Saratoga Gap Loop
Hike Review
I hiked the Saratoga Gap Trail, Ridge Trail, Travertine Springs Trail, Saratoga Toll Road Trail, and Skyline Trail.
Saratoga Gap Trail, Ridge Trail, Travertine Springs Trail, and Skyline Trail were all single track trails with lots and lots of shade. Ridge Trail had the most sun, as it’s south-facing and has the least trees, but even the trail was well-shaded (at least by California standards). The Ridge Trail also had the most amount of climbable rocks.
Saratoga Toll Road Trail is a double track trail—also with lots of shade. The views are of wonderful trees, though as it gets closer to Skyline Blvd, there are more private residences one can see.
Saratoga Toll Road Trail and Skyline Trail had the most amount of car noise—I was glad to have my audiobook blaring in my ears.
Craig Springs Creek, San Lorenzo River, and other small creeks were all flowing with lots of water.
There were lots of bugs on all the trails.
There were a few pieces of trash, especially near the trail camp. I would’ve picked it up, but it was toilet paper, which I didn’t want to risk picking up.
I parked at Castle Rock State Park, which offers water and clean bathrooms.
What I Learned
There were so many bugs on the trail due to the warm weather and the abundance of water. I think I swallowed three of them although I tried my best to breath through my nose.
Although the temperatures were less than 80 degrees, I felt hot and unaccustomed to such warm weather. It made me hike at a much slower speed and I just felt lethargic.
The Castle Rock Trail Camp looked quite nice. I remember a year ago meeting a couple who said that they were staying at the trail camp for a week, where they just climbed every day. I can totally see that given the trail camp’s proximity to the awesome climbing routes close by.
Media Consumed
Words of Radiance
What Happened?
11.2 miles, 5 hrs 2 mins, 3106 ft of ascent
I’ve been itching to get back into my summer hiking shape by doing longer and longer hikes. I had cleared out this day to do one, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a hot day, and so instead of my first choice (a trail in Henry Coe), I decided to hike two shorter hikes. This was my morning hike.
Well, I had wanted it to be a morning hike, but I needed to catch up on sleep. Which meant that I started on this hike around 10am; much later than I’d liked.
The hike initially started with lots of people on the trail, but once I past Goat Rock, I think I saw less than 5 people on the trail the rest of the 9+ miles back. Once the time got past noon, it would have been usually much too hot, but the shade kept the temperature at least tolerable. I think the worst part of this hike were the bugs, which were incessant, and something