Hiking in Santa Cruz

As someone who’s partial to coastal hikes, Wilder Ranch State Park is probably my favorite place to hike in Santa Cruz. If you’re short on time, this is where I’d recommend starting your hiking adventures in Santa Cruz County.

Situated next to Highway 1, this 7,000-acre park features an enchanted forest, stunning views of Monterey Bay, coastal bluffs, and a variety of trails suitable for mountain biking. In total, there are 35 miles of trails to explore, making it a key destination among Santa Cruz hiking trails.

Wilder Ranch State Park is also an excellent spot to learn about California’s ranching history. Once a dairy ranch, it still has several structures from the 1890s, including a Victorian home, a Gothic Revival farmhouse, a water-powered machine shop, and a rodeo arena.

All of the hikes listed below begin from the main day-use parking area at Wilder Ranch off Highway 1.

Recommended Hikes at Wilder Ranch State Park

Old Cove Landing Trail

Length: 2.3 miles | Elevation Gain: 85 ft |

Features: Coastal bluffs, whale watching and bird watching opportunities, family-friendly, easy and flat trail, hidden coves

My favorite hike at Wilder Ranch State Park, and the best for coastal views, is the Old Cove Landing Trail. This trail takes you out to the bluffs with scenic ocean views and hidden coves below. It’s a great option for spotting whales in the distance, especially during winter. If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can extend the Old Cove Landing Trail to a 5-mile trek by continuing to the Ohlone Bluff Trail and back, or even a 10-mile hike if you continue on to Four Mile Beach.

With its mostly flat and easy nature, this is an ideal kid-friendly hike, or a good choice if you’re more interested in enjoying the views rather than an intense workout.

Enchanted Loop Trail

Length: 5.1 miles | Elevation Gain: 918 ft |

Features: Redwoods, wild mushrooms, wildflowers in the spring

If you prefer hiking through forests, the Enchanted Loop Trail is perfect for you. This trail takes you from ocean to forest and back, providing a more significant elevation gain. Along this loop, you’ll encounter a meadow, towering redwoods, and an abundance of wild mushrooms. Please note that this is a multi-use trail, so be aware of mountain bikers who may come up behind you.

Wilder Ridge Trail

Length: 7.7 miles | Elevation Gain: 882 ft |

Features: Coastal views, grasslands, oak trees, redwoods, Douglas firs, potential wildlife sightings, wildflowers in the spring

Another popular multi-use trail among mountain bikers and hikers is the Wilder Ridge Trail. This hike offers a little bit of everything in Wilder Ranch State Park, from amazing views of Monterey Bay to grasslands, oak trees, and redwoods. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some wildlife along the way.

The only downside to the Wilder Ridge Trail is that certain sections can be overgrown and not very picturesque. However, the diverse sights throughout the trail make it worth the hike. Make sure to wear pants to protect against ticks and be cautious of poison oak, as much of the trail is narrow.

Santa Cruz County is composed of several small cities and unincorporated communities, each showcasing its own unique personality. Aptos, home to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, is a quiet hidden gem filled with thick forests and a more relaxed pace. The Forest of Nisene Marks is a favorite hiking destination in Santa Cruz, especially among locals. 

While the road leading to the park is bumpy and might not seem appealing at first, once you hit the hiking trails, you'll quickly understand why it's such a popular spot for Santa Cruz hiking trails. With over 10,000 acres and 40 miles of trails, this park is the largest area to explore in Santa Cruz County, making it a fantastic place to walk among towering redwood forests and discover breathtaking waterfalls.

**Recommended Hikes at The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park**

**Old Growth Trail**  

Length: 1.3 miles | Elevation Gain: 269 ft  

Features: Old-growth redwoods, family-friendly, Aptos Creek, the Advocate Tree (which recently fell during a winter storm but was once the oldest tree in the park), banana slugs.

The Old Growth Loop Trail at Nisene Marks State Park offers a wonderful introduction to the park's ancient redwoods, taking you through some of the last remaining old-growth redwoods in the area. This easy loop trail begins next to the main entrance kiosk and presents a shaded path with a crossing at Aptos Creek, which will test your balance or your waterproof hiking shoes. You might even spot some yellow banana slugs, as I did on my last hike. The Old Growth Loop also features several side trails if you’re looking to extend your hike, including the Twisted Grove, known for its uniquely gnarled redwood trees.

**Loma Prieta Grade Trail**  

Length: 5.9 miles | Elevation Gain: 278 ft  

Features: Historic sights, second-growth redwood forest, relatively flat.  

Starting from the Porter Picnic Area, this historic trail at Nisene Marks allows you to explore the park’s logging history. Along the route, you’ll encounter Hoffman’s Historic Site, the best-preserved logging camp in the park, and walk along the path once traveled by an old steam train.

**Bridge Creek Trail to Maple Falls**  

Length: 7.7 miles | Elevation Gain: 823 ft  

Features: Redwoods, waterfall, creek crossings.  

If you seek a challenging hike leading to a stunning waterfall, the Bridge Creek Trail to Maple Falls is a fantastic choice. This diverse hike meanders through dense redwood forests, includes creek crossings, and features several bridges before arriving at Maple Falls. The falls are particularly impressive after a good rain (typically in spring), but be prepared for muddy conditions, so wearing waterproof hiking boots with great grip is essential.

It's wise to download the trail map beforehand (or bring a physical copy), as cell service is unreliable, and signage can be lacking along the trail. For most of the year, parking is available at George’s Picnic Area, but during winter, this area may be closed to vehicles. If that happens, you’ll need to park at the Steel Bridge Parking Area and plan to add an extra two miles to your hike.

**Epicenter to Five Finger Falls**  

Length: 14.9 miles | Elevation Gain: 2,290 ft  

Features: Second-growth redwoods, waterfall, creek crossings, epicenter of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, challenging and a good workout.  

For those looking for an epic day hiking adventure at Nisene Marks, the nearly 15-mile Epicenter to Five Finger Falls Trail is a must. This hike leads you through the epicenter of the 6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake that struck California in 1989. Starting just past the entrance kiosk on Aptos Creek Road, the trail concludes at the falls before you return the same way. It's best to tackle this trail in summer or fall, as it can become muddy and slippery during wetter months, making hiking potentially hazardous. 

If you're also interested in exploring other nearby parks, consider visiting Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or Wilder Ranch State Park for more stunning redwood forests and diverse hiking experiences.

If you really want to explore a place where locals hike in Santa Cruz, look no further than DeLaveaga Park. This multi-use city park offers a variety of activities, including hiking trails that connect to some of the best Santa Cruz hiking trails, baseball courts, horseshoe stakes, picnic areas, playgrounds, bocce ball courts, an archery range, a golf course, and one of the best disc golf courses in the United States. 

The trails are popular among both day hikers and mountain bikers, and it's a very dog-friendly park, so expect to encounter quite a few pups while hiking here. 

Note: There are many signs at the entrance of trailheads indicating that this area is also a mountain lion habitat. In all the years I’ve hiked here, I’ve never seen a mountain lion, but it’s good to be aware that you’re hiking through mountain lion territory and to keep dogs on a leash. 

Recommended Hike at DeLaveaga Park: 

La Corona Trail 

Length: 3.4 miles | Elevation Gain: 475 ft | 

Features: Redwoods, scenic lookout point, banana slugs, disc golf course, gradual inclines and declines. 

La Corona Trail is the best hike in the park to give you a comprehensive overview of the stunning landscape and the diverse flora and fauna found at DeLaveaga Park, which is reminiscent of the nearby Forest of Nisene Marks and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. 

Starting from the trailhead near the main parking lot, you’ll gradually wind your way up through the redwood forests to what locals call the “Top of the World.” This is the scenic lookout point at the top of the hike, featuring a couple of benches that overlook the disc golf course. If you have time, you can even bring a couple of frisbees for disc golf since there are stairs leading down to the course from the viewpoint. 

Along the way, keep an eye out for banana slugs and enjoy the serene atmosphere of the redwood forest. On your descent, you can return the way you came or take the Branciforte Creek Trail to venture near the water and create a proper loop trail with a refreshing change of scenery, similar to the trails at Wilder Ranch State Park.

Length: 6 miles out-and-back | Elevation Gain: 68 ft | Features: Monterey Bay views, hidden coves and beaches, a historic lighthouse, and a great place to watch the sunset. Not really a “hike” so much as a beautiful coastal stroll, but walking along West Cliff Drive is something that any hiker should experience at least once in Santa Cruz. This 6-mile out-and-back walk offers some of the prettiest views in Santa Cruz County and even across the bay to Monterey on a clear day.

You can also take in the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its historic Giant Dipper roller coaster from afar and, in the winter, you might even see some whales breaching in the distance on their annual pilgrimage through the Monterey Bay. Other sights along the West Cliff Drive that shouldn’t be missed include watching the surfers at Steamer Lane, visiting Lighthouse Point and the Surfing Museum, and checking out the hidden coves and beaches below the cliffs. If you’re looking for more outdoor adventures, consider exploring the nearby redwood forests at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or the Forest of Nisene Marks, which are both fantastic Santa Cruz hiking trails. You can also venture to Wilder Ranch State Park for a mix of coastal views and lush landscapes. This is my favorite place to watch the sunset in town, so if you plan your walk for around that time, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous cotton candy views as the sun goes down. Just make sure to bring a warm jacket!

If you’re looking to explore the majestic old-growth redwoods near Santa Cruz, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is one of the best places to visit. This stunning park spans 4,650 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains and is renowned for its 40-acre grove of ancient redwoods. The redwood forests here have played a significant role in the park’s history, inspiring some of California’s earliest preservation efforts for these magnificent trees. This dedication is why some of the old-growth trees still standing at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park today are around 1,500 years old! In addition to redwoods, you’ll find grasslands, rivers, sandhills, walk-in trees like the Fremont Tree, a local swimming hole, old lime kilns, and breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz Mountains when you hike to higher elevations. Once you’ve finished hiking, don’t miss the chance to experience the historic Roaring Camp Railroad. Riding an open-air narrow-gauge steam locomotive from 1890 offers a unique perspective on the park's history, complete with guided commentary from the conductors. Recommended hikes at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park include the Redwood Grove Loop Trail and the Fall Creek Trail to Lime Kilns Trail. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is a short, family-friendly hike that showcases the tallest and widest trees in the park, some measuring 17 ft in diameter and towering 285 ft high! The trailhead is conveniently located near the main parking lot and nature center. If you’re up for a longer trek, the Fall Creek Trail to Lime Kilns Trail offers a 4.8-mile hike through second-growth redwoods and madrone and tanoak trees, culminating in the historic ruins of 19th-century lime kilns. This hike provides a cool, shaded trail that features historical ruins and a manageable incline, making it an enjoyable option among Santa Cruz hiking trails. The trailhead starts off Felton Empire Road at the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is also in close proximity to Wilder Ranch State Park.

Pogonip trails (varies) – A very local place to hike that’s conveniently located near downtown Santa Cruz and UCSC, making it a great starting point for exploring more of the Santa Cruz hiking trails.

Neary Lagoon Loop Trail (0.7 miles) – This peaceful wildlife refuge offers a loop path with fantastic bird watching opportunities, ideal for those who appreciate nature’s beauty near the Forest of Nisene Marks.

Quail Hollow Sunset Trail at Quail Hollow Ranch (2.8 miles) – Situated close to Santa Cruz City, this trail is usually not too crowded and presents a scenic ranch and nature preserve with stunning valley views, perfect for a serene hike.

Note: As much as I would love to recommend hiking at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, especially the beautiful Berry Creek Falls Trail, the park is currently closed. After the CZU Lightning Complex wildfires in 2020, it seems that Big Basin Redwoods State Park and its trails, like the enchanting redwood forests, will not be opening anytime soon. For those looking for alternatives, consider visiting Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or Wilder Ranch State Park for an unforgettable experience in the majestic redwood forests.

Bring layers, as it’ll probably be chillier than you think – I always notice when I travel to Santa Cruz with someone who’s not from the area that they’ll comment on how much colder it is than they expected. Santa Cruz can get quite cold, akin to San Francisco chilly, for a lot of the year. So, make sure to bring layers and a warm hiking jacket for the Santa Cruz hiking trails, especially if you're exploring the Forest of Nisene Marks or Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Look out for banana slugs – The mascot of UCSC, banana slugs are abundant in Santa Cruz, particularly on the damp and cool redwood forests trails. Keep an eye out for these bright yellow slugs on the path; they’re a fascinating sight to see.

Bring cash in small bills and a pen – Although manned park kiosks should accept credit cards these days, there’s always the chance you’ll arrive at a park without a ranger at the kiosk. For this reason, it’s wise to carry small bills (of at least $10) and a pen so you can fill out your own permit for day-use parking, especially if you're visiting Wilder Ranch State Park.

Watch out for poison oak and ticks – There’s a lot of poison oak along the trails in Santa Cruz County, and ticks can also be found in the area. Wear long pants if possible and avoid touching any unfamiliar plants.

What to Pack for Hiking in Santa Cruz:

- Breathable layers

- Windbreaker, light rain jacket, or poncho

- Hiking boots

- Snacks

- Water

- Sunscreen

- Hiking day pack

- Camera

- First aid kit

- Durable phone case

- Bug spray – Especially if you’ll be near freshwater

- Pair of compact binoculars (If you’re into birdwatching)

- Handheld GPS or GPS Watch (like a Garmin watch) or a good hiking app you can use offline (if you’re hiking in the backcountry).