Skyline to the Sea Trail

Just finished the 26 (or so?) mile trek beginning at Saratoga gap. We got a ride here and got picked up at the end. This was a first time backpacking trip for me and my 66 year old dad and we are both in okay shape. I would say this was a good first time backpack trip for us not because it was easy physically (it was challenging) but because it was safe, the campsites had water, there are no scary animals (bears) to think about, and the trail was well marked and maintained.
The first day we hiked the 6 miles from Saratoga Gap to Watermans Gap campground. There is an outhouse, garbage and drinkable water.
The second day we hiked 10 miles to Jay camp. There is a lot of uphill the first stretch (I read other places that this is a mostly downhill hike and that’s just not true). We were soooo happy to get to the big basin headquarters. There is a store there that you can buy drinks or real food here. Jay camp is right up the way. This is the first week in October so it was not that busy and the hiking campsites to do not have tables and no one was using the biking campsites which DO have tables so we used those. No one said anything and we were happy to have a table! No fires are allowed at this time anywhere in the park. There are bathrooms, drinkable water and even showers that use quarters if you can still stand (I couldn’t :)). It’s a lovely camp site.
Last day we grabbed a double espresso shot and continued on the last leg. The last 5 miles are brutal. Ironically they are the «easiest» because it is pretty much a fire road path but it seemed so monotonous (though still beautiful) and my feet hurt so bad that this was just tourtière. I have never been so happy to see my husbands truck come into view at the Rangers station. We cheated and had him drive us across to the beach so we could get a «sea» picture.
Overall it is such a beautiful trail and I am so happy that I did it– it was a definite challenge but that makes me even more proud that I accomplished it. 6 miles per day would be a perfect beginner trip in my opinion so I would say this is beyond a beginner hike but as long as you are physically and mentally strong you can do it.
A few notes– 2.5 L of water in my camel pack for the day hikes seemed the perfect amount. we brought a water filter but didn’t need it. For food storage from animals — the first night I just tied it in a bag from a tree, and at Jay camp they have food lockers. You can get cell reception at the first camp site but not at all after that. Temperature wise– I was fine in a long sleeve shirt and vest with sweatpants at night, and shorts and tank during the day.

What a fantastic trail! 30+ miles over 3 days starting at Castle Rock campground to Waddell Beach (stopping at Waterman Campground and Jay Campground at the Big Basin HQ). Almost all shaded by the trees (lots of redwoods!) and fantastic scenery the entire time, will well marked trails. You pretty much can’t get lost at all. If you do, you deserve to get lost! Also all these campsites have piped drinking water and pit toilets so you probably don’t need to bring your water pump. You’ll need to make these reservations quite early too since they’re pretty limited. State park # is (831) 338‑8861 to make the reservations.
NIGHT 0: Castle Rock Campground.
We ended up not actually staying here because we thought (and there wasn’t anything that indicated otherwise) that the campground was right at the trailhead. Instead it’s 2.7 miles in. Thus as we had prepared for car camping the first night and were meeting others the next morning at the trailhead, we decided to find another campground elsewhere that was next to the road.
Parking at Castle Rock trailhead gets crazy packed on the weekends so come early! The parking lot also closes at sunset so you’ll need to make sure your car is in before then.
DAY 1:
This will be the most «complicated» path since you have to take a couple different trails. As you hike towards Castle Rock (assuming you didn’t stay there the night before), you’ll see a bunch of day climbers and boulderers. Gorgeous views above the tree skyline along the way.
After you past Castle Rock, take the Travertine Springs Trail for ~2 miles which will connect to the Saratoga toll road trail for another mile until you hit an uphill dirt road on your right. It’s 0.4 miles going up a couple hundred feet so not too bad. This will take you to the Skyline to the Sea trail (finally!) in which you’ll take this for another ~2.6 miles to Waterman camp. You’ll hug Highway 9 pretty closely so you’ll see a couple abandoned cars that fell off the road. This one more recent.
. And this one from a while ago!
NIGHT 1: Waterman Gap Campground
Your instinct may be to tucker down at the sites right around the pit toilet. My advice is to walk a little further towards the back to sites 5 and 6. It’s a a bit extra of a hike but totally worth it since you get your privacy. Campsite isn’t too far from Highway 9 too so you may hear some speedracers zooming by at night like we did. This is also the first (and only) area where you do get cell phone reception.
DAY 2:
You pretty much stay on Skyline to the Sea trail the entire way from here now. Your goal now is to get to the Jay Campground at Big Bason HQ. You still hug the road sometimes and even cross it a couple times. Again gorgeous views along here.
NIGHT 2: Jay Campground
You’re at the park HQ so good time to stock up on stuff or get a bit of real food if you’re tired of your freeze dried! THEY DO HAVE BEER THOUGH. And showers too (1 quarter = 2 min), The camp shop does not carry propane for Jet Boilers in case you run out like we did. However you can ask them to use their hot water though to heat up your freeze dried foods.
DAY 3:
You’re almost there! A slight change in scenery here. No more hugging highways and more bridge crossing and waterfalls. Oh and way more banana slugs.
I swear, the last ~3 miles felt like FOREVER. The trail opens wider and the trees start thinning in front of you which makes you constantly feel like you’re almost there. Then you immediately smell the salty ocean breeze and which iswhen you know you’re at the end!

Did the 35 miles from castle rock to Waddell beach. Did it in three days but if I did it again I’d make it four days to allow more time for exploring other trails and relaxing by the creek. The first day was my favorite, you start up very high and there are a lot of places to look out and see all the mountains your about to climb to get to the beach. The campsites were wonderful, at both camps my friend and I had very private spots. The last two days we were often near a creek. It was beautiful!!! Lots of places I wanted to stop and soak in all the beauty. Berry Creek falls was amazing. :) The hike was fairly easy and it was mostly shaded. Will definitely be returning. :)

Great hike. Starts out in a little meadow and starts going up hill. Great place to do a hike/​beach trail

We did the 26 – 29 mile hike (uncertain, the signs are weird and don’t add up) in one day. Started at 8:30AM at Saratoga Gap, finished at 7:30PM to catch sunset at Waddell beach. My only complaint is that the trails are really close to the highway for the first half and it doesn’t feel like a real wilderness trek. Bathroom stops at Waterman Trail Camp (pit toilet) and at big basin headquarters (full service bathroom + water refill). Couldn’t feel my feet for the last 4 miles but it was worth it.

It was hard the first time, it was still hard the 2^nd time… but it was ah-​maz-​ing! My friends and I took the Skyline to the Sea trail and looped up to the Sunset Trail this weekend. 3 waterfalls, 10.5 miles, and 5 hours of awesome hiking. There is a lot of shade at the Skyline to the Sea Trail, scenic rest spots at the waterfalls, and it was a bit more rocky and shade-​less along the Sunset Trail. It was definitely hard the last half but oh-​so-​worth it.
$ 10 to park in the headquarters parking lot for the day. Bring lunch to enjoy at the waterfalls. Yes, I’m sore and walking around like an old lady today but HIGHLY recommend!

On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, after battling all the crazies waiting to get to the pumpkin patches along Highway 92, we ended up here for the Berry Creek Falls Bike And Hike. According to some hiking /​biking book it was difficulty level 2 (meaning children could do this) … though they probably didn’t account for me on a hybrid with skinny tires.
It was a great ride — challenging on the way to the waterfall but with a steady downhill grade on the ride back to the sea. It was a brisk but sunny day, but the redwoods offered a lot of coverage and riding next to the stream and over several wooden bridges was awesome. There is a bike rack at the end of the trail and about a 1 mile uphill hike to the waterfalls. It’s no Niagara, but a nice little treat at the end nonetheless. I imagine doing this ride /​hike again with a few friends and enjoying a beer at the end.
Next time … pack more tissues, bring the KEY to my bike lock, mountain bike tires with traction would help, wear biking shorts cause there are a lot of rocks which hurt the coochie.