Castle Rock State Park - California
Castle Rock State Park is located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains and almost entirely in Santa Cruz County, with parts extending into Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. It embraces 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 a popular rock climbing area. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles (51 km) of hiking 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. Due to its overnight parking lot, Castle Rock is a popular starting point for the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, a 30-mile (48 km) trail that begins near by at Saratoga Gap and leads to Waddell Beach north of Santa Cruz. There are two walk-in campgrounds within the park for overnight backpacking.
maps Santa Clara - Sandborn Map of Sandborn County Park (CP) in Santa Clara County in California. Published by Santa Clara County Parks.
brochures Castle Rock - Brochure Brochure of Castle Rock State Park (SP) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Castle Rock - Campground Map Campground Map of Castle Rock State Park (SP) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_State_Park_(California)
Castle Rock State Park is located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains and almost entirely in Santa Cruz County, with parts extending into Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. It embraces 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 a popular rock climbing area. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles (51 km) of hiking 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. Due to its overnight parking lot, Castle Rock is a popular starting point for the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, a 30-mile (48 km) trail that begins near by at Saratoga Gap and leads to Waddell Beach north of Santa Cruz. There are two walk-in campgrounds within the park for overnight backpacking.
Our Mission
Castle Rock
State Park
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
Exquisite sandstone
formations and
sculpted caves are
among the treasured
features within this
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(408) 867-2952. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp
Castle Rock State Park
15000 Skyline Boulevard
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 867-2952
© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)
park’s vast wilderness.
C
astle Rock State Park is a place of
abundant solitude, wilderness, high cliffs,
and sweeping vistas. Unique patterns on
weathered sandstone, lush forests, and
stream-fed canyons make up the park’s
diverse features.
From one of the highest ridges in the
Santa Cruz Mountains, visitors enjoy
panoramic views of Monterey Bay.
Encompassing more than 5,150 acres of
wilderness and 34 miles of trails, the park
is popular with rock climbers, hikers, and
equestrians. Trails connect to nearby state
parks and open space preserves, expanding
visitor travel from the skyline to the sea.
Summer weather is hot and dry. In winter,
mountain peaks may be dusted with snow,
and temperatures can drop below freezing.
CULTURAL HISTORY
Native People
The park is located among what once was
home to many different tribal communities.
Over thousands of years, the tribes of
the region have come to be collectively
recognized as the Ohlone people. Several
areas in this location served their dietary
and spiritual needs. Ohlone visionaries
used the massive rocks to connect to their
spiritual world and to acquire personal
enlightenment. They also collected a wide
variety of plants for medicine and food.
Native people hunted deer, pronghorns,
and bears that were attracted to the area’s
abundant vegetation. Today’s park lies within
a major trail system that was used to move
resources inland from the coast.
The Smead and Partridge farms were
the largest operations on the ridge, with
orchards of apples, pears, walnuts, and
grapes. Near the park’s interpretive shelter,
heritage trees planted in the early 1900s
still bear fruit.
Castle Rock— one of many sandstone
outcrops in the park
Gold Fever
By 1849, thousands of immigrants had
arrived in California searching for gold. The
newcomers needed lumber to construct
homes and buildings for new towns. The
South Pacific Coast Railroad built new lines
for access between the Santa Cruz mountains
and the Alameda port. By 1884, 28 lumber
mills operated in the Big Basin / San Lorenzo
Valley area; the mills yielded more than 34
million board feet of lumber each year. Coast
redwood made excellent lumber, and tanoak
bark was used to tan leather goods. Oncethick forests were rapidly laid bare.
Agriculture
Agriculture also altered the Castle Rock
landscape for nearly 100 years. Farming,
hunting, fishing, and trading made it possible
for area families to be self-sufficient.
Creation of the Park
Judge Joseph Welch of Santa Clara Valley
purchased a 60-acre parcel on Castle
Rock Ridge in 1908, when logging was still
ravaging the hillsides. He established a
precedent by opening his land for the
public to enjoy its scenic vistas and rugged
landscapes. With Welch’s determination,
Castle Rock soon became a popular
tourist destination.
Dr. Russell Varian, a pioneer of x-ray and
radar technology, spent much of his youth
exploring and hiking the canyons near
Castle Rock. Varian was the first to measure
Earth’s magnetic field, using some sites in
today’s park. In 1959, he secured an option
to purchase this land and planned to donate
it to California State Parks. Varian died
before completing the purchase. The Sierra
Club and Sempervirens Fund later donated
the land in his memory. In July of 1968,
Castle Rock was designated a state park.
NATURAL HISTORY
Wildly eroded sandstone formations create
prominent ridges in the park’s canyons. A
waterfall fed by natural springs cascades
75 feet down the steep mountain slopes
to the San Lorenzo River. The river flowing
through the park provides spawning habitat
for steelhead. Steep trails lead to the
unusual rock formations at Varian Peak,
Goat Rock, Russell Point, and Castle Rock.
Geology
Castle Rock’s famed sandstone outcrops
originated as submarine fan deposits on
the continental shelf about 30 to 40 million
years ago. These shelf deposits were then
elevated and moved north by repeated
violent movements along the tectonic
plate boundaries now defined by the
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
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Trai
o
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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 m