Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and xquisite sandstone Rock education of the people of California by helping E to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological State Park diversity, protecting its most valued natural and formations and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. sculpted caves are among the treasured features within this

California State Parks supports equal access. park’s vast wilderness. 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 [email protected].

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) C astle Rock State Park is a place of The Smead and Partridge farms were abundant solitude, wilderness, high cliffs, the largest operations on the ridge, with and sweeping vistas. Unique patterns on orchards of apples, pears, walnuts, and weathered sandstone, lush forests, and grapes. Near the park’s interpretive shelter, stream-fed canyons make up the park’s heritage trees planted in the early 1900s diverse features. still bear fruit. From one of the highest ridges in the Creation of the Park , visitors enjoy Judge Joseph Welch of panoramic views of Monterey Bay. purchased a 60-acre parcel on Castle Encompassing more than 5,150 acres of Rock Ridge in 1908, when logging was still wilderness and 34 miles of trails, the park ravaging the hillsides. He established a is popular with rock climbers, hikers, and precedent by opening his land for the equestrians. Trails connect to nearby state public to enjoy its scenic vistas and rugged parks and open space preserves, expanding landscapes. With Welch’s determination, visitor travel from the skyline to the sea. Castle Rock soon became a popular Summer weather is hot and dry. In winter, Castle Rock— one of many sandstone outcrops in the park tourist destination. mountain peaks may be dusted with snow, Dr. Russell Varian, a pioneer of x-ray and and temperatures can drop below freezing. Gold Fever radar technology, spent much of his youth CULTURAL HISTORY By 1849, thousands of immigrants had exploring and hiking the canyons near Native People arrived in California searching for gold. The Castle Rock. Varian was the first to measure newcomers needed lumber to construct Earth’s magnetic field, using some sites in The park is located among what once was homes and buildings for new towns. The today’s park. In 1959, he secured an option home to many different tribal communities. South Pacific Coast Railroad built new lines to purchase this land and planned to donate Over thousands of years, the tribes of for access between the Santa Cruz mountains it to California State Parks. Varian died the region have come to be collectively and the Alameda port. By 1884, 28 lumber before completing the purchase. The Sierra recognized as the Ohlone people. Several mills operated in the Big Basin / San Lorenzo Club and Sempervirens Fund later donated areas in this location served their dietary Valley area; the mills yielded more than 34 the land in his memory. In July of 1968, and spiritual needs. Ohlone visionaries million board feet of lumber each year. Coast Castle Rock was designated a state park. used the massive rocks to connect to their redwood made excellent lumber, and tanoak spiritual world and to acquire personal bark was used to tan leather goods. Once- NATURAL HISTORY enlightenment. They also collected a wide thick forests were rapidly laid bare. Wildly eroded sandstone formations create variety of plants for medicine and food. prominent ridges in the park’s canyons. A Agriculture Native people hunted deer, pronghorns, waterfall fed by natural springs cascades and bears that were attracted to the area’s Agriculture also altered the Castle Rock 75 feet down the steep mountain slopes abundant vegetation. Today’s park lies within landscape for nearly 100 years. Farming, to the . The river flowing a major trail system that was used to move hunting, fishing, and trading made it possible through the park provides spawning habitat resources inland from the coast. for area families to be self-sufficient. for steelhead. Steep trails lead to the feet along Saratoga Gap Trail. Their low unusual rock formations at Varian Peak, water supply accounts for these dwarf Goat Rock, Russell Point, and Castle Rock. redwood trees’ uncommonly short 40- to Geology 100-foot heights. Climate change affects all living things Castle Rock’s famed sandstone outcrops within the redwood forest. Experts fear originated as submarine fan deposits on that the area’s increase in average the continental shelf about 30 to 40 million temperature and decrease in rain and years ago. These shelf deposits were then thick summer fog will endanger redwoods elevated and moved north by repeated and other plants and creatures that depend violent movements along the tectonic on the redwood environment. plate boundaries now defined by the San Observation deck at Castle Rock Falls Andreas Fault. All of the rocks west of the Animal life fault line are fundamentally different from Vegetation Wild animals and reptiles seen in the rocks on the east side. Castle Rock State Park is recovering from the park include black-tailed The uniquely sculpted, rounded rock years of agricultural use and logging that deer, gray foxes, coyotes, outcrops along Castle Ridge have eroded have caused significant vegetation changes. California newts, to form pits, pockets, ribs, and ridges. The park hosts diverse native and non-native mountain lions, Referred to as tafoni, these erosional plant communities: mixed evergreen forest, and many species patterns have endless variations — from black oak forest, chaparral, grasslands, and of snakes. pock marks to honeycombed surfaces to riparian woodland. Spring flowers display Turkey vultures, large concretions and caverns. a colorful palette: pink or purple Chinese red-tailed hawks, These complex patterns form with houses, lilac slender phlox, deep blue sky acorn woodpeckers, repeated exposure to erosion from blowing lupine, pink farewell-to-spring, and golden quail, and scrub sand, water, and chemical and physical elegant madia all thrive on the hillsides. jays may be spotted. changes over eons. Virgin- and second-growth redwoods Peregrine falcons may grow at an unusual elevation, above 2,500 soar overhead. Peregrine falcon

From Summit Meadows Trail, a view of Monterey Bay in the distance RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PLEASE REMEMBER Castle Rock State Park is part of a • Park hours: open from 6 a.m. to sunset, regional trail system linking the park including all trails. Only campers registered with the San Francisco Bay Area and in backpack trail camps may remain in the the Santa Cruz coast. The two major park overnight. trail corridors — the Skyline to the Sea • Dogs (except for service animals), glass and Bay Ridge Trails — lead hikers and containers, and smoking are prohibited backpackers through steep canyons, throughout the entire park. dense old-growth redwood forests, • Bicycles may be ridden only on the Skyline creeks, and fields of wildflowers. and Service Road trails. Picnics —The Partridge Farm site has • Horses are permitted on designated picnic tables and an interpretive shelter. equestrian trails only. Please check the Camping —Two trail camps — Castle Rock map before your ride. with 20 primitive sites and Waterman • Firearms or any device capable of harming Gap with 6 primitive sites — are available. any person or animal are prohibited — Both camps have water and pit toilets. An including BB guns, spears, bows, arrows, inclement-weather shelter at Castle Rock and slingshots. Trail Camp provides a roof during storms. • Fires are permitted only in designated fire ACCESSIBLE FEATURES Hiking and backpacking trails — rings in the Castle Rock Trail Camp during the The 0.08-mile accessible path from Castle OFF fire season. Gathering firewood, including The park offers 34 miles of nature trails, Rock parking lot leads to an ADA-compliant many with steep and narrow slopes. twigs and leaves, is prohibited. Firewood is picnic table with woodland views. Parking sold at the Castle Rock Trail Camp. The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail connects and the pit toilet at the end of the trail may Castle Rock and Big Basin Redwoods • Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. require assistance. • Please respect private property rights and State Parks. The 5.6-mile Saratoga Gap Accessibility in state parks is continually and Ridge Trail Loop leads to Goat Rock, stay on designated trails. improving. For updates, visit the website at • All natural and cultural features are protected Castle Rock Falls, Russell Point Overlook, http://access.parks.ca.gov. and the Castle Rock Trail Camp. Goat by law. Do not pick wildflowers, mushrooms, Rock Overlook provides panoramic NEARBY STATE PARKS or other plants, or remove any park feature. Do not feed, disturb, or harm wildlife. views of the San Lorenzo Valley and the • Big Basin Redwoods State Park • Beware of rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak Pacific Ocean. The moderately difficult 21600 Big Basin Way in camp and on trails. Ridge Trail is a potential place to see Boulder Creek 95006 (831) 338-8860 the endangered peregrine falcon. The • Saratoga Toll Road, a historic logging road 1500 Cloverdale Road and stagecoach line from 1871, is now a Pescadero 94060 (650) 879-2040 This park is supported in part through well-shaded and graded hike offering • Portola Redwoods State Park Portola and Castle Rock Foundation some scenic viewpoints. 9000 Portola State Park Road www.portolaandcastlerockfound.org La Honda 94020 (650) 948-9098 ROCK CLIMBING before climbing for notice of possible restrictions to protect Castle Rock State Park provides a nesting birds, other wildlife, and areas recovering from overuse. popular site to hike and rock climb. Limit bolting — Before placing new bolts or replacing old ones, Climbers have scaled the park’s climbers are required to notify the park and receive approval. outcrops of Vaqueros sandstone — Please contact the park in advance to initiate a request for bolting. Castle Rock and Goat Rock — for nearly Help prevent erosion — Use only existing access trails. Please a century. The sandstone’s relatively carry (rather than drag) crash pads. The park’s topsoil is fragile hard exterior and unique tafoni and easily displaced from the steep slopes in much of the park. patterns are ideal for bouldering Protect park vegetation — The plants and trees provide food and rock climbing. and shelter for wildlife. Please avoid damaging mosses, lichens, To preserve the character of these and branches. unique rock formations and minimize Respect the integrity of the rock and the climb — Please do not the impact on soils, vegetation, wildlife, chip, glue, remove, or otherwise alter the rock. Please allow two or other climbers, and visitors, Castle Rock State Park three days after a heavy rain before climbing. Sandstone becomes requires low-impact climbing and supports “Leave No Trace” much more fragile when damp. practices. Properly dispose of all trash and protect the park’s Rock climbing classes — Ropes classes and similar activities natural resources. (whether held by private, educational, nonprofit, or commercial Observe all park rules and closures — Climbing and other groups) require advance permits and insurance. For permit off-trail activities are not permitted in the San Lorenzo applications, call (408) 867-2952. Headwaters Natural Preserve. Check park bulletin boards 122° 09’ 30” 122° 09’ 00” 122° 08’ 30” 122° 08’ 00” 122° 07’ 30” 122° 07’ 00” 122° 06’ 30” 122° 06’ 00” 122° 05’ 30” 122° 05’ 00” 122° 04’ 30”

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