Indian Creek and Flume Trails

Length: 2.6 miles round trip

High Point: 2200 feet

Elevation Gain: 300 feet

Difficulty: easy

When to Hike: year-round; occasional winter snow

Controlling Agency: Castle Crags State Park, P.O. Box 80, Castella, CA 96017; (530) 235-2684; www.parks.ca.gov

Special Features: natural and human history; views of Castle Crags; Indian Creek

Directions to the Trailhead: Take the Castella exit off I-5 about 6 miles south of Dunsmuir. Go west and enter Castle Crags State Park (entrance fee). Park on the left side just beyond the headquarters building.

Description and Comments: Grab the brochure at park headquarters that explains what you will find at the numbered posts along the Indian Creek Trail. Reach a trail fork and go left. Climb gently, cross Indian Creek, and then go left at .5 mile onto the Flume Trail. This path parallels an old wooden flume that brought water from Castle Creek. Travel through a ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forest to another fork at .7 mile, where you turn left and drop down to environmental campsites near Castle Creek Road.

Return back to the Indian Creek Trail. Head left to complete the loop and end the hike back at the parking area.

Maps: USGS 7.5′ Dunsmuir, USFS Castle Crags Wilderness.