Castle Peak (California) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Castle Peak
Castle Peak from Andesite Peak
Highest point
Elevation	9,109 ft (2,776 m) NAVD 88
Prominence	1,343 ft (409 m)
Listing	Sierra Peaks Section
Geography
Castle Peak Location in California Show map of California Castle Peak Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Nevada County, California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS Norden
Climbing
Easiest route	Exposed scramble (class 3)

Castle Peak is a cool mountain in California. It is part of the big Sierra Nevada mountain range. You can find it close to a major highway called I-80, near Donner Pass. It is also not far from the Nevada border.

This mountain is inside the Tahoe National Forest, a large protected area. It is even right next to a famous hiking path called the Pacific Crest Trail. Castle Peak gets its name because its pointy shape looks a bit like an old castle.

Mountain Weather

The weather at Castle Peak is like what you would find in high mountains. This is called an alpine climate zone. Most of the weather comes from the Pacific Ocean. These weather systems travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains.

When weather fronts hit the tall peaks, the air is forced to rise. As the air goes up, it cools down and drops its moisture. This means lots of rain or snow falls on the mountains. Donner Pass, which is nearby, gets about 51.6 inches (131 cm) of rain each year. It also gets a huge amount of snow, averaging about 411.5 inches (10.45 meters) per year. This makes it one of the snowiest places in the United States.

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