Round Mountain is a volcanic plug sitting near the southern (upper) end of Castle
Valley. This valley is about fifteen miles east of Moab. Its position in the middle
of the valley makes it an ideal place for surveying the terrain in all directions.

I first saw it during my 2004 trip: as I drove around a curve at the north end of the
valley it came into view. Immediately it called to me. In my mind danced the standard
thoughts: What does it look like up close? What route leads to the top, and what will
it feel like to follow it? What natural features will I see? What is the view from the
top like? If I had not pooped out from the heat on that trip (Ida Gulch hike), I might
have climbed it then. It wasn't meant to be. I got revenge on this trip: sweet it was.

Round Mountain appears at the center of this WikiMapia aerial photo:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=38612042&x=-109361172&z=13&l=0&m=a&v=2 .
(Mouse over the rectangles to see names of features. Click in a rectangle to read about a feature.)
.