Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Start from the path to the left of the Campfire Center, following the signs to Skyline to the Sea Trail. After crossing Opal Creek on a little bridge, you'll reach a T junction with Skyline to the Sea Trail. Turn right toward Dool and Sunset trails.
0.4: Junction. Skyline to the Sea continues to the north, on its way to Castle Rock State Park. Turn left, onto Dool Trail.
0.45: Junction with Sunset Trail. Turn left.
0.9: Sunset Trail crests at the junction with Middle Ridge Road. Continue across the fire road on Sunset Trail
1.2: A connector to Skyline to the Sea departs on the left. Continue straight on Sunset Trail.
3.2: Timms Creek Trail begins to the left as Sunset Trail makes a sharp turn right. (Timms Creek Trail, which leads to Skyline to the Sea Trail, is a good bail-out route for hikers who are ready to return to the trailhead.) Continue to the right on Sunset Trail.
4.8: The trail to Sunset Camp breaks off to the right -- continue straight, now on Berry Creek Falls Trail.
4.9: Junction. Stay to the left on Berry Creek Falls Trail.
5.8: Junction. Turn left onto Skyline to the Sea Trail.
6.7: Timms Creek Trail crosses the creek on the left, at the confluence of West Waddell and Kelly Creek. Continue straight on Skyline to the Sea Trail.
7.1: Trail forks -- either leg is an option. 7.5: Forks rejoin. Continue uphill. 8.3: The connector to Sunset Trail heads uphill to the left -- continue straight on Skyline to the Sea Trail.
8.8: Skyline to the Sea Trail crosses Middle Ridge Fire Road. Continue straight on Skyline to the Sea Trail.
9.4: Bear left at a fork, toward park headquarters.
9.5: Back to the hike's first junction. Turn right, cross Opal Creek, and return to the trailhead.
9.6: Back at the trailhead.
Getting there:
From I-280 in Santa Clara County, exit onto CA 85 south. After about 4.5 miles, exit #14 onto Saratoga Avenue. Drive west about 2 miles into Saratoga and the junction with Saratoga-Sunnyvale, then continue straight on Big Basin Way/CA 9. Drive uphill on 9 for about 7 miles to the Saratoga Gap intersection (junction of 9 and CA 35), then continue straight on CA 9. Drive downhill on 9 for 6 miles, then turn right onto CA 236. Proceed on this narrow winding road for 8.5 miles to the park headquarters (left) and parking lots (right).
GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude
Longitude
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/bigbasin/waterfallloop.html
© 2019 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker