97. Castle Rock and Goat Rock

Length:	5.8 miles round trip
Hiking time:	3 hours
High point:	3,214 feet
Total elevation gain:	800 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	year-round
Water:	bring your own
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Castle Rock Ridge
Information:	Castle Rock State Park

This journey in Castle Rock State Park has many features: sweeping vistas of Monterey Bay, odd-looking sandstone slabs, and groves of black oak and coast live oak.

From the Saratoga Gap vista point, at the junction of Highways 9 and 35 (Skyline Boulevard), drive south on Highway 35 for 2.6 miles to the Castle Rock State Park dirt parking lot on the right.

Begin your hike by taking the 0.6-mile-long Castle Rock Trail. (Watch for poison oak growing abundantly on this trail and sporadically on the others.) Douglas fir, tan oak, madrone, black oak, and coast live oak furnish ample shade as you climb the initial 0.2 mile and then bear right onto an old dirt road. At 0.3 mile a cluster of giant coast live oak surround 40-foot Castle Rock, where you can explore sandstone caves.

From Castle Rock descend the obvious trail to join Saratoga Gap Trail at 0.6 mile. Serene black oak forest accompanies you down to a creek at 0.8 mile. Hug its bank for 0.1 mile, then bear left at a signed junction, staying on Saratoga Gap Trail.

At 1.1 miles an attractive madrone canopies an observation deck ideal for viewing Castle Rock Falls. You'll also see a vertical sandstone slab, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey Bay, and the distant Pacific Ocean.

The path now departs the creek and travels along a steep hillside and through chaparral. Peer past eastwood manzanita and Scotch broom for more distant ocean and bay views at 1.5 miles. The trail continues its gradual ascent past a few steep, rocky spots. Cross a shaded wooden bridge at 1.8 miles, and stay left 0.2 mile farther at a signed trail junction. The next 0.8 mile stays mostly level along the slope of 2,865-foot Varian Peak. Head right at the signed junction at 2.8 miles into a community of tall madrone. Reach a trail fork at 3.1 miles. Left leads 0.2 mile to Castle Rock Trail Camp (first come, first served). Bear right on Ridge Trail and climb to a scenic vista point at 3.6 miles. The path levels to a junction at 4.4 miles; stay left.

At 4.7 miles go left at the signed trail fork, and 0.2 mile farther arrive at the interpretive exhibit. Find the signed Goat Rock Trail, then reach the scenic overlook. From here, explore Goat Rock's numerous formations; some feature interesting crevices, and others give good views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Return to Ridge Trail and go right. Bear left at 5.4 miles onto the signed Saratoga Gap Trail for the final 0.4 mile back to the trailhead.