Castle Rock State Park πͺ¨
Castle Rock State Park is a 2,121-hectare state park in California, USA, located at the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Itβs almost entirely within Santa Cruz County, with parts extending into Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. The park features coast redwoods, Douglas firs, and Madrone forests, most of which remain in a wild, natural state. Steep canyons are scattered with unusual rock formations, making it a popular area for rock climbing. ποΈπ§ββοΈ The park is named after a sandstone formation called Castle Rock. The forests here are lush and covered in moss, with 51 kilometers of hiking trails crisscrossing the area. πΏπ€οΈ These trails are part of a larger trail system that connects the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo Valleys with Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and the Pacific Coast. ππ€οΈ With an overnight parking area, Castle Rock is a popular starting point for the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, a 30-mile (48-kilometer) trail that begins at nearby Saratoga Gap and extends all the way to Waddell Beach in the north of Santa Cruz. The park has two walk-in campgrounds for backpackers to spend the night. ποΈπ Parking here is free, with cars parked on both sides of the road. Thereβs no entry fee, no gates. Many local teenagers come here to play on weekends, making it a pretty harmonious and friendly weekend hiking spot. ππ¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ #USA #California #TravelUSA #CaliforniaTravel #HikingUSA #ClimbingUSA #CastleRock #CaliforniaStateParks #Highway1 #SantaClara
