Castle Peak

If your fur buddy enjoys hiking in the mountains with you, they'll love the Castle Peak Trail. While Castle Peak isn't Mount Everest, it is steep in places, so you and your pup need to be fit and energetic to tackle this pawsome trail. The trailhead is near the Boreal exit from the freeway which is between Soda Springs and Donner Lake. You'll find a free parking lot there too.

There are no amenities along the Castle Peak Trail, so pack a backpack with enough food and water for the hike. Don't forget to pop in a few pup treats; they'll appreciate a little snack along the way. Stash a handful of clean up bags in your bag too so you'll have no problem cleaning up after your pup while you're trekking. Once you and your fur baby are on the trail, you'll find the first mile and a half is quite level, so that gives you both time to get those leg muscles warmed up. From there on in, it starts to get steeper, but as it does, the views of the pine-clad mountainsides just keep on getting better and better. You'll see lots of wildflowers too.

The trail is reasonably wide most of the way, but there are a couple of points where it narrows, and there are drops either side. The track can also be rocky and has loose stones in places which can be rough on your pet's paws. The final section which will take you and your pup to the top of Castle Peak is a bit of a clamber, and can be slippery underfoot. Your effort will be rewarded with pawsome panoramic vistas which reach over to Mount Diablo and Lassen Peak. It's the ideal spot for you and pup to sit down, take a breather and drink in the scenery. Your pup will probably find the treats you've brought along more interesting, but that's canine nature for you. Have a furrific trek!