The Skyline to the Sea Trail is a popular 29.5-mile hiking trail that runs down the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It passes through two large parks: Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest state park in California. The trail passes by a number of beautiful waterfalls and through some of the oldest, largest, and tallest redwood forests left in the world. The trail starts on the ridge at Saratoga Gap, at the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and SR 9. Many hikers prefer to start at Castle Rock. Most hikers take three days to complete the entire trail, going from the ridge to the ocean. There is a 31-mile ultra-running race on this trail a couple times a year. A detour to Berry Creek Trail to see the waterfalls or to stay at the camp at Sunset Trail Camp adds 2.7 miles to the hike, but it is well worth it.
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Step 2: If you are spending the night, search for Hotel Deals nearby. Read the reviews, then call the hotel directly to book and ask for a romantic, kid-friendly or pet-friendly amenity if you need it.
Step 3: If you are flying, compare Flights. Book directly with the airline, add your frequent flier number and reserve your seat.
Step 4: Estimate your driving time using Google Maps (click the blue 'Directions' arrow in the search box).
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