Heart Lake (Castle Crags Wilderness)

We drove up to Castle Lake in the Shasta Trinity National Forest to hike up to Heart Lake and up to the Castle Lake Viewpoint, as well as up to the east end of the ridge above Heart Lake. Overall 3.8 miles with 900 ft of gain. View of Castle Lake this morning at the beginning of the hike. 

Water crossing over Castle Lake Creek. We had the trail to ourselves on the way up and met less than 10 people on our way back down.

Everything was wet this morning after yesterday's thunderstorm.

We passed a few large trees along the trail.

We would cross several snow fields, they were firm packed.

We saw many of these fawn lilies in bloom this morning.

Lots of penstemon growing in the rocks.

View of Castle Lake from further up the trail.

There was quite a bit of water on the trail form the snow melt.

We were careful where we stepped on the snow fields as some of them are melting from underneath.

As we neared Heart Lake the trail enters the Castle Crags Wilderness.

The largest snow field we crossed today was on the way down to Heart Lake, which still had quite a bit of snow and ice on it.

View of Mt Shasta as we descended down to Heart Lake.

Wide angle view of Heart Lake

View from the west side of Heart Lake, looking back at the snow field we descended.

View of Mt Shasta as we headed up the ridge on the west side of Heart Lake.

view of Castle Lake and Mt Shasta from further up the ridge

The trail heading up this ridge was very rocky. 

Wonderful view of Castle Lake (that looks heart shaped) and Mt Shasta from up on the ridge.

zoom of Mt Shasta

Back at Heart Lake

Heading up the snow field on the east side of Heart Lake.

We then headed up the trail that eventually connects with the PCT on the south side of the ridge. We stopped before descending the ridge to enjoy this view of Castle Crags to the southeast before returning down the trail.

As we descended the ridge heading back down to Castle Lake, we saw storm clouds gathering over Mt Shasta.

View of Castle Lake as we continued down the trail.

some of the wildflowers we saw along the trail this morning: