TrailStompers.com: San Francisco Bay Area Trail Running

Castle Rock State Park covers 5,200 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the intersection of Hwy 9 and 35, southwest of Saratoga.  It offers over 35 miles of trails, ranging from graded fire roads to rugged boulder-filled singletrack.  Because the elevation ranges from less than 800 to over 3000 feet, the park offers great trail running with moderate to lengthy climbs.  The scenery ranges from redwood-filled gulches to mountain-top overlooks.  The weather is most often moderate, although it can be very hot in the summer.  Even though many people visit the park, because of the numerous trails you often run for miles without passing a soul.  A good trail map, water, and a cell phone is highly recommended when going on long runs here!

The Dirt:

• The official web site can be found here.
• The official (and very poor) free map is located here.
• A much better topographic trail map is available from Virtualparks FOR FREE!  Click here to download the map.
• For directions to the Saratoga Gap parking area via Google Maps click here.  (Note: Saratoga Gap is at the intersection of Hwy 9 and 35.)
  

Extras:

• There are two primitive campgrounds in the park: Castle Rock Trail Camp and Waterman Gap Trail Camp.  Water is provided at both campgrounds.  For reservations and camping info, refer to the official web site.
  

This loop is a great introduction to Castle Rock State Park.  Even though the run is fairly short, you pass by three of the highlights of the park: Castle Rock Falls, Goat Rock, and the infamous "cable section" on the Saratoga Gap Trail.  The Saratoga Gap Trail is very rocky and can be slow going, but the spectacular views from the trail are well worth the effort!  This run starts at the Castle Rock Main Entrance.  From Saratoga Gap (Hwy 9/35 junction), head south on Hwy 35 (Skyline Blvd) for about 2.5 miles until you reach the Main Entrance on your right.  To start the run, head downhill following the trail for Castle Rock Falls.

• 0.0 mi: Start heading down toward Castle Rock Falls.
  
• 0.6 mi: Junction with Ridge Trail.  Stay left on the Saratoga Gap Trail to head toward Castle Rock Falls.
  
• 0.7 mi: At the falls overlook.  Stop, admire the falls, then continue on Saratoga Gap Trail for two miles.  You will pass the Connector Trail on your right, and then get ready for some great views!  You will also pass a section where a cable has been installed to hold on to since the footing is "questionable".
  
• 2.6 mi: Sharp right turn onto the Ridge Trail.  (Note: if you need water, you can continue on the Saratoga Gap Trail for 0.1 mi to the Castle Rock Trail Camp, then retrace your steps to return to the Ridge Trail.)
  
• 3.4 mi: Pass the Connector Trail on your right.
• 3.7 mi: Turn right to head toward Goat Rock and continue on the Ridge Trail.
• 3.9 mi: At Goat Rock.  Say 'hi' to the rock climbers, then continue on the Ridge Trail.
• 4.4 mi: Intersection with the Saratoga Gap Trail.  Cross the stream and turn left to climb back towards the car.
• 5.0 mi: Back at the car!
  

This loop is a challenging run with some great climbing and excellent views.  It incorporates the highlights of the previous run with the steady, moderate Saratoga Toll Road climb.  If you are going to try this run, please take a trail map with you, since some of the trails are confusing.  This run starts at the Saratoga Gap parking area.  To start the run, head south on the Skyline trail, which begins at the southeast side of the paved parking area (the side away from the 9/35 junction).

For an overview map of the route click here.  For an elevation profile click here.

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a turn that is easy to miss!

• 0.0 mi: Start out on the Skyline Trail.
  
• 1.1 mi: Stay left on the "Pedestrians Only" trail.
  
• 1.8 mi: *Cross over Skyline Blvd to get on the Loghry Woods Trail.  (Note: It is very hard to see the Loghry Woods Trail, but you can tell when to cross because this is the first time that the Skyline trail runs along the shoulder of Skyline Blvd.)
  
• 3.6 mi: Loghry Woods Trail ends.  Turn right onto the Service Road Trail.
  
• 3.7 mi: At the Castle Rock Trail Camp.  Fill up your water bottle, then continue along the Service Road.  Shortly after, turn right onto the Saratoga Gap/Ridge Trail.
  
• 3.8 mi: Veer left to get on the Ridge Trail.
• 4.6 mi: Pass the Connector Trail on your right.
• 4.9 mi: Turn right to head toward Goat Rock and continue on the Ridge Trail.
• 5.1 mi: At Goat Rock.  Say 'hi' to the rock climbers, then continue on the Ridge Trail.
• 5.6 mi: Intersection with the Saratoga Gap Trail.  Cross the stream and turn right to get on the Saratoga Gap Trail.
• 5.7 mi: At the falls overlook.  Stop, admire the falls, then continue on Saratoga Gap Trail for two miles.  You will pass the Connector Trail on your right, and then get ready for some great views!  You will also pass a section where a cable has been installed to hold on to since the footing is "questionable".
  
• 7.6 mi: Intersection with the Ridge Trail.  Stay left to continue back towards the Castle Rock Trail Camp.
  
• 7.7 mi: Turn left on the Service Road Trail.
  
• 7.8 mi: At the Castle Rock Trail Camp.  Fill up your bottle, then start heading downhill on the Saratoga Gap Trail towards Saratoga Gap (this is a wide fire road).
  
• 8.1 mi: Pass Flat Frog Trail on your left.  Continue on the Saratoga Gap Trail.
  
• 8.5 mi: Turn left onto Travertine Springs Trail.
  
• 10.6 mi: Travertine Springs Trail ends. Turn right onto Saratoga Toll Road and start climbing!  Note that the Saratoga Toll Road was the original road before the present Hwy 9 was constructed.
  
• 13.3 mi: Pass Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail on your left.  Continue on the Saratoga Toll Road towards Saratoga Gap.
  
• 13.7 mi: Back at the car!

This run is the ultimate tour of the park, and not for the faint of heart.  Luckily, there is water along the way at Castle Rock Trail Camp, and it is possible to also hide an extra water bottle near Saratoga Gap for later use.  If you are going to try this run, please take a trail map with you, since some of the trails are confusing.  That said, this run is awesome!!  This run starts at Waterman Gap, near the intersection of Hwy 9 and 236.  From Saratoga Gap, continue westward on Hwy 9 toward Big Basin.  After about 6 miles, you will reach the intersection of Hwy 9/236.  Turn right onto a service road and park your car in the dirt parking area just to the right.  The run starts by running along Hwy 236 toward Big Basin.

Update 2/28/10: Did this loop in reverse for the first time.  It's a great run in reverse (except for the mile-long climb at the end!) but one word of caution: keep a sharp eye out for signs and trail junctions.  The trails are not marked as well in the reverse direction!

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a turn that is easy to miss!

• 0.0 mi: Start out along Hwy 236.  After a few hundred feet, veer left onto the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, which heads off to the left side of the road.
  
• 0.6 mi: Turn left onto the Skyline-to-the-Sea/Toll Road Interconnector Trail.  You will descend steeply for a bit.  After about 1/2-mile the trail will come out to a clearing under some high-tension lines.  Continue straight onto the narrow singletrack into the woods.
  
• 2.4 mi: Cross over Hwy 9 and head a bit to the left to continue on the Interconnector Trail.
  
• 2.5 mi: The trail ends on the Saratoga Toll Road.  Turn Left.
  
• 3.0 mi: *You will come to a small house on the left (with strange green plants growing in the window).  Turn sharply right to continue on the Saratoga Toll Road Trail.
  
• 5.7 mi: Pass the Beekhuis Road Trail on your left.  Continue on the Saratoga Toll Road.
  
• 6.5 mi: *Turn right onto Travertine Springs Trail.  This turn is located just after a small landslide, and is very easy to miss!  You will descend, and then climb again, sometimes steeply.  Look to the right for great views!
  
• 8.6 mi: Trail ends.  Turn right onto the Saratoga Gap Trail (fire road).  Climb steeply towards the Castle Rock Trail Camp.
  
• 9.3 mi: At the camp.  Fill your bottle and then head along the Service Road Trail towards Loghry Woods Trail.
  
• 9.4 mi: *Turn left onto the Loghry Woods Trail, and climb towards Skyline Blvd.
  
• 11.2 mi: Cross over Skyline Blvd, and turn left onto the Skyline Trail.
  
• 11.3 mi: Stay right on the "Pedestrians Only" trail.
  
• 12.6 mi: Stay right on the "Pedestrians Only" trail.
  
• 12.9 mi: Trail ends in the Saratoga Gap parking lot.  Fill up on a Mr. Mustard hot dog if you're feeling lucky...  Then cross Skyline Blvd and start running down the left shoulder of Hwy 9 toward Big Basin.  After a few hundred feet, veer left onto the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail (this part is a fire road).
  
• 13.3 mi: *Turn right and climb up towards Hwy 9 to stay on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.
  
• 13.4 mi: Cross Hwy 9, then turn left to continue on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.  Over the next 1.5 miles, you will pass several other trails, but continue to stay on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.
  
• 14.9 mi: The trail comes out on a driveway.  Run up the driveway, cross Hwy 9, and then continue on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail toward Waterman Gap.  Over the next 4 miles, the trail will cross several access roads, or follow roads for a while.  Be careful to look for the signs for Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail!
  
• 19.0 mi: At the Waterman Gap Trail Camp.  Turn right to continue on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, and climb briefly.
  
• 19.3 mi: Cross Hwy 9, then turn left to continue on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail towards Big Basin.
  
• 19.4 mi: Back at the car!