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Skyline Trail

Intermediate Intermediate
 3.8 (40)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Bay Area
  4. Castle Rock State Park
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“A ridgetop ride along the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains. ”

Eric Decker
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6.1

Miles

9.8

KM
Singletrack

3,091' 942 m

High

2,646' 806 m

Low

687' 209 m

Up

892' 272 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

17%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Please stay off trails marked "no bikes."

Description

From Hwy 35 at Black Road, proceed north on Hwy 35. On the right-hand side of the road will be parking at Sunnyvale Mountain. The trailhead is on the northern side of the parking lot.

The main trail is a combination of old logging road and singletrack. Follow the ridgetop as the trail winds among various hills and dales. Here you'll encounter some climbing, but mostly a very nice beginner trail. Some of the climbing can be a bit much for beginners, but it's all walkable and certainly not too long.

Skyline makes for a very nice out and back, riding from parking lot to parking lot. Most of the time you feel quite deep in the trees.

Note that in one section near the Summit Rock Parking Area, bikes are not allowed on the trail and must exit to the road for a short distance before re-entering the trail. This routing is well marked and serves to separate hiking and biking traffic over a short stretch.
For its duration, you'll experience gorgeous views of the Santa Clara Valley and sandstone rock formations.

Contacts

Local Club: Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers

Oct 28, 2025: Help design your local nature trail at Rancho Cañada Del Oro Open Space Preserve!

Oct 23, 2025: SVMTB Trail Day on Skyline Trail @Sanborn Park

Oct 21, 2025: Thank You, Trail Community! Your Voices Moved Beatty Forward!

Land Manager: Santa Clara County Parks

Shared By:

Eric Decker
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 40 votes

#1

in Castle Rock State Park

#521

Overall
  3.8 from 40 votes
5 Star
30%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
13%
2 Star
13%
1 Star
5%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Castle Rock State Park

#36

in California

#521

Overall
71 Views Last Month
13,453 Since Apr 21, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
3%
3%
74%
8%
13%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

What the road section of the Skyline Trail lacks in singletrack, it makes up for with expansive mountain views.
Dec 18, 2016 near Saratoga, CA
Some great views from the Skyline Trail!
Apr 24, 2015 near Saratoga, CA
End of the trail - picnic tables at Sunnyvale Peak TrailHead
Dec 16, 2020 near Saratoga, CA

2 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Apr 28, 2024
Robert Rush
3 each way 6mi — 1h 45m
Jul 21, 2022
Zach Moore
It was hot and dry with flys but still a cool ride. Kinda got lost on a hiking trail and added 400ft of elevation to our ride. 7.7mi — 1h 12m
May 28, 2022
Eberhard Czirr
7mi — 1h 40m
Jul 25, 2021
Southbay Swami
Poison oak overgrown on both sides. Dusty. Loud with motorcycles roaring on roads nearby on a Sunday. Least enjoyable trail in the SC mountains.
May 8, 2021
Joonas Lehtinen
Apr 23, 2021
Zzz Rck
A few technical sections 6.5mi
Apr 3, 2021
Vince Espo
Jan 23, 2021
Adam Dustan

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