Castle Rock via Badger Trail in Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area BLM, AZ

Hike Castle Rock via Badger Trail Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area BLM, AZ

Class 3 8.4 miles 1400 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Nov 9, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Castle Rock via Badger Trail GPX Track

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I've passed Castle Rock many times while driving south from Vegas. It's really just a cluster of boulders north of Kingman AZ, but actually ended up being a really fun Class 3 scramble using an excellent trail approach. You can see Castle Rock to the east of AZ-93, but it doesn't look like much from below. I parked at the Badger Trailhead within Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area and followed the twisting trail as it slowly gained elevation through the foothills. There's an official map for the well-laid trail system, complete with trail names. The trail is used by mountain bikers as well, so the switchbacks are long and well-graded. Unfortunately, you can see the highway for the first stretch of the hike, but once the trail wraps around and reaches the eastern slopes the views became a bit nicer, though fairly typical for the area. 

The Badger Trail ascended to a minor ridgeline above, where it reached a junction with the officially-named Castle Rock Trail. This trail is a bit long and starts farther east, additional miles I decided to skip by instead choosing to take the Badger Trail. The Castle Rock Trail doesn't actually go to the summit of Castle Rock, instead traversing beneath the ridge crest to a small "End" sign a few hundred feet before Castle Rock itself. I continued west through some Class 2 boulders, where I got a viewpoint of Castle Rock just ahead. It appeared to be a scary-looking face from this angle. I was a bit dishearened, but figured it wouldn't hurt to look for a way up on the opposite side. I determined the best way to get there would be to wrap around the right side of the summit tower. Hugging the wall resulted in some harder climbing moves on big boulders, but dropping just to the right a few feet led through a small Class 2/3 boulder maze to the base of what seemed like a viable option. Large boulder slabs were layered on one another and I was able to pull a few Class 3 moves on very solid rock to gain the top of Castle Rock. It was quite fun.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Castle Rock
4634 ft
129 rise

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Badger Trail trailhead.
Badger Trail trailhead.
Along the Badger Trail, which snakes around the foothills. AZ-93 seen on the right.
Along the Badger Trail, which snakes around the foothills. AZ-93 seen on the right.
View back toward the trailhead.
View back toward the trailhead.
The trail wraps around to the east side of the hills, where the highway is now out of sight.
The trail wraps around to the east side of the hills, where the highway is now out of sight.
View back.
View back.
The Badger Trail leads to a minor ridge above.
The Badger Trail leads to a minor ridge above.
View back down the switchbacks. I came from the left in this photo. You can see AZ-93 in the distance.
View back down the switchbacks. I came from the left in this photo. You can see AZ-93 in the distance.
At the minor ridge, Castle Rock seen left. This is a junction with the Castle Rock Trail, which I followed.
At the minor ridge, Castle Rock seen left. This is a junction with the Castle Rock Trail, which I followed.
View back toward the junction.
View back toward the junction.
Castle Rock ahead.
Castle Rock ahead.
End of trail sign. I continued through the boulders ahead, Class 2.
End of trail sign. I continued through the boulders ahead, Class 2.
Class 2 through the boulders, Castle Rock poking up ahead.
Class 2 through the boulders, Castle Rock poking up ahead.
View back.
View back.
Castle Rock ahead.
Castle Rock ahead.
Close-up of Castle Rock. Nothing looked good on this side. I wrapped around it on the right.
Close-up of Castle Rock. Nothing looked good on this side. I wrapped around it on the right.
View back as I wrap around.
View back as I wrap around.
View at the Class 3 stacks of boulder slabs. Ascending here is tougher due to the large boulders, but if you drop just right you can use Class 2/3 boulder-hopping instead.
View at the Class 3 stacks of boulder slabs. Ascending here is tougher due to the large boulders, but if you drop just right you can use Class 2/3 boulder-hopping instead.
Class 2/3.
Class 2/3.
At the base of the scramble.
At the base of the scramble.
View down the first section.
View down the first section.
Second portion of the scramble.
Second portion of the scramble.
Image 21 from gallery
Close-up at the final bit.
Close-up at the final bit.
View down the whole Class 3 scramble.
View down the whole Class 3 scramble.
On top of Castle Rock view back the way I came.
On top of Castle Rock view back the way I came.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!