Lookout Tower via Skyline Trail is a 1.9-mile out-and-back in Castle Rock State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. The route reaches Lookout Tower at the turnaround, 0.9 miles in. It climbs 322 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi2,713 – 2,894 ft · steepest grade: 16%2.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 37.25553, -122.11795
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Lookout Tower via Skyline Trail
1.9 mi · ▲ 322 ft · 48 min
Elevation 2,712–2,894 ft
Out & Back · Castle Rock State Park
Trailhead: 37.25553, -122.11795
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 90°F / low 68° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Skyline Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miReach Lookout Tower, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miBear left, heading W.
- 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
99% dirt1% gravel
Weather
ClearTemperature 90°F68°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity42%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue
85°66°
Wed
86°53°
Thu
92°49°
Fri
96°54°
Sat
96°56°
Sun
96°52°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:55 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:15 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:44 PM.
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Skyline Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 459 ft
- Skyline Trail & Summit Rock Loop Trail 5 mi · ▲ 1,013 ft
- Loughry Woods Trail & Service Road Trail 5.8 mi · ▲ 967 ft
- Saratoga Gap Trail–Service Road Trail, 3 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 1,315 ft
- Saratoga Gap & Table Mountain Trail 9 mi · ▲ 1,504 ft
- Goat Rock–Parking Lot Rock, 6 sights 11.9 mi · ▲ 2,441 ft
Get outside more
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