Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Wilder Ranch Bike Path loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Wilder Ranch Bike Path loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

Moderate

3.3

(23)

riders

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Wilder Ranch Bike Path loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

01:51

26.9km

250m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 27, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 12.7 km for 258 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

5.93 km

UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus

Highlight • Rest Area

Nice little loop option on paved trails to overlooks and museum

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6.70 km

Wilder Ranch Bike Path

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Great paved dedicated bike trail several yards away from busy Highway 1, from Santa Cruz to Wilder Ranch State Park.

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8.19 km

Wilder Ranch State Park Entrance

Highlight • Rest Area

A narrow single track turns coastside off the main biketrail away from the highway the becomes wider along a now disused former dirtroad to the ranch houses.

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9.36 km

Railroad gravel road and Old Cove Landing Trail

Highlight • Trail

An alternative to the busy Hwy 1 is to stay along the abandoned railway line. It is fairly decent smooth at the beginning, but then gets a bit courser gravel …

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11.5 km

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Highlight • Beach

Wide and wild beach preserve closed to the public. Park info at parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549
Good gravel and dirt trails lead out to and along the cliffs. Several coves to the west …

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11.7 km

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Nature Reserve

12.7 km

Wilder Dairy Cultural Preserve

Highlight • Historical Site

Well-preserved operating historic dairy farm with ranger-led demonstrations in Wilder Ranch State Park on the pacific coast south of Santa Cruz. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549

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15.1 km

Engelsmann Loop Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The first part of Engelsmann Loop is fairly uninteresting, but this relatively recent, windy singletrack segment that is aimed at bypassing a steep and eroded climb on what used to …

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19.9 km

Wilder Ranch Bike Path

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

The Wilder Ranch Bike Path is an entirely paved trail away from the nearby busy highway. The path helps connect Wilder Ranch State Park to Santa Cruz and is open to runners and walkers, too.

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