Carey's Castle

The hike to Carey's Castle is best done by experienced hikers up for a challenge. The hike is 9-miles round trip and rises an elevation of 1400-feet. It is classified as a strenuous hike and it will take about five to six hours. You are going to need to cut away at bushes and greenery on the trail to get through. Some people consider this a secret hike, even though plenty of hikers make the trek each year. The true secret is something you find when you arrive at the castle, provided you find the castle. It has been in existence for more than 60 years and hikers appreciate the serenity and solace of the hike. Finding the trailhead might be a challenge for those who do not know their way around Joshua Tree. The best season for making the hike is winter, when the desert region is cooler and more tolerable. Most hikers bring along a GPS to help them find their way in and out, but there is debate over finding the coordinates for some of the features along the hike. The hike requires a bit of scrambling, so pack as light as possible for the hike so crawling is not cumbersome. Much of the trail areas are sandy and graveling, so good hiking boots are a must. There are cacti along the route, so tread carefully.