Mount Doom is a spectacular pyramid-like crag hidden away in the brush of Castle Rock State Park, northwest of Goat Rock. Although visible from below, via the Saratoga Gap Trail, the difficult approach guarantees some degree of solitude, relative to Goat. The easiest route, "Slab Route", is a long and sporty 5.7 on Mount Doom's expansive west face. An amazing number of anchor bolts allow numerous toprope options on other routes.
Getting There
From the CRSP parking lot, descend toward Castle Rock falls for about 1/2 mile. Follow signs to Goat Rock and continue for another 1/2 mile. Just a short distance past Goat Rock, turn left toward the scenic overlook. Turn right onto a faint use trail about a hundred feet from the overlook proper. The track improves as you descend steeply through Manzanita and Madrone. After a couple hundred yards, you arrive at the shaded south face of Mount Doom.
Etymology: Mount Doom was named by Chris Hawn. Chris told me in an e-mail that, "I was big on the Lord of the Rings trilogy 20 years ago, and when I/we came across the obelisk from the regular trail, it just seemed plain it was Mount Doom. Plus, as we bushwhacked up to it, we thought we were "doomed" many times! The name seemed appropriate."
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