school always talked about hiking into Castle Lake and fishing. So I know it can be done at least.

From: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110623&ttype=recarea&recid=47024&actid=50&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=&cid=null&pname=West+Side+-+State+Highway+504+-+Castle+Lake+Trail%23221+and+Castle+Ridge+Trail%23216G

The Castle Ridge Trail #216G creates a connection between Loowit Trail #216 and Weyerhauser Road 3000. This ridge top hike offers views of the blast area, Mount St. Helens, the South Fork Toutle River, and Castle Lake.
A trip down the un-maintained Castle Lake Trail #221 brings you through the effects of the 1980 eruption to the shore of Castle Lake. The lake was created when the debris avalanche dammed South Fork Castle Creek. Passing through boggy areas and paralleling Castle Creek, the trail circles around the ridge separating Castle Creek and Castle Lake. Wildlife, including elk and waterfowl, can often be seen.

[sagerat]

Thanks for the reply. I wonder if there is ever issues with the 3000 mainline. Do you need a weyco permit?

[Clearcut]

Wolf dogs correct all though its more of a ridge top you walk down in.. An once you get pass the base of the ridge an the flat it's above what's considered mud flow an is actually the monument which you cant be off a trail in the monument legally. It's about 20 miles plus of gravel road to get to where you can see the lake an from there it's obvious which ridge you wanna take to get down to it

[Clearcut]

No Weyco permit needed... Alot of that's all state land on the way up so it's left open all year on that side

[sagerat]

Thanks, it looks like a decent place to access the elk area. I must be crazy, that's still a lot of meat packing... I better plan on bringing a fishing rod also to off set the misery.

[Clearcut]

Well you can drive in the 20 miles.. Depending on which ridge you take an how quickly you wanna drop in its only a couple miles into the lake

[splitshot]

I was thinking about the castle lake north of George.   no elk but some  fish.   mike w

[Fastass350]

You can take a straight downhill approach off the 3000, quickest way down but it's a little harsh. There's an old road system that you could probably mountain bike down, it winds around and can be a little long. I think enough people hike it that they keep the brush somewhat cleared. PM me if you want any more info, I've done both routes before. And yes take a folding pole, catch some fresh dinner!

Chris

[kentrek]

to access the pumice planes from that side you need to take the 216g trail about 1.5 miles to the castle lake trail that will lead you on down into the unit...the trail is not maintaned

you can not take the road down to the lake an legally walk from there to the unit ...so going to the lake is pointless unless for a hike/fishing trip

Legal or not it's a 2000 foot climb out which seems like alot for a cow

[Ghost Hunter]

I've been close a couple times but never fished it.  Sounds like packing the canoe it might be more than it's worth for one fish.

[jackelope]

Big fish. Last I knew lots of them. Bring a float tube. I've heard it's a hell March to get to the water. Can't say for sure though.

[kentrek]

Big fish. Last I knew lots of them. Bring a float tube. I've heard it's a hell March to get to the water. Can't say for sure though.

If you go to castle with the thought of catching lots and lots of big fish your setting your self up for disappointment...it's not a bad hike if you know what your doing but there are lots of stories of people never making it to the lake

If your not real experienced in big country I'd definitely recommend taking the road down to the lake

I was just on the castlelake trail a couple day ago and it all but gone...not a problem if your hunting the pummy planes with passes to trespass on the monument but for the average Joe it's a pretty good fine to get caught off trail

[Bill W]

I was thinking about the castle lake north of George.   no elk but some  fish.   mike w

Same here.  I thought that's the lake he wanted.

[jackelope]

Big fish. Last I knew lots of them. Bring a float tube. I've heard it's a hell March to get to the water. Can't say for sure though.

If you go to castle with the thought of catching lots and lots of big fish your setting your self up for disappointment...it's not a bad hike if you know what your doing but there are lots of stories of people never making it to the lake

If your not real experienced in big country I'd definitely recommend taking the road down to the lake

I was just on the castlelake trail a couple day ago and it all but gone...not a problem if your hunting the pummy planes with passes to trespass on the monument but for the average Joe it's a pretty good fine to get caught off trail

So I never expect to catch lots and lots of big fish anywhere. I've had some friends hike down into that lake, tell me how brutal the hike was and how good the fishing was. This was 7-10 years ago, so maybe things have changed, but at one point there was real good fishing there.
Your last paragraph confuses me.

[kentrek]

Yeah the fishing at one point was pretty dang good..15 years ago you could get a 5-8 pounder ...but i spend alot of time there and every now and then youl get one over 20 but realistically it's a 12 inch Fish your getting..last trip was 8 inch average

Sorry bout the confusion...the original poster was looking at a way to hunt the pumice plains unit and if you draw that tag you are allowed to go off trial...since the castle lake trail is all but gone it's not an issue for a guy that is allowed to go off trail.....but for the average guy without that permit it would be very easy to get way off trial and end up with a hefty ticket

[jackelope]

Yeah the fishing at one point was pretty dang good..15 years ago you could get a 5-8 pounder ...but i spend alot of time there and every now and then youl get one over 20 but realistically it's a 12 inch Fish your getting..last trip was 8 inch average

Sorry bout the confusion...the original poster was looking at a way to hunt the pumice plains unit and if you draw that tag you are allowed to go off trial...since the castle lake trail is all but gone it's not an issue for a guy that is allowed to go off trail.....but for the average guy without that permit it would be very easy to get way off trial and end up with a hefty ticket

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