Castle Trail
Photo: Log.base, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.5 mi
- round trip
- 187 ft
- climb
- 910 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Castle Trail is a short, easy hike in Missouri, about half a mile from the town of Hahatonka. The trail is an out-and-back, roughly 0.9 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 187 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.15 miles in, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The trail starts at an elevation of 877 feet and reaches a high point of 910 feet before returning to the starting level. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lakeside show October highs around 70°F with lows near 49°F, and April is similar at about 69°F and 47°F. That station sits about 320 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. Spring Trail is just 0.1 mile away, and Island Trail and Colosseum Trail are each about 0.3 mile off. For time on the water, the Niangua River is about half a mile away.
- Spring TrailHikingPhoto: Log.base, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
Island TrailHikingPhoto: Richard Ricciardi, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.2 mi- Colosseum TrailHikingPhoto: Log.base, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.3 mi
Quarry TrailHikingPhoto: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.3 mi- Lake TrailHikingPhoto: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.3 mi
- Niangua RiverRiver fishing0.5 mi
- Big Niangua River TrailCanoeing3.4 mi
- Dry Auglaize CreekCanoeing9.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Spring TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Log.base, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Turkey Pen Hollow TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Log.base, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Lake View Bend TrailHiking · ~22 min drivePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Island TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Richard Ricciardi, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Red TrailHiking · ~22 min drive
Natural Tunnel TrailHiking · ~32 min drivePhoto: rjones0856, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Colosseum TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Log.base, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Moreau Creek TrailHiking · ~1h 9m drive
- Cole Creek Red LoopHiking · ~50 min drive
- Lake TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Castle Trail
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
44° / 25°
7 wet
Feb
49° / 29°
6 wet
Mar
59° / 37°
9 wet
Apr
69° / 47°
11 wet
May
77° / 56°
12 wet
Jun
85° / 65°
10 wet
Jul
89° / 70°
8 wet
Aug
88° / 68°
8 wet
Sep
81° / 60°
8 wet
Oct
70° / 49°
8 wet
Nov
59° / 39°
7 wet
Dec
48° / 30°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lakeside, MO, 17.6 mi away at 590 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Route details
- Distance
- 0.5 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 187 ft
- Summit
- 912 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 0 hours
Other routes up Deers Leap Hill
Questions about this route
How long is the Castle Trail on Deers Leap Hill?
About 0.5 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Castle Trail?
About 187 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Castle Trail?
It is rated easy.
How long does the Castle Trail take?
About 0 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Deers Leap Hill?
2: Castle Trail and Quarry Trail.
Conditions and forecast on Deers Leap Hill
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
