Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 13, 2026

Castle Rocks

Castle Rocks is a 9,088-foot-elevation (2,770-meter) mountain summit in Tulare County, California, United States.

Last revised
Jun 13, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
658 w
Citations
25
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Castle Rocks
Northwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation9,088 ft (2,770 m)1
Prominence481 ft (147 m)2
Parent peakParadise Peak (9,362 ft)3
Isolation1.34 mi (2.16 km)3
Coordinates36°29′46″N 118°42′09″W / 36.4960687°N 118.7024237°W / 36.4960687; -118.70242371
Geography
Castle Rocks
Location in California
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Castle Rocks
Castle Rocks (the United States)
Show map of the United States
Country
United States
State
California
County
Tulare
Protected area
Sequoia National Park
Parent rangeSierra Nevada2
Topo mapUSGS Silver City
Geology
Rock ageEarly Cretaceous4
Rock type(s)Granodiorite and Granite4
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 43

Castle Rocks is a 9,088-foot-elevation (2,770-meter) mountain summit in Tulare County, California, United States.

Description

Castle Rocks is part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is set in Sequoia National Park. The highest point of the mountain is unofficially called Amphitheater Dome.25 Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Castle, Dome, and Paradise creeks which are tributaries of the Middle Fork Kaweah River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 5,700 feet (1,737 meters) above the river in three miles (4.8 km). This mountain's toponym was officially adopted on October 3, 1928, by the United States Board on Geographic Names.1

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Castle Rocks is located in an alpine climate zone.6 Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range.

Climbing

  • Castle Rock Spire - class 5.9 - First ascent April 28, 1950 - William Siri, Bill Long, Jim Wilson, Al Steck, Phil Bettler7
  • West Face of Castle Rock Spire - class 5.9 - FA 1969 - Fred Beckey, Galen Rowell, Mort Hempel, Ben Borson8
  • East Face of Castle Rock Spire - class 5.10 - FA July 2013 - Daniel Jeffcoach, Tom Ruddy9

Rock-climbing routes on The Fin:

  • Charley Knapp Route - class 5.9 - First ascent May 23, 1984 - Patrick Paul, Herb Laeger, Ron Carson5
  • Silver Lining - class 5.9 - FA May 26, 1985 - Patrick Paul, Herb Laeger, Eve Laeger, Ron Carson5
  • Aspire - class 5.9 - FA May 1986 - Herb Laeger, Richard Leversee5
  • North Buttress - class 5.10 - FA June 26, 1997 - Dave Nettle, Richard Leversee, Kevin Daniels5
  • Cutting Edge - class 5.9 - FA 2017 - Vitaliy Musiyenko, Daniel Jeffcoach10
  • Super Totally Trad - class 5.11 - FA 2017 - Vitaliy Musiyenko, Jeremy Ross10
  • Tainted Love - class 5.11 - FA 2017 - Vitaliy Musiyenko, Chaz Langelier10

Other routes:

  • The Gargoyle on South Guard - class 5.10 - FA 1983 - Herb Laeger, Eve Laeger, Rich Smith11
  • Beckey Route North Buttress of Amphitheater Dome - class 5.8 - 1968 - Fred Beckey, Roger Briggs, Jim Jones, Dave Leen12
See also

See also

  • Northwest aspect, viewed from Moro Rock
    Northwest aspect, viewed from Moro Rock
  • Northwest aspect, viewed from Moro Rock
    Northwest aspect, viewed from Moro Rock
  • Castle Rocks (centered)
    Castle Rocks (centered)
  • Castle Rocks (left of center), viewed from top of Moro Rock
    Castle Rocks (left of center), viewed from top of Moro Rock
  • North aspect viewed from Panther Gap
    North aspect viewed from Panther Gap
References

References

  1. "Castle Rocks". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  2. "Ampitheater Dome, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  3. "Amphitheater Dome - 9,081' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  4. Geologic Map of Southwestern Sequoia National Park, Tulare County, California, Thomas W. Sisson, United States Geological Survey, 2013.
  5. Secor, R.J. (1999). The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails (2nd ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers. pp. 126–127. ISBN 978-0898866254.
  6. "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  7. North America, United States, California, Sequoia National Park, Castle Rock Spire, Philip C. Bettler, 1951, publications.americanalpineclub.org, 2018, Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. North America, United States, California, Sierra Nevada, Castle Rock Spire, West Face, Galen Rowell, 1970, publications.americanalpineclub.org, Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  9. East Face, Mountainproject.com, Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  10. Castle Rocks, New Routes and Traverse, publications.americanalpineclub.org, 2018, Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  11. The Gargoyle Route, Mountainproject.com, Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  12. North America, United States, California, Sierra Nevada, Castle Rocks, North Buttress of Amphitheatre Dome, Fred Beckey, 1969, publications.americanalpineclub.org, 2018, Retrieved 2024-10-20.
External links