Castle Rock State Park, Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail


Location: Los Gatos, Santa Clara County
Hike Date: 2017, June 1, Thursday
Hike Stats:
5.33 miles, 2 hours 25 minutes, 1079 feet elevation gain

Summit Meadow Trail

Attractive lichen-covered boulders and sandstone rock outcrops add to the scenic value of this area.


For other routes in Castle Rock State Park, see Hike in Castle Rock State Park – Saratoga Gap Trail.

FEATURES

  • Oak and mixed-evergreen forests
  • Sandstone formations
  • Panoramic views at Sempervirens Point

ABOUT THE HIKE

  1. Parking Lot: At the Caltrans vista point on the southeast corner of the Highway 9 and Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard) intersection. No cellular reception inside the park.
  2. Parking Fee: None
  3. Restroom: None next to the parking lot or trailhead. One at the Sempervirens Point (‘G’ in the route below), 3 miles from the trailhead.
  4. Trailhead: From the parking lot, cross Highway 35 and walk south on Highway 9. The trailhead is to the left.
  5. Route (clockwise):
    • Trailhead (A) –> Skyline to the Sea Trail (B)
    • Cross Highway 9 –> Trail to the left –> Skyline to the Sea Trail (C)
    • Left at the fork –> Nutmeg Trail (D)
    • Left at the second fork –> Red Mountain Trail (E) (no named marker for this trail)
    • Right before the gate –> Skyline to the Sea Trail (F)
    • Cross Highway 9 –> Summit Meadow Trail (G)
    • Sempervirens Point (H) — restroom break
    • Cross Highway 9 –> Short distance on a paved road –> Right to Skyline to the Sea Trail (I)
    • Straight on junction of ‘I’ and ‘E’ –> Skyline to the Sea Trail (J)
    • Repeat of ‘C’
    • Cross Highway 9 –> Repeat of ‘B’
  6. Route Map:
  7. Distance: 5.33 miles
  8. Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
  9. Elevation Gain: 1079 feet
  10. Exposure: Completely shaded
  11. Company: Solo

SHOTS FROM THE HIKE

Parking Lot at the Intersection of Hwy 35 and Hwy 9
Parking Lot at the Intersection of Hwy 35 and Hwy 9
Trailhead on Hwy 9 from Across the Parking Lot (A)
Trailhead on Hwy 9 from Across the Parking Lot (A)
Skyline to the Sea Trail (B)
Skyline to the Sea Trail (B)
Nutmeg Trail (D)
Nutmeg Trail (D)
Red Mountain Trail (E)
Red Mountain Trail (E)
Skyline to the Sea Trail (F)
Skyline to the Sea Trail (F)
Summit Meadow Trail (G)
Summit Meadow Trail (G)
View from the Summit Meadow Trail (G)
View from the Summit Meadow Trail (G)
Sempervirens Point (H)
Sempervirens Point (H)
Vista from Sempervirens Point (H)
Vista from Sempervirens Point (H)

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