Along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Castle Rock State Park encompasses more than 3,600 acres of coast redwood, Douglas-fir, and Madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are popular with rock climbers. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. These trails are part of an even more extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys with Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and the Pacific Coast.
Castle Rock State Park is approximately 64 miles southwest from my home in Berkeley, California. This hike was led by Chris Kimball under the auspices of the Stanford University Outing Club.
Some hike factoids and statistics: Time on the trail: 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Number of hikers: 27. Distance covered: 8.94 miles. Total ascent: 1,650 feet. Maximum elevation: 2,140 feet. Route: Sempervirens Point => Skyline to the Sea Trail => Cutoff Trail => Saratoga Toll Road Trail => Travertine Springs Trail => Saratoga Gap Trail => Saratoga Gap => Skyline to the Sea Trail => Sempervirens Point
