Go Wilder

Bike ride in Santa Cruz and Wilder Ranch State Park

Hot summer day? Ride on! Beat the South Bay heat and get some beautiful scenery on this beginner-friendly 10-mile (round-trip) seaside ride in Santa Cruz. You’ll roll from West Cliff Drive to Wilder Ranch State Park. Start at Bay Street and West Cliff to get the full ocean vista, and pedal along the sidewalk or bike lane, absorbing the sea breeze as you make your way to Natural Bridges State Beach, where the road ends.

Head up Swanton Boulevard and in a few short turns you’ll be at Mission and Shaffer, where a flat paved bike path parallels Highway 1. Rolling farmland and Pacific views take up most of the scenery, brightened by sporadic wildflowers. In just over a mile the trail dips into Wilder Ranch State Park. Hop off for a minute and walk past the garden, saying hello to the chickens and goats and horses. Cottages and farmhouse frame the setting.

Heading back, take a detour on Mission to Swift and Ingalls: Here you can stop at the contemporary Kelly’s French Bakery for a roasted eggplant sandwich, a breaded chicken panini, and macarons in almost any flavor imaginable. There's an outdoor patio, too. Roll call!

Street parking is available on the side streets by Bay and West Cliff (Lighthouse Ave. and Cowell St.). Follow West Cliff Dr. all the way to Swanton Blvd., and turn right to begin your ascent. Turn left on Delaware, right on Natural Bridges Dr., left on Mission, and cross Shaffer to get on the bike path. To stop at Kelly’s on your way back, continue along Mission instead of turning right on Natural Bridges Dr. Turn right on Swift and left at Ingalls. After you’ve had your lunch, you can continue heading down Swift to connect back to West Cliff. No dogs at Wilder Ranch State Park.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View