Ridge Trail & Saratoga Gap Trail is a 2.1-mile out-and-back in Castle Rock State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. It climbs 446 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ridge Trail & Saratoga Gap Trail
2.1 mi · ▲ 446 ft · 55 min
Elevation 2,618–3,008 ft
Out & Back · Castle Rock State Park
Trailhead: Castle Rock Trail · 37.23053, -122.09586
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 87°F / low 71° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Toilets at the trailhead
- Start on Castle Rock Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miReach Saratoga Gap Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Castle Rock Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 7:32 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
More from Castle Rock Trail Trailhead
- Castle Rock–Balancing Rock, 4 cliffs 1.5 mi · ▲ 212 ft
- Hash Boulder–Parking Lot Rock, 4 rocks 1.8 mi · ▲ 361 ft
- Parking Lot Rock–Ridge Trail, 3 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 588 ft
- Castle Rock Falls–Saratoga Gap Viewpoint, 5 cliffs 2.9 mi · ▲ 738 ft
- Shady Rock–Platypus, 6 rocks 3.4 mi · ▲ 869 ft
- Lyme Disease Rock via Skyline Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 722 ft
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Hikes near San Lorenzo Park, California