Weekend Hike Idea: 2-Hours, Killer Views, and a 100-Foot Drop (South Bay)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Here’s a great free weekend hike idea from SFGATE’s David Curran.

Looking for a weekend adventure that feels a little more… Indiana Jones? There’s a lesser-known Bay Area trail with steel cables, waterfalls – and it’s way more thrilling than your average loop through the woods.

Castle Rock State Park near Los Gatos has a rugged 5-mile loop with sweeping views, forest trails, and yes – steel cables bolted into rock to help you traverse a narrow ledge with a 100-foot drop.

For extensive details about the hike including photos, trail notes, and tips on the cable sections, check out the article This ‘rugged’ Bay Area hike is doable for everyone — just mind the 100-foot drop from SFGATE

With some of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, The Ridge Trail and Saratoga Gap Trail combo offers epic views of the San Lorenzo Valley and even a sliver of Monterey Bay, with a side stop at Castle Rock Falls (more of a trickle this time of year, but roaring in winter).

Add in some striking sandstone formations and a forest that opens up to sun-soaked ridges, and this is one trail that really brings the drama.

Getting There:
Castle Rock State Park Kirkwood entrance, 15451 state Route 35, Los Gatos. Entrance open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more hikes in the Bay Area and around California, check out SFGATE Outdoors.

• Bay Area hike ends with climbing redwood ladder over a waterfall
• This easy hike lets you touch an iconic Bay Area landmark
• The ruins of a 1910s sanitarium are hidden in the East Bay hills
• I followed a rumor and hiked to a hidden Bay Area labyrinth

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.