This is a nice park for a "real" hike. The drive to the park itself is exciting though the winding road can get you if you are prone to it. The rangers are very friendly and there are restrooms, water, etc. Parking fee is $10 for the day. You may want to download the area map offline before coming as there is limited cellular connectivity. The park office does provide wifi at the entrance which is a great help. The trails are slightly narrow and by the cliff so you may want to bring a companion for hike, just to be safe. And don't forget your water as its hot and its good to stay hydrated.

Easy hike, beautiful views, nice wildlife. It’s great for hide and seek, plenty of others did that too. I would be cautious of belongings though since I had my used water bottle stolen at one point and put on mosquito repellent.

Seemingly popular, this State Park offers plenty to hike. Although the main trail is just one, you can walk 3 miles round trip through small elevation, narrow passages, and some difficult to get by spots. You can also take even longer trail and complete a 5 miles hike. If you are more adventurous, you can walk all the way to the hwy 1 (currently not possible due to trail closures from fire). Get early on a weekend or parking can be tight. The hike is moderate but not suitable for all people.

A beautiful park with many hiking trails of all levels and multiple rocks for rock climbing activities. There is a small waterfall but it is almost dry this time of the year. In addition, there are many observations points with amazing views of the mountains where you can see as far as Monterey bay. The trails are not suitable for bikes or stroller kids though.

It’s been truly and literally a breathtaking experience. It’s my first time taking on such a trail. I had to go down the hiking trail to reach the view point and it was a beautiful view. There are quite a few parking spaces available so first come first serve. Parking fees is reasonable and frankly less when compared to the experience. Trail run along a small water flow which ends up to be a pleasant waterfall at the end. Experience mountain climbers spend time here to go down the cliff to see the waterfalls from another POV. Overall it was a wonderful experience. Definitely going to visit it again soon. I would definitely recommend visiting this place for all the nature enthusiasts out there.

A beautiful park with areas to rock climb. It's so magical to go on this trail and see miles and miles of trees. It's an open nature preserve and it's just stunning. Not too challenging. I'm a not an avid hiker and my legs are a little sore the next day but nothing too bad.

This is a beautiful park! Highly shaded with fun trails that lead to some really cool destinations and photo ops. Camping requires hiking 3-4 miles along the mountain side (single trail), over rocks, and around fallen trees. Make sure to pack plenty of water! I highly recommend navigating the terrain on a day hike before blindly hiking in gear. **Reservations required to access the parking lot for overnight camping**

Great trial for intermediate hiker. I need to use both hands to climb at some points. No stroller please. Very steep staircase. Infant carrier on daddy’s back is possible. No dog allowed. Parking has no shade, don’t leave dogs inside the car. Beautiful beautiful. Highly recommend!

Castle Rock is a beautiful park with lots to offer. There are great rocks to climb and the trails were well kept. We did the Goat rock overlook trail as well as the castle rock loop. Our total was about 4.75 miles with a 990 ft elevation gain. The trail was not too challenging and there were some small obstacles along the way like rocks and steps. We went clockwise on our trail so we were able to walk down the large steps by goat rock. Castle Rock is a very popular park so plan on seeing plenty of people most all year round. Parking is $10 in the lot which we had no problem with especially if it goes to the parks. There’s is some free parking on the road but it fills up quickly. The bathrooms were really nice and clean which was pleasant. Castle Rock is a great place if your looking for a great outdoor space in the South Bay.

This park has some really interesting networks of trails that are suitable for hikers, backpackers, runners, and climbers. The trails along the ridge of the Santa Cruz mountains can be gorgeous. We stopped by the backpackers campsite on Memorial Day weekend and found it basically deserted, you shouldn't have much problem getting a walk-in spot if you wanted it

It's a nice place for climbing rock. My daughter liked here.

I did a small hike with some coworkers, and I have to say the hike was amazing and peaceful! Highly recommended!

Our first hike in 2022 at Castle rock. We came before 10 am and the gate was closed. We did the castle rock and Saratoga gap trail to the water fall which is around 3.5 miles (round trip) from the overflow parking lot.

Such a great trail! I'm recovering from an injury, so it's very challenging! But if you are an avid hiker, this will be great for you! It's beautiful!

We hiked the saratoga gap and ridge trail. The hike was awesome and the views were stunning. Some part of the trail is little risky so wear good hiking shoes.

Nature is perfect. Love going to this park. It is enormous. There are so many trails. So many trees. Every time I go I see something new. Popular place for people of all levels. Today I saw rock climbers. There are lots of trees. The trails I've been on are mostly shaded. Some parts are technical. Not a lot of steepness

Went for an overnight hike in 2018; it was just stunning to see the geology of the place and feel the serenity just a few miles away from the San Jose, one of the least serene places. Hope to return once this whole corona chaos is over :)

We did the Castle Rock nature trail and the hike to Castle Rock falls. There are some cool rock formations along the way. We saw many people bouldering. The hike is easy, not much elevation gain. The falls didn't really have any water, which is expected at this time of the year. It was still a nice view from there.

Nice view...must be willing to climb a little, lots of areas the you need to climb to be safe.

Summed up in one word... Amazing!

Epic views and rocky terrains makes this place an excellent and just moderately challenging walk within the forest. The Castle Rock waterfall, however, is more like water droplets...

My favorite local hike! Wonderful views of the forests of the Santa Cruz mountains. With the new parking lot, most hikes skip out on the loop that goes through some climbing boulders. The trail can get congested around Goat Rock but other than that you should be able to hike by your lonesome.

Super family friendly trails. Rocks to clamber and climb in. Can get crowded and clogged trails depending time and day. $10 to park in the new or existing parking lot. Good facilities at the new parking lot that's off the main entrance. Rd side parking limited.

This is one of our favorite places for hiking and rest. Some hikes are very easy, so you can get your children. Done hikes, like path to Goat rock isn’t so easy, so be careful and don’t forget your water

Medium hiking level, some rocks are on the path, even though it is a beautiful park, the entrance costs $10, parking lot is spacious and has EV charging stations.

Cool state park! Plenty of parking, albeit at a $10 charge... plenty of bouldering, hiking, and adventuring to be done.

The park is very well maintained. There are plenty of trails and the views are amazing in many different spots. There is a waterfall also (though it is dry right now because of the drought). There is plenty of parking (at a fee), restrooms, benches, etc. A fantastic place to go for a hike (though most of the trails have a decent elevation not proper for everyone)

Beautiful, great trails, scenery, sick rock climbing

Great place for a day hike. You can also do a overnight backpack trip. Just make sure to get a permit. I have done this trip many times.

First time being there. The family and I liked it a lot and will be coming back to try out other trails. It was also cool to see all the rock climbing people doing their thing. They have lots of cleaned and maintained restrooms in the main parking lot. Would recommend for a place to go to if you like to go on a small scenic drive to get there.

Beautiful hike 90% shaded with some light climbing which makes it fun but not too strenuous. Did an intermediate trail - Saratoga Gap, Ridge and finish with Castle Rock (4miles around 900-1000ft elevation gain), you will get to Castle Rock Falls, Goat Rock overlook and Castle Rock (there were some people climbing). Parked at the new parking lot called Kirkwood (10$). You might also encounter some 🦌 and 🦃 while driving to the park.

Raced the sunset and saw few animals. Didn’t even see other people except on the main road and parking area. Surprised considering it was the weekend but perhaps it was due to going out so late? Would go again, the river is refreshing for my dogs.

Though this is not far from our home, we had never been there before. LOTS of trails, but be careful, some are very rocky and steep and we all got stung by mosquitos. We took the castle rock falls trail, but we did not go all the way. It is truly beautiful there, and there were rock climbers everywhere.

Beautiful scenery in a remote area. The camp didnt have running water, this had not been updated online. Was also marketed as Hiker/Biker but the mile long trail into the camp was not suitable for touring bikes at all - had to walk.

Super duper beautiful park with some incredible hikes and views! There are quite a few rock formations to climb on, which provide even more great lookout points. I went on a Saturday, arriving at about 11, and parking was a bit hard to find unfortunately. Next time I hike here i’ll try to arrive a bit earlier.

This is a more challenging family hike. We really like the big rocks along the way. Our child enjoyed climbing up and down. The view from the top of the mountain is beautiful. This is a great place to practice rope climbing.

The parking fee is 10$ and they accept credit cards. They also have WiFi near the parking lot. I hiked the Saratoga gap loop and the castle rock trail loop. The Saratoga gap loop has some really scenic overlooks. The hike was a bit challenging and I used All Trail app as some parts of the trail were confusing. The waterfall is almost dry now so don't expect much. Will surely recommend.

Great communication. We had them install the new smart locks for us (they don’t provide any smart locking devices, you’d have to get it yourself). It was very well managed and speedy process. Reasonable pricing too. Will be using them for future requirements.

He arrived on time, wore a face mask (which made me feel reassured that he takes his customers safety seriously) and was very professional. Very happy with the work and value for money. While he was here, he also mentioned that he has a background in carpentry and was able to fix our sash windows which never properly worked! Great service and happily recommend to friends and family.

Its gorgeous here... definitely a place to see.

Beautiful! We went early trying to avoid the crowd, but there was lots of people and half were not wearing masks.

Plan to visit early morning or on cloudy days.

Beautiful hike. Some trails were not as clear though and involved light climbing over rocks to get to the other side. Not a beginners hike location

Great place for a weekend hike. They posted one way signs at various areas to guide hikers to take the right path. Plenty of shades to cool off when you start to hike up. Great views, so take a break to enjoy.

Great views and fun trail. Couple places you are doing a little bouldering.

Great hike with amazing views

Wonderful hike and an equally wonderful drive upto reach here. Keep in mind that you will descend first and then climb on your way back. It is a lovely hike during spring time when the grass is green, trees are lush and there is a water stream at the end of the hike(down the hill) but in summer months, be prepared for some dust, brown hay and not so lush and lively trees. Recommended for friends and family, maybe not so much for bigger groups because of the narrow path, everyone will be segregated throughout. Try spring time hike here right after rains for abundant green foliage.

Great for hiking, better for climbing.

Many hiking spots. Amazing atmosphere year round. Lots of shady areas for those summer seasonal hikes. Not to mention a few local wineries to check out.

The parking space was full and the person that sell tickets provide us another parking spot with gate passcode. Need to buy ticket before enter the passcode gate. We took an hour to park the car at 9:30am

So much love it from firs time! Long and beautiful trails.

Place is amazing. Gorgeous views. Awesome for hiking and rock climbing.

It’s a great park with good hikes!! Please be ware of snakes, spotted 2 snakes on our trail. It was a bit populated though, you can spot people climbing the rocks.

What a great park for first time or little hikers. The trail to the waterfall is clearly marked and easy. The bathrooms are super clean. Free 2 hour car charging if you can get a spot. The rangers are all really nice and helpful!

You just ate brunch and you want to go on a nice medium length hike. The parking is tight, except for a spot that has a lip that makes you wonder if you'll be able to get out later without ramming your bumper into the side of the road (but not to worry, with some jimmying and the help of a log under a tire, you manage to get out all right). The hike itself is memorable and gorgeous. Is this giant rock formations Castle Rock? I think it is... Or maybe it's this much larger and even more impressive formation? The views of wooded valley are terrific, and as long as you aren't expecting too much from the "waterfall," you surely won't be disappointed.

Best bouldering in the area. So many things to climb, and pretty much everyone is chill and just taking it in.

Checking out Bay area climbing. Definitely more of a border crag, but fun climbing. A lot of R rated climbs, but plenty of safe climbing

This is a beautiful location and trail to hike. We always find some large rocks to sit on and eat our lunch. There's plenty of parking at the multiple off-road locations.

A beautiful park just 40mins drive from Bay area. Easy - moderate trails, mostly covered so its a good hiking location to choose on a sunny afternoon. During pandemic, the castle rock falls trail is open and is a one way loop trail. Pretty moderate trail, 4-4.5 miles long, and has amazing views of the dense redwood forest and the bay from the top of the trail head. You can spot a lot of wild flowers along the way. Castle rock falls isnt dried up and you can see little water. Indeed its a beautiful sight, water falling on a huge rock. And yeah restrooms are in service during this pandemic.

Nice easy beautiful hike. More of a walk really but very enjoyable.

Parking is limited

Loved it

It was an amazing experience hiking there. The park did a great job in labeling social distancing by making most of the trails one way. Unfortunately, most of the people ignored the signs of one way trail and walked both way braking social distancing.

A combination of fire trail and singles is great for hiking trail running - early morning is cold and bird are singing out -like paradise

Park looks like a good time, due to COVID19 restrictions you have to have a reservation so we only drove through.

At one point you will have to hold to a steel rope

Super cool views, be sure to stay on or near the trail. We got super lost and struggled to get back but worth it with killer landscapes the whole way.

Very crowded trails.

Very crowded. Mask wearing not enforced

Gorgeous views, felt at times like an obstacle course, and I loved it. Wear comfy shoes. Heavily trafficked trail, so be ready to share parts of the trail. Amount of shade depends on the trail you go to.

I was visited this park on ( July/6/20). There is $ 10 for parking fee, clean bathrooms, and very nice staff working in here. But because the parking in the street was empty, so I didn’t have to pay for parking. I Loved the trail, I had done it before. The Saratoga Gap loop’s trail, it is around 5 miles with a little bit over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. AllTrails rated it as moderate, I think it is right. The waterfalls over looks is closing right now. There are one way noted everywhere, because the COVID-19, but it makes much easier to hike. The first half of the trail was hiking down hill with dusty and sunny cliffs, but it has panoramic view of the canyon, it is breathtaking. Awesome rocks formations, with little caves. a large bouldees. There is decent climbing on the way out. At one point you will have to hold a steel rope. Hiking shoes, hat, water, bug spray, are needed for this trail. Highly recommend it to everyone love outdoors. Happy hike folks!

The parking price was quite steep, so I would recommend looking for other lots if available. That said, the hike is very pretty and the bouldering looks fantastic. Plenty of great looking boulders. As someone just getting into climbing, I can't speak to the quality of climbing, though I'm told it's good. But, at the very least, it's beautiful.

This is my favorite hiking spot locally. Nice and cool trees to hike through, and then the views once you get int the back valley are fantastic!

Aww I wish I didn’t go while I wasn’t feeling well !! The trail has some nice shade. Some parts of the pathway are pretty wide. Some views. Not a fan of the waterfall or that there’s barely any parking tho. All in all.. you should try it out at least once anyway.

Nice place to visit. Still a lot of people even though there's a pandemic, so I can't imagine if there is none.

Too dry in summer,but beautiful nevertheless

Perfect place to hike with lots of shade.

Pretty nice a quite forest area, in most of part trails are good for hike and bike, but there are parts which are closed for bikes, and not good for kids. There are some parking lots not shown on the map, and people parking along the road as well.