Castle Rock Trail Camp, near Los Gatos, California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. This hike-in campground offers a rustic experience with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for cozy evenings under the stars.

The camp is surrounded by stunning views of the Santa Cruz mountains, and the hike in is a treat, featuring scenic vistas and even a waterfall at the start. Visitors have mentioned that the sites are well-spaced, providing a sense of privacy, and many appreciated the peaceful atmosphere, although some noted the occasional noise from a nearby shooting range.

While there are no showers or electric hookups, the campground does have vault toilets and a communal water source, though it's wise to bring your own water just in case. Campers have enjoyed the chance to unwind and connect with nature, with one reviewer highlighting the “great vistas along the ridgeline” during the hike in.

Castle Rock Trail Camp is a great base for outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing, making it a popular choice for adventurers. Just a short drive from the busy Bay Area, it feels like a world away, offering a perfect blend of tranquility and adventure for your next getaway.

Castle Rock State Park is a land of sculpted sandstone, lush forests, and sweeping vistas. From one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, park visitors enjoy hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Rock climbers explore the park's caverns and rocks, including the namesake Castle Rock. Plant-lovers come for California black oaks, knobcone pines, and high-elevation coast redwoods. The park’s 34 miles of rugged trails conveniently connect to an extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys to nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park and open space preserves on the Skyline to the Sea Trail. 

 The Castle Rock Trail Camp is open year round on a first-come, first-serve basis. The campground is a 2.5 mile (4 kilometer) hike from the parking area and you will have to carry all of your equipment into the camp. Castle Rock Trail Camp has trash receptacles, bathrooms, and 20 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Wood is available for sale during the wet season. Fires are not allowed during fire season. 

Camping is permitted only in designated camps. 
Campers are required to be in their campsites from sunset to 6 a.m. 

 To register and pay your fees, check in at the Entrance Station at the Castle Rock parking lot. If you arrive when the station is not staffed, you can use the self-registration envelopes. Make sure you bring exact change or a check to use in case you must use the self-registration. Place your receipt on the dashboard in a visible place as proof of payment. Rangers will verify payment. For more information about camping and fire closure dates, please call Castle Rock State Park at (408) 867-2952. For more information and reservations for Waterman Gap Trail Camp, please visit the Santa Cruz Mountain State Parks Backcountry Trail Camp Page.

Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park

Are you in need of a campground near Saratoga, CA? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Saratoga

The Best Camping Near Saratoga, California

This is sweet hike in trail camp.  We have used it for two purposes.  First when were were climbing in Castle Rock State Park and this was our hub and second when we were doing the Skyline to the Sea Trail and wanted a easy first day.  This is primitive. There is a shelter with tables in the event there is rain.  Then there are scattered sites, some with tables for you to find a tent site.  If busy - you will be sharing.

  

Shaded, though hike down can be in the open. Primitive restrooms. Water available. Picnic Tables.  

  

Great home base for climbing - good trail camp for the march to the sea.

Skyline to the Sea Trail or Rock Climbing

Hike a short 2.5mi to get to the campsite. 20 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings (when allowed). No other campers when I was there off season. Very green and lots of great vistas along the ridgeline on the hike in.

Nice Hike in Campground

Great campsite with picnic tables and fantastic view for sunset. Came FCFS and the ranger at the parking lot usually lets you know if it's full or available before you go up.

Great last-minute, hike-in option

Amazing view and great hike about 6 miles both ways

Castle Rock State Park is located a few miles from the "Saratoga Gap", which is the junction of Hwy 35 ("Skyline") and Hwy 9.  Road and mountain bikers in the Bay Area will be familiar with this area, and on weekends the parking lot where these highways meet is busy with cyclists starting their rides.  There are two parking lots for this park, the first a few miles past the Saratoga Gap on Hwy 35 south.  This is the main lot where the ranger station is located.  If you have reservations for the hike-in campground, you'll need to stop here first and get a parking pass.  The parking lot for the trail head is just a bit further down Hwy 35.  When I visited it was the offseason and we had to unlock the gate in order to get access to the lot (the ranger gave us the combination to the lock).  I'm not sure if this is the case in the spring/summer/fall.

The campground is about a 2.5mi hike in from the trail head at the parking area. Although there was a fire road at the campgrounds that looked like it maybe could be used to drive in and drop off gear, I didn't see anybody doing it, so be prepared to carry everything on your back.  In other words, don't expect to get a Yeti cooler full of beer out to the campsites.  

The hike itself is great, offering sweeping views of the Santa Cruz mountains and the Pacific ocean to the west.  There's even a waterfall right at the beginning of the hike.  There are a couple of different trails you can take, but the most scenic one IMO is the one that follows a west facing ridge.  There's a couple of spots where you'll need to do some scrambling up the rock faces, but nothing to worry about.  I wouldn't bring a toddler on it, but anybody older should be able to handle it.

The campsites themselves are typical California State Park "primitive" sites.  There are pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables.  Fires are increasingly banned in the dry months (i.e most of the year) in California now, but in January, when I was there they were allowed.  Because carrying firewood on the hike would have been a huge effort, the rangers kindly stocked bundles of wood at the main entrance to the campground with an iron ranger for making payment via the honor system. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although there is a communal water source at the campsite entrance, the water was deemed not safe to drink when I was there, and that had been the case for a while. The water tank apparently needs to be decontaminated.  So, we brought all our water in with us as well as water filters so we could get water from the nearby creeks.  Again, in winter, this isn't a problem. The way the drought has been going for the last decade in all of CA, I'd guess these creeks are running dry by mid May, if not sooner.  If you go in the summer, bring lots of water.

All in all, this is a great getaway for being so close to the megalopolis that is the San Francisco Bay Area.  As the crow flies, you're probably only about 25 miles from San Jose. But you'll feel like you're a lot further away.  And that's the whole point.

Why 4 stars instead of 5?  Please see this explanation of my ratings system.

5 stars - Worth traveling from far distances to visit.  Minimum of 3 night stay recommended in order to fully explore the area. A special place worthy of repeat visits. Example: Yosemite, Tahoe, Plumas

4 stars - Worth visiting if you're in the area as part of a larger trip.  For locals (i.e those within a few hours driving distance), a top tier spot, one that you'll visit regularly, maybe even annually. Example: Pinnacles, Lopez Lake, Lake Sonoma

3 stars - Convenient if you're a local. If coming from out of state, a convenient "home base" for nearby attractions, but not particularly beautiful or scenic itself. Example: Flying Flags RV Resort (Buellton), KOA Petaluma

Under 3 stars - Don't bother. It's an area that's not really worth exploring, or you can find something better in the same area.

Santa Cruz Mountain Serendipity within the Bay Area

I just learned about this app yet it’s put together perfectly! I will be using this week or this upcoming weekend!

FINALLY CAN GET OUT THE CITY!

Henry Coe

I liked the trees, picnic tables, and fire rings at the sites. The sites were spaced nicely to allow for privacy. Frog Flat seemed a bit more secluded than the main camp. There was no water running at the site when I stayed there, but vault toilets were available. There is a nearby shooting range and you can hear the gunshots during the daylight hours.  

Photos of Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park

Real photos from real campers