Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
Hike through a towering redwood forest on the easy-access overnighter.
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When I first started daydreaming about where I’d want to go as BACKPACKER field scout, my mind immediately went to the Sierra and other big-trip destinations. But what I really wanted to do, I soon realized, was share a local trail that showcases my home in northern California. And I knew just the route. I grew up at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Saratoga, and I live minutes away from Castle Rock State Park and the trailhead for this 29.5-mile point-to-point. Yet I’ve never hiked it—funny how easy it is to ignore what’s right out your door.
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail connects Castle Rock and Big Basin Redwoods State Park, home to an 18,000-acre redwood forest. It’s mostly downhill, leading through the wildlife-packed Santa Cruz Mountains, all the way to Waddell Beach, a wide, sandy cove popular with wind and kite surfers. It works best spread over three days.
The first third of the route is a little close to the road for my taste—I could hear traffic—but soon enough you’ll get views of the rolling San Lorenzo Valley before dipping into a mix of grasses, dense hardwoods, then Jurassic Park-like ferns on the floor of redwood forests at mile 20. Pack a bear canister—the campsite raccoons are clever.
Add a 2.7-mile detour on day three to explore the prettiest waterfalls: Berry Creek, Silver, and Golden.
You could hit just the highlights by starting at Big Basin headquarters and trekking eight miles to Waddell Beach. But when I go again, I’ll keep the same itinerary. Backpacking and camping this good should be savored.
Map Big Basin and Castle Rock Trail Maps ($5 each, 831-335-3174)
Contact Reserve sites two month prior ($15, 831-338-8861)
-Text and mapping by Katherine Rea
Waypoints
Trailhead
Location: 37.2578, -122.12285
Poi 2
Location: 37.25618, -122.12392
Poi 3
Location: 37.25614, -122.12469
Poi 4
Location: 37.25553, -122.12557
Poi 5
Location: 37.25508, -122.12741
Poi 6
Location: 37.25541, -122.12904
Poi 7
Location: 37.25539, -122.1336
Poi 8
Location: 37.25349, -122.13498
Poi 9
Location: 37.25165, -122.13686
Poi 10
Location: 37.2491, -122.13806
Poi 11
Location: 37.24571, -122.14083
Poi 12
Location: 37.24489, -122.14409
Poi 13
Location: 37.24425, -122.14928
Poi 14
Location: 37.24165, -122.15353
Poi 15
Location: 37.24367, -122.15292
Poi 16
Location: 37.23959, -122.14929
Poi 17
Location: 37.23532, -122.14507
Poi 18
Location: 37.23281, -122.14758
Poi 19
Location: 37.22834, -122.14862
Poi 20
Location: 37.2239, -122.14642
Poi 21
Location: 37.22451, -122.14907
Poi 22
Location: 37.2227, -122.15323
Poi 23
Location: 37.21776, -122.15173
Poi 24
Location: 37.213, -122.15259
Poi 25
Location: 37.21183, -122.15681
Poi 26
Location: 37.20738, -122.15621
Poi 27
Location: 37.20344, -122.159
Poi 28
Location: 37.19926, -122.16459
Poi 29
Location: 37.19583, -122.16572
Poi 30
Location: 37.19393, -122.17376
Poi 31
Location: 37.1971, -122.18164
Poi 32
Location: 37.20066, -122.1918
Poi 33
Location: 37.19987, -122.19931
Poi 34
Location: 37.19907, -122.20748
Poi 35
Location: 37.19927, -122.21823
Poi 36
Location: 37.19265, -122.2198
Poi 37
Location: 37.1839, -122.21833
Poi 38
Location: 37.17812, -122.21946
Poi 39
Location: 37.17554, -122.22273
Poi 40
Location: 37.1756, -122.22752
Poi 41
Location: 37.17636, -122.2365
Poi 42
Location: 37.17979, -122.24944
Poi 43
Location: 37.18154, -122.25314
Poi 44
Location: 37.18073, -122.26306
Poi 45
Location: 37.1797, -122.27058
Poi 46
Location: 37.18272, -122.2697
Poi 47
Location: 37.1783, -122.27175
Poi 48
Location: 37.17759, -122.27033
Poi 49
Location: 37.17692, -122.2687
Poi 50
Location: 37.17084, -122.26503
Poi 51
Location: 37.16877, -122.26371
Poi 52
Location: 37.16285, -122.26818
Poi 53
Location: 37.15939, -122.27283
Poi 54
Location: 37.14855, -122.27052
Poi 55
Location: 37.14229, -122.26891
Poi 56
Location: 37.13409, -122.26768
Poi 57
Location: 37.12127, -122.26688
Poi 58
Location: 37.11181, -122.27015
Poi 59
Location: 37.10893, -122.27314
Poi 60
Location: 37.10523, -122.27703
Poi 61
Location: 37.10178, -122.27797
Poi 62
Location: 37.09714, -122.27961