I've only hiked about 16 miles of this trail, but my oh my is it absolutely breathtaking! This is…read moretruly a hiker's and backpacker's dream trail. I've hiked about 8 miles of this trail through Castle Rock State Park and another 8 miles through Big Basin Redwoods State Park. I hiked this trail with a friend last year up to Berry Creek Falls and it was absolutely stunning! The actual trail itself is almost 30 miles long and stretches from the Santa Cruz Mountains all the way to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The trail begins at the Saratoga Gap which is a ridge within the Santa Cruz Mountains. It makes its' way up the coast past the Pacific Ocean, then through the beautiful mountains of Castle Rock State Park, and finally through the amazing Redwoods within Big Basin Redwoods State Park. This trail has such an amazing variation of different terrains. From your typical coastal ridge paths, to hilly and mountainous inclines, to flat and paved excursions through the Redwoods; this trail seems to simply have it all. I'd have to say that my favorite section of this trail was definitely being able to hike through the Redwoods. Big Basin is California's oldest park and you'll get to see the most amazing old growth Redwood trees. I've always been fascinated by Redwoods, so exploring them while on this trail was so much fun. Aside from the Redwoods, the stretch of this trail through Big Basin is extremely green and filled with a plethora of different plant species and vibrant flowers. And of course, there's Berry Creek Falls which is pretty much the icing on the cake. This waterfall is beautiful and worth the extra miles to get there. I can't forget to mention the incredible rock formations that you'll see while hiking the section that goes through Castle Rock State Park. These views are equally mesmerizing. It's definitely a great workout as much of the trail ascends and descends through the mountains. Lots of water is must and I would recommend bug spray (at least for the portion that runs through Big Basin). I would love to hike the rest of this trail at some point and hopefully make it down to the beach one day. Either way, any hike along this trail will be enjoyable whether it's 5 miles or 30. Would highly recommend this hike if you're planning on visiting Big Basin Redwoods, Castle Rock, Sanborn County Park, or Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve.

What a fantastic trail! 30+ miles over 3 days starting at Castle Rock campground to Waddell Beach…read more(stopping at Waterman Campground and Jay Campground at the Big Basin HQ). Almost all shaded by the trees (lots of redwoods!) and fantastic scenery the entire time, will well marked trails. You pretty much can't get lost at all. If you do, you deserve to get lost! Also all these campsites have piped drinking water and pit toilets so you probably don't need to bring your water pump. You'll need to make these reservations quite early too since they're pretty limited. State park # is (831) 338-8861 to make the reservations. NIGHT 0: Castle Rock Campground. We ended up not actually staying here because we thought (and there wasn't anything that indicated otherwise) that the campground was right at the trailhead. Instead it's 2.7 miles in. Thus as we had prepared for car camping the first night and were meeting others the next morning at the trailhead, we decided to find another campground elsewhere that was next to the road. Parking at Castle Rock trailhead gets crazy packed on the weekends so come early! The parking lot also closes at sunset so you'll need to make sure your car is in before then. DAY 1: This will be the most "complicated" path since you have to take a couple different trails. As you hike towards Castle Rock (assuming you didn't stay there the night before), you'll see a bunch of day climbers and boulderers. Gorgeous views above the tree skyline along the way. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/skyline-to-the-sea-trail-davenport?select=mjXU08P2ueRqY-WvlfHxSw#yvfjWy3mdAw7PSTrD67dWw After you past Castle Rock, take the Travertine Springs Trail for ~2 miles which will connect to the Saratoga toll road trail for another mile until you hit an uphill dirt road on your right. It's 0.4 miles going up a couple hundred feet so not too bad. This will take you to the Skyline to the Sea trail (finally!) in which you'll take this for another ~2.6 miles to Waterman camp. You'll hug Highway 9 pretty closely so you'll see a couple abandoned cars that fell off the road. This one more recent. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/skyline-to-the-sea-trail-davenport?select=mjXU08P2ueRqY-WvlfHxSw#QekFu-9mgaN6xt7NUH5KsA. And this one from a while ago! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/skyline-to-the-sea-trail-davenport?select=mjXU08P2ueRqY-WvlfHxSw#UnpOYfPqPlJ-impxBrz65A NIGHT 1: Waterman Gap Campground Your instinct may be to tucker down at the sites right around the pit toilet. My advice is to walk a little further towards the back to sites 5 and 6. It's a a bit extra of a hike but totally worth it since you get your privacy. Campsite isn't too far from Highway 9 too so you may hear some speedracers zooming by at night like we did. This is also the first (and only) area where you do get cell phone reception. DAY 2: You pretty much stay on Skyline to the Sea trail the entire way from here now. Your goal now is to get to the Jay Campground at Big Bason HQ. You still hug the road sometimes and even cross it a couple times. Again gorgeous views along here. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/skyline-to-the-sea-trail-davenport?select=mjXU08P2ueRqY-WvlfHxSw#WIfT7_JSDYc7zXVP0uHMWA NIGHT 2: Jay Campground You're at the park HQ so good time to stock up on stuff or get a bit of real food if you're tired of your freeze dried! THEY DO HAVE BEER THOUGH. And showers too (1 quarter = 2 min), The camp shop does not carry propane for Jet Boilers in case you run out like we did. However you can ask them to use their hot water though to heat up your freeze dried foods. DAY 3: You're almost there! A slight change in scenery here. No more hugging highways and more bridge crossing and waterfalls. Oh and way more banana slugs. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/skyline-to-the-sea-trail-davenport?select=mjXU08P2ueRqY-WvlfHxSw#mjXU08P2ueRqY-WvlfHxSw I swear, the last ~3 miles felt like FOREVER. The trail opens wider and the trees start thinning in front of you which makes you constantly feel like you're almost there. Then you immediately smell the salty ocean breeze and which iswhen you know you're at the end!

Tucked along the Santa Cruz County coast near Davenport, this 5,800-acre land of the California…read moreCoastal National Monument just opened to the public. It is quite magical and special! What you will find are wildly diverse landscapes of Redwood groves, coastal bluffs, grasslands, and wildflowers all in one hike. There is steelhead in the streams, mountain lions in the hills, hawks overhead, and yes, even grazing cows This places offer several trails which will fit almost for everyone. Easy loops like Hawk Trail and Tree Trail, and tougher trails for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Permit required for horses and some certain bikes on some trails. There's a secret hidden gem as a way to access to undeveloped pocket beaches like Shark Fin Cove. Huge free parking lot! Dogs are welcome on leash. Cotoni Coast Daries is relatively new to the public alr iconic. If you love the California coast, this is a must-see. Don't sleep on it.

We were excited to explore a new trail in the area that is also dog friendly! We had prepared to do…read moreboth the Hawk (Káknu) and Tree (Huyya) trails but decided to stick to the Hawk (Káknu) only. It's exposed and quite dusty so plan accordingly -- primarily sun protection. There were friendly hikers and bikers on the trail and the views were quite beautiful! I also appreciated many of the bench's set up along the trails too. The restrooms were clean. The only thing I wished for was a sink or some way to wash hands at the restroom area.

I love this place it's fantastic go here when it's a day after a holiday it'll be no one!read more

Wow! What a beautiful trail…read more My boyfriend and I did this trail as well as part of the skyline to the sea trail. There were a few detours that allowed us to complete a nice, lengthy 3.4 mile round trip to relax in the afternoon. The Redwood Loop Nature Trail is an easy and very short trail featuring the father of the forest and the mother of the forest. There are railings protecting the large redwoods, but even so, it's a very beautiful site. There isn't a lot of difficulty on this loop, as it's very flat and there isn't much incline. It's also the first trail you can do upon entering the park, as well as having the option to do much more difficult neighboring trails! This one in particular is great for kids. It can get muddy and there are a lot of mosquitoes! Definitely bring bug spray.

I had a very good experience at the park. Leashed dogs are allowed on trails which can be rare in…read moreso many parks in this area. So it was great to be able to have my dogs along. However, be very careful because there are lots and lots of poison oak. So make sure that you stay on the trail with your dog and away from those bushes. It was also a great workout, because the trails are all going uphill, so they are great for giving your heart going. Free parking and there is a bathroom. Remember to bring your dog poo poo bags until dispose of them properly. The road to get to the park right after you turn from the main highway is very narrow at some point and you have to drive very slowly. Just be slow and careful and you will be fine, it was a bit intimidating at first, but it is a very short amount of time in which you drive from the very narrow section before you get to the park. Also remember to make your reservation on their website ahead of time. Although the parking is free, you are required to register.

Great hike, I was able to hike the entire area in about 2h30min. There's lots of different trails…read morethat you can take based on your hiking experience. Very peaceful and not crowded (I went on a Saturday morning). Plenty of parking spaces.

Berry Creek Falls is absolutely stunning! If you're coming to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and…read moreyou've never hiked to the falls, you MUST do it. Don't come all the way out here and miss out on this gorgeous waterfall. We did an 8 mile out and back hike to the falls via the Skyline to Sea Trail. The hike is moderate and begins on a downhill slope into the forest. Going down is always the easiest part for me, especially when a trail starts off descending. The real challenge is going back up once you reach the falls. It's nothing too strenuous but I'd definitely bring plenty of water and bug spray because there are lots of bugs on the trail. The trail itself is mostly shaded and features an abundance of beautiful redwoods, vibrantly green foliage, and scenic viewpoints. The waterfall is definitely the highlight of the hike! The falls were still flourishing in mid-July which worked out for us because we were able to take full advantage of the scene. When you make it up to the falls, there's a small deck area with two benches where you can sit and enjoy the picturesque views of the falls. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded on a Saturday afternoon in mid July. You may have to wait your turn to take a picture next to the falls. People were really courteous and didn't spend too much time which allowed for others to capture the moment. Bring your lunch and take a break here before continuing on your hike back. The scenery is so amazing here. Definitely recommend a hike to Berry Creek Falls is you're visiting Big Basin Redwood State Park.

AMAZING PLACE…read more Beautiful views and scenery. We did the Redwood Trail to the Skyline to the Sea to the Berry Creek Falls to the Sunset back to the parking lot. There are so many beautiful waterfalls along the trail. Some parts of the trail near the falls are muddy so wear good hiking shoes Note: This is a long trail (11 miles). Pack water and lunch and stay on the trail. You pay for parking with the rangers (10$ cash or card). Bathrooms at the park entrance are nice!

Ranch Out Opened in…read more2004, this ±5.7k-acre Preserve sits in the oak-covered foothills nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a short ±30-minute drive from Silicon Valley, but you'll feel like you're miles away from civilization, which is a really good thing these days. The Good: * Free to visit * Multiple parking lots with horse trailer parking available * Restroom in the main lot * Twelve miles of trails throughout the preserve (5.5 miles of which are designated as part of The Bay Area Ridge Trail) * If you're looking for a nice loop, there's a semi-moderate 4.5-mile loop available: Mayfair Ranch Trail to Longwall Canyon Trail to Baldy Ryan Creek Trail. * Horseback riding on certain trails (see map) * Biking allowed on certain trails (see map) The Meh: * No dogs allowed * Trails for the most part were in pretty decent shape, but there were a few areas where they need some TLC. The Ugly: * Much like the EBRPD, they use cows to try and control the non-native grasses, but there were no cows during our visit. :( Conclusion: Great place to escape from civilization and commune with Mother Earth.

Sat 4/17/21 hiked at Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP after already doing 4mi at Coyote Ridge OSP…read more Parking at the first lot was full, so had to park in the Overflow Lot that's further away. Went over the fence to get to the paved Llagas Creek Loop 0.6 miles, lots of lupines! Then did the Mayfield Ranch to Longwall Canyon, lots of climbing that's moderate. I felt really tired near the end because it got temperate Hot and I hate hiking in hot weather! There was a bunch of wildflowers and saw turkeys and 1 snake! Overall, good day for a Spring hike.

Back Valley Located…read morebetween San José and Morgan Hill is a gorgeous ±348-acre park that offers a no-frills hiking experience and superlative views of The Valley. This is one of OSP's smallest parks, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality. The Good: * Free to visit! * Mountain biking on certain trails (check map & signage) * Horseback riding on certain trails (check map & signage) * Restrooms in the parking lot * Picnic tables along the trails * The Arrowhead Trail Loop (±4 miles) is fairly easy, but does have a few decent uphills. However, we did it with three young children of varying ages, so it really wasn't an issue. * Great place for wildflower viewing--especially one year we barely had to leave the parking lot to be ensconced in Poppies! The Meh: * No dogs allowed * No trash cans, so pack it in and pack it out The Ugly: * The parking lot seems to have doubled since the last time we were here, which is a good thing because it used to fill up fast. It is still fairly small and only holds 27 cars--assuming no horse trailers are parked. There is also NO parking on Palm Ave. Conclusion: Small but mighty!

I hiked Sat 4/17/21 at Coyote Valley OSP, Morgan Hill. It's a 40min drive from North Fremont, Free…read moreparking, but on Saturdays have to be there before 8am. Park opens 7am-Sunset. Only 1 unisex vault toilet, it had tp and hand sanitizer. We did the 4mile loop hike: Heart's Delight Trail and Arrowhead Loop Trai, it's a One-Way trail due to Covid19. Gentle hills so there is climbing, they call it challenging, but it's really just moderate. Some views. Nice short hike in Morgan Hill.

Series of gravel walking trails that line the Watsonville Wetlands throughout town. Kind of a…read morehidden gem, I really don't see a whole lot of people out there, but they're such a great resource. Most of the access points aren't really obvious from the road, but the website has a decent map. Most of the trails are pretty much flat, and have benches and plaques telling you about the slough. Great for all skill levels. Because of the way the city is laid out, most people never see (or may not even know of) the sloughs. The trails are a great way to experience them. Some of the trails get a little slushy after it rains, so bring worthy shoes. Remember to pack your trash and respect the landscape. :-)