The Carbondale River forms at the edge of the Continental Divide and flows through the mountain meadows and forests of the Castle Special Management Area. It disappears into the Castle River due south of Burmis, and due west of Beaver Mines.

Dirt-Road, High Clearance Vehicle

Native cutthroat mix with naturalized rainbow trout in this walk-and-wade fishery.

A Class II and III river with Class IV ledges inside a narrow canyon.

From the southeast fringe of the Crowsnest Pass community of Hillcrest, follow the unpaved Adnac - O'Hagen Forestry Road through the Castle Special Management Area to the road's end at the T-intersection with Carbondale River Road. Turn west towards the river's headwaters at the foot of the Continental Divide.

Put-in at the bridge near the confluence with Lost Creek and continue 12 km to a roadside take-out before the river joins the Castle River.

The Lynx Creek Recreation Area campground, just west of the Carbondale River Road bridge over Lynx Creek, provides a variety of well-spaced campsites, including a few tent-only sites perched on ledges above a tumble of large pools.