Castle Rock State Park (California)
| Castle Rock State Park | |
|---|---|
 Climbers prepare to ascend a large rock formation at Castle Rock State Park |
|
 |
|
| Location | Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Los Gatos, California |
| Coordinates | 37°13′54″N 122°16′57″W / 37.23167°N 122.2825°WCoordinates: 37°13′54″N 122°16′57″W / 37.23167°N 122.2825°W |
| Area | 5,242 acres (2,121 ha) |
| Established | 1968 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Castle Rock State Park is a state park of California, USA, located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It embraces coast redwood, Douglas fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that is a popular rock climbing area. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles (51 km) of hiking trails. These trails are part of an even more extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys with Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and the Pacific Coast. Castle Rock is the starting point of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, a 30-mile (48 km) trail that leads to Waddell State Beach, north of Santa Cruz. There are two walk-in campgrounds within the park for overnight backpacking. The 5,242-acre (2,121 ha) park was established in 1968.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Location
The park is located on California State Route 35 just 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southeast of the junction with State Route 9. It is located almost entirely in Santa Cruz County.
[edit] Usage and activities
Castle Rock State Park is suitable for many activities. There are two walk-in campgrounds for overnight hikers, many trails for day-hikes, rock climbing routes, and picnic areas. Dogs are not allowed on the trails or in the campgrounds, and horses allowed only on designated trails.
[edit] Pending closure
Under Governor Brown's current budget proposal this park will be closed. This doesn't necessarily mean that visitors couldn't enter the park, but it does mean that rangers will no longer staff the park. If the city of Santa Cruz doesn't step in, garbage collection will cease and crime may increase without the presence of park rangers.[2]
California Assembly Bill 42 was signed into law on October 5th, 2011.[3] This bill allows state parks to enter into operating agreements with non-profit organizations. The Portola and Castle Rock Foundation has been formed to help support Portola and Castle Rock State Parks.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10. California State Parks. p. 30. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/09-10%20statistical%20report%20final%20online.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
- ^ Santa Cruz Sentinel – As We See It: Brown still can save state parks
- ^ California Assembly Bill 42
- ^ Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
