Round Mountain

This is a beautiful hike up a relatively small mountain (elevation 1,833 ft., elevation gain 860 ft.). The trail, which will give you a good workout, is about 1.9 miles in total and includes four westerly views and Rock Castle, a jumble of boulders with fissures and cracks formed by glacial activity and freeze-thaw cycles from 10,000 years ago.

The path is well made and easy to follow, with red arrows on wooden markers pointing the way. After steeply ascending for about 0.6 miles, you’ll reach the first viewpoint from a small open ledge. The Rock Castle Loop is another 0.1 miles farther. It makes a 0.5-mile ring just below the summit (the actual 1,833-foot summit has no views), and it brings hikers to three viewpoints and to the Rock Castle, itself. The descents on the loop can be quite steep.

It’s recommended you hike the loop counterclockwise — this way, you’ll hit two nice views before coming to the third view from atop the cliffs of Rock Castle. The big pile of rocks here is topped with a smooth spire-like rock (or perhaps it’s more turret-like?). You can access the castle from the loop path, which swings below it; look for a sign indicating the best access point. Be careful if you try to clamber around, the holes between the rocks are deep. For nimble-footed adventurers, it’s possible to make it to the top of the castle spires if you come up behind them.

The mountain is part of the protected Crooked River Headwaters easement.

Directions: From Route 5/35, turn onto Vernon Street, and then bear right onto Hunt’s Corner Road. Go 1.2 miles to the parking area on the left. There’s room for about six vehicles in the lot.