Protect, Inform and Enable

Inspiring the Protection of Castle Rock and Portola Redwoods State Parks

Bring in the New Year with January 1st hikes at Castle Rock and Portola

  • Castle Rock Kirkwood Entrance 10AM

  • Portola Redwoods Visitor Center 11AM

  • Castle Rock Saratoga Gap Parking Lot 1PM

Castle Rock  – 10AM Hike to Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock
  • January 1, 2026  (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
  • Castle Rock State Park, Kirkwood Entrance – Los Gatos, California
  • Distance:  4.5 miles   Elevation Gain: 1190 feet   Level:  Moderate
Start the new year with an adventure!  Hike one of the most exciting and scenic trails in the Bay Area.  This moderate 4.5-mile loop has 1,190 feet elevation gain and amazing panoramic views.
We hike to famous Castle Rock to explore caves and see amazing tafoni.  Castle Rock has many tafoni, where the rock is eroded to form pits, pockets, honeycombs, caves, ribs, and ridges.  One cave we will see was used to teach school in the 1800s    From there we visit Castle Rock Falls and enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean.  After a relaxed lunch we travel to Goat Rock, with its breathtaking vistas.
This hike is rated “moderate” because hikers need to step onto rocks, balance, and scramble over rocks.  Hikers should be comfortable with their sense of balance.
Bring at least one liter of water, lunch, snacks, and appropriate clothing.  Rain cancels.  Meet at Park Headquarters.
 
Portola Redwoods – A Walk in the Woods 
Update – Yes. We’re going, even in this rain!
Please Join Eric Schmidt on our First Day hike through the redwood forest.  This will be a ~2 hour easy/moderate hike with a picnic stop to celebrate New Year’s Day 2026.  We expect to see mushrooms, banana slugs and much more!  Please check the weather forecast. We plan to go out in light rain or shine. (Heavy rain & wind will cancel this hike).
  • Where: Portola Redwoods State Park Visitor Center
  • When: Arrive 10:45 for 11:00 AM hike  1/1/2026
  • Bring: Water, snack for picnic stop, layers, raincoat, hiking shoes/boots, camera
  • Difficulty:  There are dozens of hikes we can choose from.  It will depend on the ability of the participants and what they hope to see.
Note:  There is NO CELLULAR SERVICE.  Please print driving directions and allow extra time to arrive.  (About 1 hour from Rt 280 in Palo Alto)
 
Castle Rock 1PM  – Saratoga Gap – The Trail Less Travelled
 
January 1, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (MEETS AT SARATOGA GAP PARKING LOT @ Jct. of Hwy 35 & Hwy 9)
Come start the new year right with a grand history of these lush and scenic forest ridge lands. Former Castle Rock Ranger Miles Standish will take you through a series of short walks, touching on the entire history of these mountains from prehistory to the first peoples of the Ohlone to the American pioneer times and into the modern era. The hike will be broken into multiple pieces as participants have the option of following in their own cars to additional trailheads with (former) Ranger Standish to explore a variety of historically and naturally significant areas. Total hiking distance will be around 2-3 miles, total (optional) driving distance will be approximately 7 miles.
 
The hike is at 1:00 p.m. on Jan. 1, and begins at the Saratoga Gap Parking Lot at the junction of Highway 35/Skyline Blvd and Highway 9.
 
Participants should wear sturdy shoes and a hat; bring water and snacks; and wear weather-appropriate clothing. Significant rain or wind will cancel.
We hope to see you there.

 

 

Providing the BEST park experiences right in our own backyard

We love Castle Rock and Portola Redwoods State Parks

Castle Rock and Portola Redwoods are two Bay Area treasures that feature gorgeous hiking, rock climbing, redwood forests, and much more! We look forward to seeing you on the trails as we continue to support these parks.

Castle Rock

Past Projects

Current Projects

Castle Rock Map

Portola Redwoods Map

Portola Redwoods

Donate

Your contributions can make a difference! We work closely with Portola and Castle Rock park staff to determine needs and opportunities; as an all-volunteer organization, our funding goes directly to projects and improvements in these two parks.

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How To Help

Become A Member

Help preserve trails, maintain buildings, train volunteers, and fund school trips for disadvantaged youth!

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Volunteer

What’s your passion? Preserving local endangered species, or maintaining trails and facilities for visitors? Guided hikes, or paperwork? Whatever your strengths, you can help protect and improve these Parks! Visit the Volunteer Page for a current opportunity at Portola Redwoods, including how to join our Trail Crew!

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Upcoming Events

Date and Time

Event

More Information
     

Thursday January 1st

First Day hikes

 

Castle Rock Kirkwood Entrance – 10AM

Portola Visitor Center – 11AM

Castle Rock Kirkwood Entrance 2PM

 

 

 

Perseid meteor shower – A night under the stars

Join us on August 16, 2025, for a night under the stars.  We’ll have an astronomy presentation and telescopes under the clear Castle Rock skies.  Hosted by the Portola and Castle Rock Foundation and California State Parks, this special event promises to be memorable.  Stay tuned for more details!