Post by: sagerat on April 26, 2015, 01:51:26 PM
Post by: sagerat on April 26, 2015, 06:39:56 PM
Post by: Wolfdog2314 on April 26, 2015, 07:44:08 PM
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.
Post by: sagerat on April 26, 2015, 08:30:51 PM
Post by: Clearcut on April 26, 2015, 08:33:44 PM
Post by: Clearcut on April 26, 2015, 08:34:47 PM
Post by: sagerat on April 26, 2015, 08:49:12 PM
Post by: Clearcut on April 26, 2015, 08:52:09 PM
Post by: splitshot on April 26, 2015, 09:02:14 PM
Post by: Fastass350 on April 28, 2015, 10:43:56 AM
Chris
Post by: kentrek on April 28, 2015, 11:14:19 AM
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
Post by: Ghost Hunter on May 03, 2015, 06:42:26 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 03, 2015, 01:19:24 PM
Post by: kentrek on May 03, 2015, 02:02:40 PM
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
Post by: Bill W on May 03, 2015, 03:15:51 PM
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.
Post by: jackelope on May 03, 2015, 05:17:40 PM
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.
Post by: kentrek on May 03, 2015, 09:55:04 PM
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
Post by: jackelope on May 04, 2015, 11:01:31 AM
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
10-4