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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... DAY TRIPPIN' DAY TRIPPIN': Castle Lake for stress-free family adventure Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM --> You can be a travel writer Do you have a favorite destination or scenic drive that’s within a couple hours of the Rogue Valley? If so, email us a 300- to 500-word story about it... » Read more X You can be a travel writer Do you have a favorite destination or scenic drive that’s within a couple hours of the Rogue Valley? If so, email us a 300- to 500-word story about it that includes directions, and send pictures if you have them, to Mail Tribune features editor David Smigelski at [email protected] . » Social News Editor's Note: Day Trippin' is a regular feature that gives readers a chance to play tour guide and tell us about a nearby getaway. By Nikki Hart-Brinkley for the Mail Tribune It's nearing 10 on a Sunday morning and I am wondering what to do with a couple of energetic boys under 5. Blue-jay skies and sunshine invite adventure, and our big canoe has been strapped to the car for two days, anticipating a day trip. A friend recommended Castle Lake in Northern California as one of her "favorite places on Earth." That's a pretty fair recommendation, so off we go. We toss a quick picnic on top of the life vests and paddles, head south on Interstate 5 over the Siskiyou summit and descend into the open, spring green of Northern California's rocky ranges. We pass Yreka, then Weed, offering easy stops for snacks and breaks. The boys delight as the giant forms of Mount Shasta and its sidekick Shastina draw closer. The landscape becomes dotted with volcanic rock as we near the city of Mt. Shasta, passing the steep volcanic dome of Black Butte. We leave the highway at the central Mt. Shasta exit and wind along side roads, past Mt. Shasta Resort and Siskiyou Lake. At Castle Lake Road we begin our ascent; a seven-mile long, paved road through the heavenly scent of pines warming in the sun. Just before reaching the parking area, we pass Castle Lake campground, a half-dozen primitive campsites that are on our list for summer tent excursions. The road ends in a circular parking area with gravel trails leading to the water's edge. The boys bolt to the lake, testing out their water shoes in the clear cold of this glacial gem. The designated "boat launch" is an incredibly steep dive from shore to water, too precarious to edge our 75-pound behemoth canoe down. Fortunately there are several short trails that provide ample options for launching. We easily carry our canoe from car to shore and are in the water without incident. At 47 acres, the lake is small, with a few tiny nooks not visible from where we put in. Perhaps not a challenge for the water-sport enthusiast, it is uniquely ideal for a leisurely paddle by canoe, kayak or standup paddleboard. The calm, debris-free water offers clear views to the bottom in all but the deepest places. The boys delight in spotting submerged boulders, pretending they are prehistoric creatures of the deep. We circle the entire lake, slowly taking in each little marvel along the way. The wooded, trail-lined shore gives way to a steep rocky wall at the far side of the lake. Here, small waterfalls surprise us around each turn and we hug the rock face closely to touch the fresh water tumbling into the lake. We see little in the way of wildlife, though trout are rumored to hang out in the depths, and a pair of hopeful anglers put in lines from the shore. We end our journey around the lake after an hour or so, our little travelers getting fidgety. They explore the nearby rocks and bushes as we load up. A quick descent back toward Mt. Shasta, and we are back on I-5 in no time. The boys nod off, and a quiet drive home is the perfect end to a family day trip. To get there, take I-5 south to the Central Mt. Shasta exit. Turn right onto West Lake Street and continue straight onto Hatchery Lane. Turn left on South Old Stage Road and a slight right into West A Barr Road. Turn left on Ney Springs Road and a slight right onto Castle Lake Road for seven miles. Nikki Hart-Brinkley lives in Ashland. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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