Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
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| Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail | |
|---|---|
 The 70 ft. (21 m) Berry Creek Falls, as seen from the trail |
|
| Length | 29.5 mi; 47.2 km |
| Location | California, United States |
| Trailheads | Saratoga Gap, California Waddell Beach, Pacific Ocean |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation Change | 2600 ft |
| Highest Point | Saratoga Gap (2600 ft) |
| Lowest Point | Waddell Beach (0 ft) |
| Trail Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year Round |
| Sights | Castle Rock State Park Big Basin State Park |
| Hazards | Severe Weather |
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail [1] is a 29.5 mile (47.2 km) hiking trail that descends from the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California to the Pacific Ocean, passing through Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
The trail usually takes two to three days to complete, with nearly all thru-hikers traveling from East to West (towards the ocean). It is possible to walk the entire trail in one day, though this is unusual and very difficult. Many hikers like to take a detour up Berry Creek Trail to see the waterfalls or to camp at Sunset Trail Camp, adding an additional 2.7 mi. (4.3 km) to the hike.
The trail begins at Saratoga Gap on the ridge, at the intersection of SR 9 and Skyline Boulevard (SR 35). It parallels SR 9 through Castle Rock, crosses the highway, and then follows SR 236 to Big Basin park headquarters. It then descends through Big Basin, following Waddell Creek to its outlet at Waddell Beach.
No public transportation serves both ends of the trail, so hikers must make their own arrangements. Santa Cruz Metro routes 35 and 40 together can get you from Big Basin State Park Headquarters to Waddell Creek and back. However, both routes run just twice a day, with the 35 stopping at Headquarters weekends only during the Spring/Summer season. It's not advised to park on Highway 9 due to an increase of car break-ins.
There is a proposed plan for a "Saratoga-to-the-Sea" Trail. [2] The plan would create a trail starting somewhere near Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, passing through a defunct quarry, and terminating in Sanborn-Skyline County Park. This trail would connect to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail via a completed section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The quarry is owned by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, which is conducting feasibility studies of this plan. [3]
