Pleasant hike in the western section of Castle Rock.

Location: Castle Rock State Park — Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve

» Official Trail Map: Good for trails near Park HQ. Other trails are not shown in this map.

» Official Trail MAp: Shows all parts of the park. Mileage and contour information missing.

» Redwood Hikes Map: Bay Area Trail Map: Saratoga to Big Basin, First edition, 2010. This is an excellent map sold by Dave Baselt ($6.95 in Dec 2011). This map is useful for exploring many parks in this area. Highly recommended for avid hikers.

Saratoga Gap / Long Ridge (3.8 miles): From the trail head, follow Saratoga Gap Trail (1.7 miles) → Bay Area Ridge Trail (0.3 miles) to reach Highway 35. Cross over the highway. Then enter Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. Follow Bay Area Ridge Trail (0.1 miles) → Achistaca Trail (1.7 miles).

To Intersection of Hwy 9 and Hwy 236 (6.0 miles): Turn right on Skyline to the Sea Trail going south (1.5 miles). Cross Highway 9 again to continue along Skyline to the Sea Trail (1.5 miles). At this point, there is a junction with Beekhuis Road Trail. In Nov 2012, this junction was unmarked. Continue along Skyline to the Sea Trail (3.0 miles) to reach the intersection of Hwy 9 and Hwy 236.

To Beekhuis Road Trail (5.2 miles): From the intersection of Hwy 236 and Hwy 9, find signposts for Skyline to the Sea Trail going south towards Big Basin Park HQ. Follow Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.6 miles) → left on a connector trail that goes to Saratoga Toll Road (1.5 miles). The connector trail crosses Hwy 9. Upon reaching Hwy 9, turn left and walk a few steps to see a signpost marking the connector trail. Continue along the Connector Trail (0.2 miles), then turn left on Saratoga Toll Road (2.9 miles) to reach an intersection with Beekhuis Road Trail.

To Trailhead (3.3 miles): Continue along Saratoga Toll Road (0.8 miles) to reach a junction with Travertine Springs Trail. Continue along Saratoga Toll Road (2.0 miles) to reach an intersection with Skyline to the Sea Trail. Continue along Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.5 miles) to return to trail head.

Notes: Along Saratoga Toll Road, near the intersection with Beekhuis Road Trail, there were some unmarked intersections in Dec 2012. We followed the strategy of avoided trails which were losing elevation quickly, and didn't get lost. There were unmarked intersections along Saratoga Toll Road close to the trailhead as well.

Location: Intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd) . Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From Highway 85, take Exit 14 for Saratoga Ave going south. After 1.8 miles, continue along Big Basin Way (Highway 9) for 7.3 miles to reach the junction with Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd)

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: October 2010)

Capacity: About 20 cars.

Latitude: 37.258513     Longitude: -122.121955