Hiking In
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
HIKING
Santa Cruz Hiking & Nature Walks
Santa Cruz is home to a number of wonderful areas that are perfect for hiking and nature walks.
To review our listings of hiking trails and nature walks, please scroll down the page or click on Santa Cruz Area Hikes or North Hwy 1 ─ including Davenport, Pescadero, and Half Moon Bay
Featured Santa Cruz Resort
Costanoa Tents, Cabins and Lodge ─ Click to book online
2001 Rossi Road - Pescadero, CA
Connected to four State Parks - 30,000 acres of hiking trails - and a vibrant wildlife reserve - Costanoa offers the unique opportunity to experience outdoor living in comfortable stylish surroundings. Accommodations include canvas cabins - Douglas Fir Cabins - and a forty-room Lodge. Special features include on-site spa services - horseback riding - mountain bike rentals - children's activities - and a general store and cafe.
Santa Cruz State
Parks, Beaches and Nature Preserves
Located north of Santa Cruz, immediately west of Hwy 1 (831) 423-9703
The Park has 4,505 acres, with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails winding through coastal terraces and valleys.
850 N. Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz, CA
Trails are open to hikers and bicyclists. Please stay on designated trails.
333 Golf Club Drive, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 420-5270
Pogonip features approximately 8 miles of hiking trails. In the northernmost portion of Pogonip, a multi-use trail (approximately one mile in length) is open hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. This multi-use trail provides a connection between Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Pogonip, and the upper UCSC campus. Bicycles and horses are prohibited on all other trails. Bicyclists must ride responsibly and at a safe speed.
University of California Santa Cruz - UCSC
1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA Campus Police at (831) 459-2231
UCSC has many excellent bike trails on campus lands adjacent to the Campus Natural Reserve. Use of the campus trails, are encouraged. Riding bicycles in the reserve, on the trails or elsewhere, is prohibited
Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek Road, Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA (831) 763-7062
The park offers rugged semi-wilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet. It has over 30 miles of hiking, jogging and biking trails.
Soquel Demonstration State Park
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
4750 Old San Jose Road, Soquel, CA (831) 475-8643
Offering almost 5 miles (out and back) trails, this preserve is extremely popular with mountain bikers.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 North Big Trees Park Road, Felton, CA (831) 438-2396
This park features 15 miles of hiking and riding trails through a forest that looks much the same as it did 200 years ago.
21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA (831) 338-8860
The park has over 80 miles of trails. Be sure and pick up a map at park headquarters before your hike and take a look at the multimedia kiosk in the Sempervirens Room (next to park headquarters). There you will find great information, photos, and video of some of the most popular trails.
Long Ridge Open Space Preserve
Skyline Boulevard, about 3.6 miles north of its intersection with Highway 9, and approximately 3.3 miles south of its intersection with Page Mill Road.
Since one can take short hikes or rides to scenic overlooks or longer loop trips, the preserve is very popular with hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.
Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve
Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) and Highway 9 intersection
The two mile multi-use Saratoga Gap Trail provides great opportunities for hikers, bikers, and equestrians.
See Also State Parks and Beaches...
North Hwy 1, Davenport, Pescadero, Half Moon Bay
Parks, Beaches and Nature Preserves
Ano Nuevo State ReserveNew Year's Creek Road, off Hwy 1 Pescadero, CA 650-879-0227
This 4,000 acre Reserve is a major gathering area for northern elephant seals, which may be seen year-around. The males battle for mates on the beaches. The females give birth to their young on the dunes.
Two short hikes/nature walks are available -- the Pond Loop Trail and Cove Beach Trail are open year-round and do not require hiking permits. More >>
Bean Hollow State Beach & Pebble Beach
650-879-2170
The beach features fishing, picnicking and beachcombing. Visitors can explore tide pools with anemones, crab, sea urchins and other marine inhabitants. The beach also has a self-guided nature trail perfect for nature walks and short hikes.
Located on the San Mateo Coast, Bean Hollow is 17.5 miles south of Santa Cruz and three miles south of Pescadero on Hwy. 1. More >>
Big Basin Redwoods State Park -- Rancho Del Oso,
Hwy 1 831-338-8860
Perfect for hiking -- Located 25 miles south of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 1, the park has miles of trails, which serves hikers and equestrians, links Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. More >> Maps >>
Mills Creek Ranch Rd., Santa Cruz (650) 726-8819
Perfect for nature walks/hiking --Take Hwy. 1 south of Santa Cruz for about 1 mile and turn left on Higgins Purisima Road. Travel about 1½ miles to the park's parking on the left side of the road. More >>
Butano State Park — Campgrounds
1500 Cloverdale Rd., escadero, CA (650) 879-2040
Perfect for hiking --A 2,200-acre redwood park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, featuring excellent hiking through the redwood groves. Only three miles from the Pacific coast, the park's trails offer views of the Pacific Ocean and the Año Nuevo islands. More >>
Coastside Trail - Santa Cruz State Beach
95 Kelly Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA (650) 726-8819
Perfect for nature walks -- The Santa Cruz Coastside Trail runs along the eastern boundary of the four beaches providing close to a three mile stretch to walk, jog or ride bikes. The trail continues north to Pillar Point Harbor.
A horse trail parallels the Coastside Trail from Roosevelt Beach to Francis Beach. While in the state parks, horses are restricted to the designated horse trail and are not permitted on State Beaches. More>>
Highway 1, Santa Cruz (650) 726-8819
Perfect for nature walks/hiking --Take Hwy. 1 south for a little over 3 miles and park in the park's marked parking lot. More >>
Gray Whale Cove - McNee Ranch State Park
1½ miles north of Montara State Beach. 650-726-8819
Perfect for nature walks/hiking -- The one mile trail is mostly flat, and is visually spectacular with ocean and mountain views. During the spring, you can also enjoy one of the best location for spring flowers such as Douglas irises, hollyhocks and buttercups. More >>
Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve
Hwy 1, 16 miles south of Santa Cruz (650) 879-2170
Perfect for nature walks -- Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve is a popular spot for bird watchers and other naturalists. The Reserve is a refuge for blue heron, kites, deer, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
As one of the most important remaining wetlands on the California Coast, each year thousands of birds rest and feed at the preserve -- providing a wonderful opportunity to watch almost 200 species of birds.
The best bird watching times are late fall and early spring. If you are interested, the Audubon Society offers walking tours. More >>
Pillar Point Marsh (Fitzgerald Marine Reserve)
(650) 728-3584
Perfect for nature walks -- This unique marsh may be small, but it is an important habitat for local and migrating birds. Bird watchers at Pillar Point Marsh have sighted nearly 20% of all North American bird species. The other amazing fact about this marsh is it is fed by both fresh and salt water. More >>
Portola Redwoods State Park650-948-9098
Perfect for hiking --The park has a rugged, natural basin forested with coast redwoods, Douglas fir and live oak. Eighteen miles of trails crisscross the canyon and its two streams, Peters Creek and Pescadero Creek. More >>
Purissima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Santa Cruz, CA (650) 949-5500
Perfect for hiking -- The 3,120-acre preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Santa Cruz. The preserve was established with a gift of $2 million from the Save-the-Redwoods League.
The centerpiece of the Preserve is Purisima Creek Canyon, with its towering redwoods, creek, ferns, berries, and wildflowers. Coastal scrub, tanoak, madrone, and Douglas fir border the canyon. The coast and Santa Cruz are visible from the northern part of the preserve. More >>
