Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
Encyclopedia
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is a 29.5-mile (47.2-kilometre) hiking trail that descends from the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains
in Northern California
to the Pacific Ocean
, passing through Castle Rock State Park
and Big Basin Redwoods State Park
. Big Basin is California's first state park. It contains beautiful waterfalls and some of the largest, tallest, and oldest Redwood forests left in existence.
The trail usually takes two to three days to complete, with nearly all thru-hikers traveling from East to West (towards the ocean). It is possible to walk the entire trail in one day, though this is unusual and very difficult. Many hikers like to take a detour up Berry Creek Trail to see the waterfalls or to camp at Sunset Trail Camp, adding an additional 2.7 mi (4.3 km) to the hike.
The trail begins at Saratoga Gap on the ridge, at the intersection of SR 9
and Skyline Boulevard (SR 35
). It parallels SR 9 through Castle Rock, crosses the highway, and then follows SR 236
to Big Basin park headquarters. It then descends through Big Basin, following Waddell Creek
to its outlet at Waddell Beach.
Santa Cruz Metro routes 35 and 40 formerly went from Big Basin State Park Headquarters to Waddell Creek and back. Since September 2011 Route 40 no longer goes all the way to Waddell Beach but instead turns around at Cement Plant Rd. Route 35 only stops at the Headquarters on the weekends during the Spring/Summer season.
There is a proposed plan for a "Saratoga-to-the-Sea" Trail. http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20040114/sn-news4.shtml The plan would create a trail starting somewhere near Hakone Gardens
in Saratoga
, passing through a defunct quarry
, and terminating in Sanborn-Skyline County Park. This trail would connect to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail via a completed section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail
. The quarry is owned by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, which is conducting feasibility studies of this plan. http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20060510/news1.shtml
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
in Northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, passing through Castle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park (California)
Castle Rock State Park is a state park of California, USA, located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. 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 is a...
and Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, located in Santa Cruz County, about northwest of Santa Cruz. The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many...
. Big Basin is California's first state park. It contains beautiful waterfalls and some of the largest, tallest, and oldest Redwood forests left in existence.
The trail usually takes two to three days to complete, with nearly all thru-hikers traveling from East to West (towards the ocean). It is possible to walk the entire trail in one day, though this is unusual and very difficult. Many hikers like to take a detour up Berry Creek Trail to see the waterfalls or to camp at Sunset Trail Camp, adding an additional 2.7 mi (4.3 km) to the hike.
The trail begins at Saratoga Gap on the ridge, at the intersection of SR 9
California State Route 9
State Route 9 is mainly a rural and mountainous route in the U.S. state of California that travels 35 miles from SR 1 near Santa Cruz to SR 17 in Los Gatos, passing through the San Lorenzo Valley and the Saratoga Gap...
and Skyline Boulevard (SR 35
California State Route 35
State Route 35 in the U.S. state of California, generally known as Skyline Boulevard, is a two-lane road running along the western ridge of Silicon Valley in California. It runs from Highway 17 to San Francisco at State Route 1. It provides scenic views of both the Santa Cruz Mountains, the...
). It parallels SR 9 through Castle Rock, crosses the highway, and then follows SR 236
California State Route 236
State Route 236 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is a short 18-mile "C" shaped highway that links to State Route 9 at both ends in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 236 links Route 9 with Governor's Camp in Big Basin State Park near the Waterman Gap.Route 236 begins in the town of...
to Big Basin park headquarters. It then descends through Big Basin, following Waddell Creek
Waddell Creek
Waddell Creek is the name given to both the creek and the watershed that run through Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County, California...
to its outlet at Waddell Beach.
Santa Cruz Metro routes 35 and 40 formerly went from Big Basin State Park Headquarters to Waddell Creek and back. Since September 2011 Route 40 no longer goes all the way to Waddell Beach but instead turns around at Cement Plant Rd. Route 35 only stops at the Headquarters on the weekends during the Spring/Summer season.
There is a proposed plan for a "Saratoga-to-the-Sea" Trail. http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20040114/sn-news4.shtml The plan would create a trail starting somewhere near Hakone Gardens
Hakone Gardens
Hakone Gardens is a traditional Japanese garden in Saratoga, California, USA. It claims to be the oldest Japanese-style residential garden in the Western Hemisphere...
in Saratoga
Saratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
, passing through a defunct quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
, and terminating in Sanborn-Skyline County Park. This trail would connect to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail via a completed section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Bay Area Ridge Trail
The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a planned 550+-mile multi-use trail along the hill and mountain ridgelines ringing the San Francisco Bay Area, in Northern California. When complete, the trail will connect over 75 parks and open spaces. The trail is being designed to provide access for hikers,...
. The quarry is owned by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, which is conducting feasibility studies of this plan. http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20060510/news1.shtml