Panorama - panoramio (466).jpg
Nerijus Navickas · CC BY 3.0

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

0 mi2,618 – 3,009 ft · steepest grade: 16%2.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Castle Rock Trail 37.23053, -122.09586
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start on Castle Rock Trail, heading W.
  2. 50 ftSharp left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.5 miSharp right, heading W.
  4. 50 ftSharp left onto Ridge Trail, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.6 miReach Saratoga Gap Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftSharp left onto Saratoga Gap Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.5 miSharp right onto Castle Rock Trail, heading NE.
  11. 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

90% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 87°F71°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity33%
Hourly temperature
90°70°
Sunrise 6:15 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue 85°66°
Wed 82°50°
Thu 93°50°
Fri 98°56°
Sat 97°59°
Sun 91°50°

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

More from Castle Rock Trail Trailhead