Castle Peak

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/27/2026, By: CaptainSuburbia
Info: I drove to the Pearl Pass junction the night before for this. It pretty much rained all night which was nice to see. Creeks were flowing good but not difficult to cross. At 12,800 feet, rather then taking the standard headwall route, I took the direct ridge route outlined in Wentzl's 2019 trip report. It went very well and was mostly a mix of talus hopping and fun scramble sections. I enjoyed it. I merged with the standard route where it hits the ridge crest. Nothing out of the ordinary from there to Castle and Conundrum. I chose to climb back up Castle on descent. I saw someone go down from the saddle. It looked pretty precarious, but he made it.

On a side note, dispersed camping sites 1-9 are closed through the afternoon of 7/31. They're installing bear proof containers. I saw a large crew working on them on my way out. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/27/2026, By: jimebob
Info: Good description on the road. Rough dirt road early, plenty of 2wd vehicles at campsites. Ankle deep flowing water at the 1 mile river crossing, but very reasonable for any truck or SUV. Road rockier past that, but in pretty good shape overall. Took my 1999 land cruiser to the 3.1 mile mark without difficulty, just past the Pearl Pass split. Another similar land cruiser was parked at 3.7 - seemed like a reasonable road to that point for vehicles with 4wd and decent clearance. Beyond that, the road has spicier moments, including one very narrow and tilted section with a big fall if you screw up. One lifted Jeep had driven the full road to 5.0 miles.

Once you reach the ridge on the hike (the final 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/25/2026, By: anainthemountains
Info: Minimal snow on the headwall, easily avoidable and no snow gear required. 

Route: Castle and Conundrum
Posted On: 6/29/2026, By: ryansappleid
Info: Headwall is snow covered, spikes are needed. Makes for a fun glissade down. Note on the ridge - there is a frequently taken route that drops down significantly on the ridge. Do not take this route. It is loose and precarious. Stay ridge direct when you can. 

Route: Castle and Conundrum
Posted On: 6/21/2026, By: Arthur Shagisultanov
Info: Snow on the headwall, dry everywhere else. Microspikes and poles were sufficient, with some fun glissading down the headwall even at 1:30. I opted for climber's left on the headwall - it felt safer.

Glissade from the saddle has started to melt out, with a ~50 foot section of loose scree near the top. I opted to reclimb Castle, but multiple groups successfully descended from the saddle. Some people I talked to thought it was fine, others felt it was really sketchy. Might be okay to descend for another week or so, but it's melting out fast. 

Route: Castle and Conundrum
Posted On: 6/14/2026, By: Emazarakis
Info: Snow on the headwall, used microspikes and glassaded as it softened on the descent. Summer conditions above that on both peaks and the saddle. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 5/31/2026, By: thomasferguson
Info: Road is completely clear until about 12,600, but even then the snow is all avoidable for hikers. Snow still covers the headwall from the end of the road at 12,800 to the upper basin at 13,300. Trail from the upper basin to the ridge, as well as the ridge, were snow-free until the final pitch, which is still snow-covered. Trail on saddle from Castle to Conundrum was clear of snow. The slope down from the saddle back to the basin is still holding plenty of snow for glissading. 

Route: Castle and Conundrum
Posted On: 5/24/2026, By: S-Parx
Info: Climbed Conundrum Couloir first, upper and lower third skied good at about 10:15 drop in. Middle third was a bit more firm and had some more debris in it.
Castle N Couloir was pretty firm. Dropped in around 11:30 after waiting a bit. Clouds moved in. Road is plowed past the Pearl pass turnoff. You could drive to about 11,400 with 4wd. 

Route: Castle and Conundrum
Posted On: 5/16/2026, By: TateMarshall
Info: Absolutely stunning day on the mountain. Snow covered from the upper parking lot to where you join the ridge up Castle. The ridge itself is mixed, mostly rock with some patches of snow, ice free. Ice ax was nice to have for a couple pitches up the slopes and really came in handy on the long glissades back to the lot. Only postholed a few times on the road. Left car at 6am, summited Castle at 8:45, summitted Conundrum at 10:15. Back to car around 12:15. Flotation might be necessary in a few weeks as the snow gets sloppier. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 5/8/2026, By: Roughrider23
Info: Able to drive up to right past the creek crossing at 10200’, although i saw an excavator in the afternoon flattening a lot of snow past that. Consistent snow to summit from there. Saw skiers going up and down couloirs. This humble hiker walked up to Castle summit, then took saddle to Conundrum, then glissaded down the bowl. PS lost my ice axe below the saddle ~13800’ if found pls comment!! 

Route: Up saddle down east face
Posted On: 5/1/2026, By: Skimo95
Info: All 3 routes on C&C are in. East face was in from summit but popped a sketchy wind slab navigating the rock maze. You can drive to the creek easily with 4x4. Exit from east face to huts goes nicely at the moment 

Route: North Couloir to East Face
Posted On: 4/20/2026, By: ajtrezco
Info: Also skied the east face. Left creek crossing at 4:15, started descent just before 10am and snow was already too soft; sluff/wet slide was pretty wild, would recommend aiming for maybe a 9am descent if similar weather persists. Otherwise, face was filled in nicely and there are plenty of lines that are in. North Couloir was also filled in center/skiers left, snow was perfect ~9:30. Beautiful day, go get it while its good 

Route: North Face Couloir
Posted On: 4/20/2026, By: booger
Info: Skied Conundrum couloir and the east face of Castle peak, really beautiful day, warm snow, wish I skied the east face around 10 am or so but was heading down around noon. 

Route: Castle and Conundrum
Posted On: 4/12/2026, By: ericahlstedt
Info: North couloir is looking decent, east face is skiable from the summit as is the N couloir. Hot pow today around 1130am on the E face. Ashcroft gate is open so parking can be at the creek crossing at 10,200 saving a few miles. Took our time enjoying the sunny day, started at 330, summit conundrum at 915, castle at 11. Back to car at 1230. 

Route: North Face Couloir
Posted On: 4/7/2026, By: Slawson405
Info: Started at Ashcroft, biked to campsite 3 easy enough. Clear until the creek crossing then continuous snow. It warmed up the last few days so may have a few small patches of dirt in the next couple days before the next storm. The slope above mining road around 12300 was spewing snow rocks as it warmed up, can be avoided by staying left and skinning up the creek though. Conundrum couloir was in, soft snow that warms up quickly. Castle has some wind drifted snow and a small manageable crust on it, snow all the way to the top though. Skied all the way back to the creek crossing but snow had softened up significantly by mid afternoon.