Backpacking the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, 3-day hike near Santa Cruz (Bay Area)

Load up your rucksack and hit the trail just outside of San Francisco and Santa Cruz for a three-day journey along the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail! This guided hiking program places you in the center of Bay Area beauty, with camping locations in the heart of a scenic Northern California location that take you to the Pacific!

Beginning at Castle Rock State Park, straight up Highway 9 from Santa Cruz and within 25 miles to the west of San Jose, the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is a captivating backpacking route for ultimate California exposure. The trail runs roughly 30 miles from Skyline Boulevard all the way to the Pacific Ocean at Waddell Beach, passing redwood groves, waterfalls, and lush greenery at every turn.

This is your chance to see old-growth and second-growth redwood trees, one of the defining features of the Northern California wilderness. These incredible trees are among the largest and tallest on Earth, and provide an incredible glimpse at the capabilities of nature. Big Basin Redwoods State Park is full of incredible groves of this marvelous tree.

Other trees will accompany the trail as well, including maples and firs. You will cruise past streams, canyons, and ridges, taking in incredibly beautiful scenery. Opal Creek is a stunning portion of the trail, while views across the San Lorenzo River Valley at the beginning of the trip are sublime.

Berry Creek Falls is an immense waterfall that has an optional two-mile hike for additional waterfalls. The extra effort is one of the best rewards of the program. Other exciting features of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail are the McCrary Ridge Trail intersection and Waddell Creek Canyon. Big Basin Redwoods State Park has unforgettable sights in every corner – exploring it is equal parts fascinating and exhilarating.

Our evenings will be spent at the Waterman Gap Trail Camp and Jay Trail Camp at the Park Headquarters. Both have toilets, and the latter even has showers – for a fee – and a seasonal store with snacks and supplies. This allows us additional comfort without compromising the rugged appeal of our trip.

There are many different options for the trail. We can begin at the Saratoga Gap Trail, which offers a slightly easier and shorter hike to the first campsite. It does not have parking, however, which is why our recommended route begins at Castle Rock State Park.

Over the course of three days, you will hike up about 1,700 feet and descend nearly 3,000 feet on your way to Waddell Beach. You should expect to hike up to 10 miles a day, so you should be in good shape to take on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.

The trail can be enjoyed year round, though the best time to avoid closures and inclement weather is from late spring to early autumn.

Book this amazing backpacking program NOW and take three days hiking the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail near Santa Cruz and San Francisco for a first-hand look at the Bay Area’s phenomenal redwood scenery!

We can also switch gears and hike the 28-mile Ohlone Wilderness Trail near San Francisco for two days!