Bay Area Hiker: Castle Rock State Park Castle Rock State Park

Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Start from the western edge of the parking lot, following signs to Waterfall Connector Trail.
0.3: Junction. Turn right onto Saratoga Gap Trail.
0.45: Junction. Take Ridge Trail, right, uphill.
0.8: Top of Goat Rock and two signed junctions. Bear left and after a few feet, bear right on Ridge Trail, "to Campground."
1.0: Junction with path from the Interpretive Center. Bear left to stay on Ridge Trail.
1.3: Junction with a connector to Saratoga Gap Trail. Continue straight on Ridge Trail, "to campground."
2.1: Ridge Trail meets Saratoga Gap Trail at a signed junction. Turn left onto Saratoga Gap Trail.
3.1: Junction with connector trail. Continue straight on Saratoga Gap Trail.
3.85: Waterfall viewing platform, on the right.
4.0: Previously encountered junction. Turn right and retrace your steps uphill on Saratoga Gap Trail and then Waterfall Connector Trail.
4.45: Back at the parking lot.

Getting there:
• From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, take CA 92 west, then turn south onto Skyline Boulevard (CA 35).  Drive about 25.5 miles, to the junction of 35 and 9 (Saratoga Gap). Continue about 2 miles further south on 35, to the Robert C. Kirkwood Entrance on the right side of the road (the old entrance and parking lot are 1/2 mile further south on Skyline Boulevard).
• From CA 85 in Santa Clara County, exit Saratoga Avenue. Drive west into Saratoga, then continue uphill on CA 9. At Saratoga Gap (junction 9 and CA 35), turn left and drive south about 2 miles to Robert C. Kirkwood Entrance on the right side of the road (the old entrance and parking lot are 1/2 mile further south on Skyline Boulevard).

GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude 37°13'55.45"N
Longitude
122° 5'56.13"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/castlerock.html

© 2019 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker