| |
| Castle Rock State Park |
| |
| This is
a spectacular course!
It begins at Saratoga Gap and travels down the Old Saratoga Toll Road.
After a few downhill miles, the course
heads deep into the wilderness on the Travertine Springs Trail. It
crosses the
San Lorenzo River near its headwaters on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains,
then passes
through the Castle Rock Trail Camp area.
Sweeping views
of the coast and Monterrey Bay dominate the
scenery along the Saratoga Gap Trail through Castle Rock State Park
(if it's clear). Following a final climb up to
Castle Rock, the return stretch follows the Bay Area
Ridge Trail north back to Saratoga Gap. |
| |
| Features: |
- A 100 foot waterfall
- Magnificent scenery
- Remote trails
- Varied terrain
- Incredible views
|
| Distance: |
| The standard loop is a long 13 miles
with
2,370 feet of vertical gain over the course. Many
longer options are available. |
|
Trail Map: |
 |
| Directions to Start: |
| We'll meet in the parking lot at Saratoga
Gap, the junction of Highways 9 and 35 on the boarder of Santa Clara and
Santa Cruz counties. To get there, take Saratoga Avenue south from either
I-280 or California Highway 85. Continue south on Saratoga Avenue to Old
Town Saratoga. Keep on this road which changes its name to Highway 9 (Big
Basin Way). Go west on Highway 9, and after about seven miles up the
mountain you will reach the junction with Highway 35. Turn left (south) on
Highway 35 then take another immediate left into the parking lot. Meet
there. |
| |
| Course Description: |
| Counter clockwise loop course through
Castle Rock State Park. |
|
Trail |
Segment Distance |
Total Distance |
Location |
|
0.00 |
0.00 |
Saratoga Gap |
|
Skyline to the Sea Trail |
0.50 |
0.50 |
Junction with Saratoga Toll Road |
|
Saratoga Toll Road |
2.70 |
3.20 |
Junction with Travertine Springs Trail |
|
Travertine Springs Trail |
2.10 |
5.30 |
Junction with Saratoga Gap Trail (Fireroad) |
|
Saratoga Gap Trail |
0.40 |
5.70 |
Junction with Frog Flat Trail |
|
0.30 |
6.00 |
Castle Rock Trail Camp
(Water faucet here.) |
|
0.10 |
6.10 |
Junction with Ridge Trail |
|
1.00 |
7.10 |
Junction with Ridge Trail Cutoff |
|
1.00 |
8.10 |
Castle Rock Falls |
|
0.50 |
8.60 |
Castle Rock Trail Junction |
|
Castle Rock Trail |
0.75 |
9.35 |
Castle Rock |
|
0.35 |
9.70 |
Castle Rock Parking Lot |
|
Highway 9 |
0.20 |
9.90 |
Junction with Skyline Ridge Trail |
|
Skyline Ridge Trail |
0.90 |
10.80 |
Junction with Service Road |
|
0.60 |
11.40 |
Junction with Loughry Woods Trail |
|
0.50 |
11.90 |
Junction with New Horse Trail |
|
1.10 |
13.00 |
Saratoga Gap |
