![]() | Castle RockCampground Map |
Campground Map of Castle Rock State Park (SP) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
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Castle Rock State Park
!
Wel
come
15000 Skyline Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95033 • (408) 867-2952
www.parks.ca.gov • www.santacruzstateparks.org
packing, horseback
The park encompasses
Be aware of the presence of poison oak,
riding and rock climbing.
over 5,200 acres of
rattlesnakes, ticks and mountain lions.
wildlands, and perches
To ensure that your visit
on the highest ridge in
is safe and enjoyable,
the Santa Cruz Mounplease stay on the trails,
tains, separating San
and abide by the regulaPoison Oak
Tick
Western Rattlesnake
Francisco and Monterey
Mountain Lion
tions listed on the back
Bays. Above the fog
of this handout.
and smog, the park offers over 35 miles of trails
Maps: Two maps are available: Castle Rock Trail
through a wide variety of plant and animal communiMap and Guide to Rocks & Climbing. To purchase
ties, interesting rock formations, and sweeping views
maps by mail, send $2.00 (make checks payable to
of the San Lorenzo Valley and Pacific Ocean. A few
Portola & CR Foundation) and a self-addressed,
of the activities visitors can enjoy are hiking, backstamped (2 oz. = 2 stamps) #10 envelope
(9-1/2" x 4-1/8") for each map of the park.
Always carry and drink plenty of water
to avoid becoming dehydrated. Water
availability in the park is very limited, and
temperatures can be very high.
Castle Rock Trail Camp has piped water.
Use caution when you are among or on
the rocks. Slips and falls can result in
serious injury.
k
re e
nj e
Bo
l
Trai
o
t R
Saratoga Gap
il
ck Loop
vic
e Road Trail
35
ing
Castle Rock
State Park
s
ra i
T
Spr
ne
ra i g
Private
Property
C ree
k
Gap
Tr a
l
Park
Entrance
Indian
Rock
i
x
Varian
Peak
il
Horse Trail
Information
Locked Gate
Parking
Restroom
Telephone
mi
C
Sk yli
C
i
Sum
tt i
e
Frog Flat Trail
lin
S er
Ridge Tra
il
S a ra to
ga
LEGEND
Rock
Tr
a
Castle Rock
Trail Camp
Russell
Point
x Summit
Sk y
Private
Property
Goat
Rock
Interpretive
Shelter
Castle
Rock
Creek
Paved Road
Service Road
Trail
Goat Rock
Overlook
Castle Rock Falls
and Overlook
35
map not to scale
© 2006 California State Parks
BACKPACKING AT THE TRAIL CAMPS
9
ce R
oad
t o g a G a p Tr a i l
S a ra
R idg
Waterman Gap
Trail Camp
4
2
the
5
6
3
Sea Trail
Horse Trailer
Parking
To
Santa Cruz
9
To Big Basin
Redwoods State
Park
236
Map not to scale
Waterman Gap Trail Camp — Located
6.3 miles from the north end of Skyline-to-theSea Trail at Saratoga Gap (no overnight
parking at this location), or 9.3 miles from the
Castle Rock State Park main parking lot on
Hwy. 35 (2.5 miles south of Hwy. 9), this
camp, in a mixed hardwood and redwood
forest, has 6 primitive sites and a vault toilet.
Reservations are required and may be made
by calling the trail camp reservation line at
Big Basin Redwoods State Park at
(831) 338-8861. Fires and smoking are
not permitted.
However, gas
camp stoves are
allowed. There
is very limited
drinking water
so carry water
with you.
Log
Castle Rock Trail Camp — Located 2.6 miles
from the main parking lot via the Saratoga Gap
Trail, this camp is situated on a ridge. Each of
the 20 first-come, first-served sites has a table,
fire ring, nearby piped drinking water and vault
toilets. A camp shelter is available for
everyone’s use during inclement weather. Fires
are allowed only in designated fire rings when
fire season is closed. Wood gathering is prohibited, but
campers may
purchase fireMain
17
16
wood at the
Camp 14 15
13
25 24
camp. The only
22 12
23
23
11
access for bicy20
clists to this
18
5
19
camp is via the
rvi
43 21
Se
Campground
Frog Flat
Service Road
Camp
Trail, off Hwy. 35.
Bicycles are not
Tr a i l
allowed on any
Gap
a
g
o
trails beyond this Russell
S a r a t il
Tra
Point
e
camp.
F r o g F l a t Tr a i l
1
Skyline
-to-
Mill Road
(not a through street)
Castle Rock has two backpacking trail camps:
Waterman Gap Trail Camp and Castle Rock Trail
Camp. All trails are closed at sunset. Campers
are required to
remain in the
campground
from sunset to
6 a.m. Plan to
be in your
campsite at
least 1/2-hour
before sunset
to have
enough light
for camp
setup and
check-in with
the ranger.
Dogs and
smoking are
not permitted in either campground. The only
overnight parking at Castle Rock State Park is
in the main parking lot on Hwy. 35, 2.5 miles
south of Hwy. 9.
Tr a
hr
y W o o d s Tr a i l
il
Castle Rock
Trail Camp
Map not to scale
SKYLINE-TO-THE-SEA TRAIL CAMPS
-t o
-th
ne
rai l
eT
il
Park Entrance
Ho
Waterman Gap
Trail Camp
Mill
Road
Skyli
236
ne
Tr a i l
Tr a
ade
Lane Trail
Camp
-to
ea-
T
Tree
Ch
Gr
l l ow
S
sin
a
Johansen
Road
Travertine
35
Springs Trail
ar
ato
Beekhuis
ga G Trail
Road Trail
ap
Saratoga Toll
Castle Rock
Road Trail
in
-the-S
9
Big Basin
Park Entrance
Sequoia
Trail
rail
set T
Su n
Jay Trail
Camp
il
k Fa
lls Tra
Sunset Trail
Camp
Sk y
lin
e
-to
-t h
e-S
ea
Trai
l
ee
LEGEND
Be
rry
Cr
Castle Rock—Park
your vehicle in the
main parking lot on
Hwy. 35 (approximately 3 miles south of
the Hwys. 9 and 35
junction). Use the selfregistration envelopes
and pay station at the
kiosk to register.
Castle Rock
Trail Camp
9
To Portola Redwoods
State Park
il
ra
9
li n
Sk yli
For required trail camp
reservations, location
of overnight parking
areas and information
on planning your hike,
call Big Basin Redwoods State Park at
(831) 338-8861.
There are 3 major
starting points for this
trail system, all with
overnight parking
areas. Each stopping
point has somewhat
different registration
procedures.
Trailhead
35
l
ea-Trai
e-S
Sk y
Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail Camps
Ba
Skyline-to-the-Sea
Trail descends for
28.2 miles from
Saratoga Gap (intersection of Hwys. 9 and
35) through Castle
Rock and Big Basin
Redwoods State
Parks, ending at
Waddell Beach.
Dirt Road (Vehicles Prohibited)
236
Paved Road
Trail
Locked Gate
9
Parking
Ranger Station
Trail Camp (Back Packing)
Twin Redwoods Trail
Camp
Waddell
Beach
Alder Trail
Camp
Rancho
Big Basin HQ—
Del Oso
1
Register, pay trail
To Santa Cruz
map not to scale
camp fees, and get the
combination to parking
lot gate and trail permits at the Big Basin Ranger Station during
office hours. When the station is closed, use the self-registration
envelopes and pay station. You will park at Jay Trail Camp.
Rancho Del Oso—Park entrance is on Hwy. 1, four miles north of
Davenport. The trailhead is directly opposite the Waddell Beach
parking lot. (Do not use the Rancho Del Oso Nature and History
Center entrance.) You will find a closed, unlocked gate on a paved
road. Drive up this road (close gate behind you) to the office and
overnight parking area. Use self-registration envelopes to register.
When using self-registration:
• Bring EXACT CHANGE.
• On the envelope use the name
under which the reservation was
made.
• Include the vehicle license number.
• If you are parking a second vehicle
for the same site, pay for it as
posted, using a separate envelope
for each vehicle.
• Leave the envelope end tag in plain
sight on the vehicle’s dashboard.
Quiet Hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Sounds may not be heard beyond
your own camp. You may not
disturb another person with loud or
unreasonable noises at any time.
Please follow these park
rules and regulations:
Hours: The park is closed
from sunset to 6 a.m., including all trails and climbing
areas.
San Lorenzo Headwaters
Natural Preserve: Use is
restricted to established hiking
trails. No off-trail use or climbing
is allowed in this area.
If you park in the main lot,
you must pay day-use or
camping fees.
Dogs, bicycles, glass containers and smoking are
prohibited.
Firearms and devices capable of injuring or
killing a person or animal are prohibited, including airsoft, paintball and pellet guns, bows and
arrows, sling shots, etc.
Fires are permitted in the metal fire rings in the
Castle Rock Trail Camp ONLY WHEN FIRE
SEASON IS CLOSED. (Check for posting.)
During this time firewood is available for sale at
Castle Rock Trail Camp.
Camping is permitted only in designated
camps. (See maps on inside of this handout.)
Campers are required to be in their campsites
from sunset to 6 a.m.
All vegetation,
wildlife and
geological features are
protected. Do not pick
wildflowers, mushrooms or
any other plant, or remove
any park feature. Do not
feed, disturb or harm wildlife.
Bleeding Heart
Horses are only permitted on
designated trails.
Volunteers are vital to the
trail maintenance program.
For information go to
www.scmta-trails.org.
Mariposa Lily
LOW IMPACT CLIMBING
Local climbers are committed to good stewardship. To preserve
the character and beauty of the park’s rock formations and minimize impacts on soils, vegetation, wildlife and other visitors,
support “Leave No Trace” practices.
• Use natural colored chalk. Use a chalk ball.
• Help prevent erosion. Use only existing access trails. Carry
crash pads—do not drag.
• Protect park vegetation. The park is home to a variety of
mosses, plants and trees, which in turn provide food and shelter
for wildlife. One of the challenges of climbing is to work around
branches, mosses and lichens without damaging them.
• Do not climb when the rock is wet. This sandstone is more
fragile when it is wet, so climbing routes may be damaged.
Please allow a few days after heavy rain for the rock to dry
before climbing.