Castle Lake Viewpoint

Castle Lake Viewpoint sits at 3,368 feet along the byway between Sediment Dam Viewpoint and Castle Lake Viewpoint Observation Site, facing 120 degrees with the land dropping 834 feet within 600 meters of the overlook. The North Fork Toutle River lies south-southeast at 0.9 mile, and Coldwater Creek is visible southeast at 1.1 miles. Castle Peak rises to 4,567 feet at 3.5 miles south, with Johnston Ridge, Blastzone Butte, and Studebaker Ridge visible to the east-southeast and east at distances from 4.2 to 5.5 miles. Farther east, Coldwater Peak reaches 5,719 feet and Minnie Peak 5,505 feet, both beyond 5.6 miles, with Saint Helens Lake at 6.1 miles in the same direction. The South Fork Toutle River and Harrys Ridge, including the peak Harry's Ridge at 4,751 feet, appear to the south-southeast and east-southeast at 6.1 miles. Because the view faces toward sunrise, morning light crosses the overlook directly; sunrise ranges from 05:18 at the June solstice to 07:50 at the December solstice. The nearest towns are Morton, 18.1 miles north, Mossyrock, 18.4 miles north-northwest, and Randle, 23.2 miles northeast.