From The San Francisco Standard · · 2m
Bay Area bouldering guide
How to plan a perfect Castle Rock State Park bouldering day with sandwiches.
In brief
How to plan a perfect Castle Rock State Park bouldering day with sandwiches. Castle Rock State Park offers sandstone bouldering routes for climbers, with tips on gear, food stops, and safety. Originally reported by The San Francisco Standard.
Castle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park is the Bay Area’s best outdoor bouldering spot with 5,242 acres.
Jeremy Meigs
Jeremy Meigs, a Northern California climbing legend, has been a regular at Castle Rock since 1984.
Peak season
Peak bouldering season runs from late October through April to avoid heat and mosquitoes.
Gear essentials
Climbers need climbing shoes, chalk, crash pads, water, snacks, and at least two spotters.
Renting crash pads
Rent crash pads for $30 a day at Sports Basement if you don’t own them.
Navigation tools
Use the free Mountain Project app to navigate the park or buy guidebooks for offline maps.
Water and cell service
The park has no cell service and limited water, bring your own.
Rain warning
Do not climb for 72 hours after rain due to fragile sandstone boulders.
Woodside breakfast
The Little Store Woodside cafe offers biscuit breakfast sandwiches and kouign-amann pastries.
Woodside lunch
Woodside Deli serves popular sandwiches like the Avogobble ($16.50) and Godfather ($19).
Post-climb drinks
Bai Tong Thai Bistro and Big Basin Cafe offer post-climb meals and cold beer.
First climbs
Start with Magoo Warm Up V0 for easy sandstone bouldering routes.
Slopers and mantles
Slopers are smooth, rounded holds requiring full hand friction; mantles are moves to push over rocks.
Climbing tips
Clean shoes, check for easy descent, and avoid chalk marks on rocks.
Park parking
Park at the official lot for $10 on weekends or free spots near the trail.
What happens next
After climbing, head to Saratoga for post-climb meals and a night’s sleep.
Here's the gist
Castle Rock State Park offers sandstone bouldering routes for climbers, with tips on gear, food stops, and safety.
