Castle Crags (includes portions of Castle Crags State Park)
Map SatelliteOne of the most scenic in the Klamath Mountains, this area is of particular geological and botanical interest.
Vegetation is primarily a mixed conifer forest, intermixed in the lower altitudes with a number of deciduous trees. The easternmost stand of the uncommon Brewer (or weeping) spruce, Picea breweriana, is found here. The rare Campanula shetleri and Panicum acuminatum var. acuminatum are known only from this area; the latter is possibly extinct, having been last reported in 1912.
The granodiorite of the Crags dates to about 170 million years ago. During late Mesozoic and early Tertiary times there was further depositional and mountain-building in the area, though erosion played a dominant role; most of the earlier rocks have disappeared. At the beginning of the ice age, some 3,000,000 years ago, the area was a rounded, rolling upland. At least two massive glaciations removed much of the ultramafic rocks, sculpting the harder granitic rock and forming U-shaped valleys. Due to the high rainfall, 150-175 centimeters (60-70 inches), the depositional features have been much modified or removed.
Integrity: Much of the area is virtual wilderness, with only a portion developed with trails, campsites, etc. For a number of years Castle Rock Mineral Water was bottled from a soda spring here.
Use: Educational, recreation
Ref: Aune, Quintin A., 1970. A Trip to Castle Crags. Mineral Information Service Vol. 23, No. 7, p. 139 ff.
February 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman