Underworld Rock Rock Climbing

Approach Time: 25 minutes.

Option 1: Start from the old Castle Rock State Park parking lot (backpackers lot), and start down the Saratoga Gap trail (trailhead with a large map) for about 200 yards until the Castle Rock trail which splits off to the left up the hill at a signpost.

Follow the left trail up the hill through a number of switchbacks until you see the first smaller unmarked trail to the right (there is a log along the right side of the main trail which separates it from the smaller trail and a sign informing you that this is not 'the' trail.) Take this right trail, and if you see a series of nice looking boulders on your left (the largest with a small cavelike formation called The Graveyard Boulders and Pyramid Rock) you have gone too far.

Take the climbers trail for about 100 yards to a moderate clearing with a fork in the trail (this used to be part of an old road.) There are two small trails (ok, they look more like goat paths than trails) on the far side of the clearing. Take the left trail. You'll go past Chew Tooth Rock's top on your left. Continue going down the hill at Chew Tooth, the right path up the hill leads to Platypus and Shady Rock. A little further down the trail you'll hit the top of California Ridge. 

Go to the left before the top of California Ridge's top and follow the more cleared path which has a series of longer switchbacks. You'll pass by the top of The Gods on your left. Top ropes for most of the climbs on Underworld can be set up by going straight down the fall line of the hill from here and using one of 2 sets of bolts accessible. To access the base of Underworld, continue straight until a clearing with a downed tree in the middle. Turn to the left and follow the trail to the left and down to the base where you'll hit the climber's left side of Underworld Rock.