With one short jog from Interstate 5 in Northern California, you can discover the state park that is hidden in plain sight.
The turnoff is at Castella, bound for Castle Crags State Park. Drivers on I-5 get eye-popping views of the granite spires, pyramids and a missile-shaped dome that poke 6,000-foot holes in the sky.
Each hour, about 2,000 vehicles pass by Castle Crags, according to Caltrans. Of those, an average of about 18 — or roughly .09 percent — take the Castella turnoff. Most make the short drive into the park to Vista Point, take pictures of Castle Crags, use the restroom, and then head back to I-5. Only a handful stay to hike, bike, fish, explore or camp.
Even on three-day weekends, Castle Crags is one of the few state parks that has available campsites. In addition, the park has some little-known walk-in sites nestled near the upper Sacramento River, a mile from the main campgrounds.
Seeing the towering crags for the first time can be shocking — but it’s only the start.
Check out these fantastic hiking trails…
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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