August 11th, 2020 | Posted by: Grace Kim
Ready to hike 1,175 feet to witness a beautiful reflection of Mt. Shasta? Well, you’re luck. Located about half an hour away from Oregon lies Heart Lake, a small, beautiful body of water after a short hike. At Castle Lake Campgrounds, put on your hiking shoes to hike up 45 minutes of semi-steep hills.
The Heart Lake Trail is open to the public and has limited space for backpackers and campers for the night. Parking is free on the premise, but for that reason, make sure to come early enough to claim a spot. Be aware that it gets busy during the summer, as you will find a handful of families camping at the top of the trail.
Round trip length: 2.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 600′ / 6,050′ feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Best time to go: Spring – Fall
Note: No permit is required to hike to Castle Lake, and dogs and bikes are permitted.
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What to Expect
Whether you’ve been consistent going to the gym or not, the trail to Heart Lake is a relatively short hike. While hiking up the trail, I’ve seen people come down in regular running shoes, so don’t worry if you don’t own a pair of fancy hiking shoes.
Depending on how quickly you can hike uphill, it can take up to 45 minutes to get to the very top. But while you’re gasping for air, look over to your right every few minutes and gaze at the beautiful views of Castle Lake.
If you plan on camping for the night, make sure you’ve secured a parking spot in the lot. And if you’ve been chugging massive amounts of water due to the scorching heat, don’t forget to use the bathroom located in the beginning of the parking entrance.
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Hiking the Heart Lake Trail
Now that you’re ready for the hike, the Heart Lake Trail starts at the beginning of Castle Lake. You will see people come in and out of the campgrounds on the right, but you’ll be going to be entering the trail on the left part of the sign.
Follow the flat path as you’ll start to become surrounded by a plethora of trees. This route will slowly gain elevation as you’ll start seeing the holistic views of Castle Lake.
There are a couple of different paths getting to the top of Heart Lake, so it can get a bit confusing. However, the paths will eventually level out with each other. The trail gets a bit rocky, but stay on the trail towards the right of the saddle.
Be aware that although it is a short hike, there’s a steep incline to the top of the lake. If you’re hiking up with your kids, make sure you have lots of water to drink during your hiking breaks.
Look over to the right of the hike and Mount Shasta will be looking straight at you. On the left, you’ll see Black Butte, free views of Oregon.
Towards the middle of the trail, it gets a bit rocky. But, these rocks help guide where you’re going. Just don’t knock down the miniature, stacked up rocks! Those rocks are actually supposed to help other hikers validate that they’re on the right path.
Once you’re on the route and have located the stacked rocks, the trail gets a bit steeper but you’re going to get beautiful views of the surrounding mountains as it will keep you distracted from your shortness of breath.
Unending, breathtaking views
As you go higher and higher, the views just get better and better. And as you’ve now reached the top, give yourself a pat on the back. Congratulations on accomplishing the hike. I’m sure you’re going to want to take out your phone and camera immediately to capture the beautiful lake, but hold your horses. Because although the views are worth every drop of sweat, space will most likely be limited if you decide to come on a nice, summer day.
Setting up your home for the night
Finally. You can take the weight off your shoulders now. While it’s time to scout for a place to set up your tent, I’d advise not setting up closer to the lake because of mosquitoes. Yes, it’s tempting to set up your tent to wake up to the beautiful reflections of Mount Shasta reflecting off of Heart Lake. But if you don’t want to be itching in your sleep, avoid the handful of bugs wanting to take a bite of your skin!
There’s pockets of space to set up your tent away from the lake, and your views will be just as beautiful. Smaller rocks are located around the premise so you can prevent the wind from blowing your tent over at night as well. If you still need some privacy, there’s also space to set up your tent towards the back right of the lake.
Additional views at the top
No matter where you choose to settle down, you’ll see that you can go even higher up. As you’ll have enough time to catch the lasts of the sun setting, the small hike to the very top will take you another 10 minutes (if you speed walk up the hill like I did).
At the very top, look down and you’ll see the entirety of Castle Lake. The moment I took my first glance, I wanted to cry because of how beautiful the lake is. I couldn’t believe my eyes and wanted the moment to last.
Also, if you’re trying to digitally capture this view, make sure you have a wide enough lens to capture the entire lake. What’s great about getting to the top is that you can now hike up hands and shoulders free, and gaze at nature’s wonders. Plus, since you’re higher in elevation, you’ll have more light to help guide your way back down to the campgrounds.
Swimming in Heart Lake
Swimming is allowed in Heart Lake, anytime of the day. The water isn’t as cold as many may think and because the water is extremely shallow, don’t attempt to dive in the water.
There are rocks on the bottom so make sure you’re careful of every step, and don’t forget to bring a pair of water shoes. Take a stroll in the water as the sun starts to rise and meditate along the bigger rocks surrounding the lake.
Good Nights Rest
Heart Lake is known to be a spiritual place, so make sure you don’t anger anyone by flying your drone. If you’re getting up for sunrise, be cognizant of the families around you because their kids will most likely be sleeping.
Spend the day hanging out and relaxing with friends and family, and don’t forget to bring a light for a campfire and of course, a deck of monopoly deal. Heart Lake is a mesmerizing place that is great for a weekend trip. There’s more than enough scenery with beautiful views that will have you not wanting to go back home for the work week.
The Heart Lake Trail provides just enough exercise, and plenty of photos to edit for the month. If the Heart Lake Trail is your first hike, this is just the right amount of challenge.
Again, don’t forget to bring lots of water for the weekend, even though going up may be a bigger challenge. Take in the views and enjoy your time up in Heart Lake.
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