Sanborn-Castle Rock-Saratoga Gap Loop – Leor Pantilat's Adventures

Another fantastic run in the Santa Cruz Mountains covering lots of ground in four parks – Sanborn County Park, Castle Rock State Park, Saratoga Gap Open Space, and Long Ridge Open Space. This 23-23.5 mile loop took the base 12-12.5 mile loop I scoped out last time and made some great additions.

The first addition was a ~7.2 mile lollipop addition in Sanborn County Park. This extension was basically all downhill descending to the base of Sanborn Park and the Historic Sanborn Hostel via the Sanborn Trail/Peterson Trail and then uphill via the San Andreas Trail. The San Andreas Trail is a nice hill climb with many switchbacks making the 1,600 foot climb back to Skyline reasonable. The lower portion of the San Andreas trail is redwood forest transitioning to madrone forest and then redwoods again near the top in the Todd Creek Redwoods. There are a few mid-sized redwoods at the Todd Creek redwoods, but predominantly second growth open forest.

The section I had run before was fantastic again. The views from atop Goat Rock are awesome and the Ridge Trail is one of my favorite streches of single track descending into the most impressive madrone forests I have seen. The Saratoga Toll Road Trail is a perfectly graded gradual hill back up to Saratoga Gap.

The second addition is a 4 mile loop along the Achistaca Trail to the Hickory Oaks parking area returning along the Saratoga Gap trail. The Achistaca is a gorgeous trail with beautiful forest, giant oak trees, and sweeping meadow views. Along the way I saw a flock of at least a dozen wild turkeys in the high grass!