Waterman Gap/Saratoga Gap Loop

Castle Rock State Park

(Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail Section 1)

Hike Data:

Length: 13.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,600 feet
Elevation Loss: 1,600 feet
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Difficulty: 3/5
Rating: 3.5/5
Other Information: There is no fee. Pit toilets are available at Waterman Gap Trail Camp.
Date Last Hiked: Saturday, June 1, 2002

Introduction:

Although my initial reason for doing this loop was to try out the section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail between Saratoga Gap and Waterman Gap (which I'll call "Section 1"), I found that this was a very neat place to hike. The Skyline-to-the-Sea trail is a roughly 28 mile trail connecting Saratoga Gap to Big Basin State Park, and finally to the Pacific Ocean at Waddell Beach on Highway 1. It's a nice backpacking trip (that I plan to do someday) because it is overall downhill. Most people add a bit more distance (6.5 miles or so) by starting at the main entrance to Castle Rock State Park, primarily because the section of trail along Saratoga Gap Trail between the entrance and the Castle Rock Trail Camp provides fantastic views of the valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Having already hiked that extra "Section 0", I decided to tackle the next section. Although most sane people do the entire trip as a 2 or 3 day backpacking trip, I decided to be weird and do it in sections... This part of the trail is contained in Castle Rock State Park.

Castle Rock State Park derives it's name from a strange looking rock (made of sandstone) just inside the main entrance. To me, the big draw at Castle Rock is the views along the Saratoga Gap Trail, which are just about unparalleled in the Bay Area. The trail is also fairly rocky and challenging. However, on this loop, I would not get anywhere near that part of the park, instead concentrating on the lower elevations and some pristine trails (mostly singletrack) through the trees and valley below.

Getting There:

Note: Use the large paved parking area for Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve.

From Saratoga or the South Bay: Take Highway 9 West from Saratoga. Follow it as it winds up the side of the mountain to Saratoga Gap at the intersection with Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd). Continue straight across Highway 35 as Highway 9 now drops back down the other side of the ridge. Follow the road until a few hundred feet North of the junction with Highway 236 (there will be a "hiker crossing" sign just before it), and pull off to the right into the dirt parking area.

From the Northern Peninsula: Take Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd) South until you reach the intersection with Highway 9 at Saratoga Gap. Turn right (West) onto Highway 9 as it drops down toward Big Basin. Follow the road until a few hundred feet North of the junction with Highway 236 (there will be a "hiker crossing" sign just before it), and pull off to the right into the dirt parking area.

From Santa Cruz or Felton: Take Highway 9 North to the Northern intersection with Highway 236. Just past the intersection, pull off into the dirt parking area on the left side of Highway 9.