Past Projects
Our projects focus on improving Portola Redwoods and Castle Rock Parks’ usability for and enjoyment by visitors. Each project has been made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners. We’re grateful for their support and proud to share the impact their contributions have made!
Using your donations to make a difference…
During the California budget crisis in 2012, both parks were slated for closure. We worked with our foundation partners to raise funds to keep them open, paying for employees and minimal maintenance, until the State budget could pay for them again.
In 2020, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation, working alongside dedicated California State Parks staff, completed much-needed repairs and improvements to the Iverson Trail in Portola Redwoods State Park.
This popular route winds through lush redwood forest, connecting visitors to some of the park’s most scenic areas. Over time, sections of the trail suffered from erosion, fallen trees, and wear from heavy use. The restoration work improved trail stability, enhanced drainage, and cleared hazards—ensuring a safer, more enjoyable experience for hikers while protecting the surrounding habitat.
Thanks to this effort, the Iverson Trail remains a beautiful and accessible way for visitors to immerse themselves in the park’s towering redwoods and rich natural history.
In 2024, PCRF with California State Parks repaired and replaced worn steps on the trail to Tiptoe Falls in Portola Redwoods State Park.
The short but scenic hike to Tiptoe Falls is one of Portola Redwoods’ hidden gems, leading visitors through lush redwood forest to a charming two-tier waterfall on Fall Creek. Over time, the wooden steps along the approach to the falls had deteriorated from constant foot traffic, moisture, and the natural wear of the forest environment.
In a focused effort to improve safety, accessibility, and visitor enjoyment, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation supported the repair and replacement of these steps. The project included:
- Replacing damaged or rotted steps with durable, weather-resistant materials
- Regrading and stabilizing the trail surface to reduce erosion and improve footing
- Ensuring the design blended naturally with the surrounding environment
These improvements not only make the path safer for hikers of all ages but also protect the delicate creekside habitat by keeping visitors on the designated trail. Thanks to this work, Tiptoe Falls remains an inviting destination where guests can enjoy the beauty of the redwoods and the gentle cascade of the falls for years to come.
Before Castle Rock State Park was established in 1968, the land that would become part of the park was owned by various individuals—including a parcel held by the Smead Family. For roughly two decades, continuing into the 1960s, this property along the uppermost section of the Kings Truck Trail became an illegal dumping ground for used tires.
Bulldozed trenches were filled with discarded tires and covered with soil, while others were left scattered on the surface. Beyond being an eyesore, these tires posed a serious fire hazard and threatened the headwaters of the San Lorenzo River with contamination.
In a major restoration effort, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation led a campaign—partnering with California State Parks and CalRecycle—to remove and recycle an estimated 8,000 tires from the site. This ambitious cleanup, completed in 2014, transformed a long-standing environmental hazard into a safer, healthier part of the park’s landscape.
Between 2020 and 2022, the Portola and Castle Rock Foundation with California State Parks supported the replacement of aging bridges on two beloved routes in Castle Rock State Park—the Loghry Woods Trail and the Travertine Springs Trail.
These bridges, essential for safe passage over sensitive riparian areas, had weathered decades of use and exposure. The replacements not only improved visitor safety but also enhanced trail durability and environmental protection, ensuring that hikers can continue to explore these scenic paths without damaging the surrounding habitat.
By investing in these upgrades, PCRF and its partners have preserved vital connections within the park’s trail network—keeping Castle Rock’s wild beauty accessible for years to come.
PCRF and partners restored the historic gathering shelter, preserving its legacy for future park visitors.
Since 1943, visitors to Portola Redwoods State Park found shelter from sun and rain beneath a cherished Ramada – a simple, open-air wooden structure that became a favorite spot for picnics, celebrations, and community gatherings. Over the decades, the harsh conditions of the redwood forest took their toll, and by 2012 the original structure had deteriorated beyond repair, leading to its demolition. Determined to restore this beloved landmark, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation partnered with Peninsula Open Space Trust and Save the Redwoods League, and secured a grant from the California State Parks Foundation to fund its reconstruction.
Construction was completed 2018, recreating the Ramada as a welcoming space where future generations can gather, share meals, and make memories—just as visitors have for more than 80 years.
In 2018, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation completed a much-needed refurbishment of the Castle Rock Trail Camp, a beloved backcountry destination for hikers exploring the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The improvements included:
- Installing safer, upgraded fire rings to reduce wildfire risk and improve camper safety
- Refreshing and maintaining the self-guided nature trail near the camp, enhancing the educational experience for visitors
- Adding new signage to help hikers navigate and better understand the park’s unique natural features
These upgrades not only improved safety and comfort for overnight guests but also preserved the camp’s role as a welcoming waypoint for backpackers on the Skyline-to-the-Sea and other connecting trails. Thanks to this work, the Castle Rock Trail Camp continues to offer a safe, scenic, and educational wilderness experience for all who venture there.
PCRF replaced the Interpretive Shelter roof, safeguarding the shelter’s educational displays and reducing fire vulnerability.
Just a short walk from the trailhead in Castle Rock State Park, and next to Goat Rock—one of the park’s most popular rock-climbing destinations—stands an interpretive shelter that has welcomed and informed visitors for decades. Inside, panels provide map orientation, suggest hikes and climbs, and share the park’s natural history under the unifying theme of Sharing Common Ground.
Originally built in 1970, the shelter’s wood shake roof had reached the end of its life. While damage was, for the moment, limited to the sheathing material, delaying repairs risked far greater costs in the future—and threatened the valuable interpretive panels it protects.
In 2019, the Portola and Castle Rock Foundation replaced the roof, safeguarding the shelter’s educational displays and reducing fire vulnerability.
This restoration ensures that visitors can continue to enjoy and learn from this landmark for years to come.