Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

Wilder Ranch

December 31, 2000

Wilder Ranch State Park,  located on the Coast Highway about 1.5 miles north of Santa Cruz, has 34 miles of hiking and biking trails winding through coastal terraces, redwood forests and valleys. The last time I went there it was rainy and cold. Today, however, was perhaps the finest biking day I've ever experienced. The weather (65 and sunny), trails and scenery were just about perfect. I now have the confidence, endurance and skills to do, and really enjoy long solo trips. My biking is starting to develop like my running. I like doing a lot of it alone and, as long as I don't have to worry about my speed, I can keep it up all day. Today I found myself doing gnarly stuff and rocky descents I'd never thought I could, or would do, even with others along to watch over me. Sure it's scary but what a rush! However, even though I haven't needed them in months, I still wear my elbow and knee/shin guards. I'm sure as soon as I take them off I'll regret it. Only one minor fall, on an uphill root I could easily make on the flat. 

I took the following route: Englesman Loop - Wild Boar - Old Cabin - Eucalyptus - Chinquapin - Woodcutter's - Long Meadow - Wild Boar - Old Cabin (again!) - Eucalyptus - Baldwin (by mistake and backtracked) - Enchanted (twice!) - Wilder Ridge - Zane Gray - Wilder Ridge. Here is my route map. I have indicated the singletrack in red and the dirt/fire roads in green. The Old Cabin and Enchanted loops are excellent singletrack with lots of roots, rocks, and steep descents though dark Redwood forests. I did both twice. I recommend doing the Enchanted loop clockwise from the southwestern entrance if you want to go down all the cool stuff. The Woodcutter's loop peters out into some really gnarly singletrack with big logs, switchbacks, and narrow rutted trails. The Zane Gray and Wilder Ridge trails are cool, steep, rocky, rutted singletrack, and often above steep cliffs. I found them to be the only rather unsettling parts of the trip. However, they are nearly all downhill the way I came back. 

Here is an official map (190 kb) with all the trails marked, just as you encounter them on the trail. For printing I have drawn over the trails and split the map into two parts, print both out and tape them together. Here is the top, here is the bottom.

Unfortunately, the coolest trails happen to be though dark Redwood forests so it was very difficult for me to get good pictures. I did what I could and occasionally set my camera on something and used the self timer. That's why a few are crooked. You really have to visit this place and see the beauty for yourself. I have more pictures than usual so please be patient if you are on a slow modem.

Update: Dec.7, 2002. The singletrack on the Woodcutter's trail has been replaced by a wide fire road.

Click on an image to enlarge it

Baldwin singletrack	Baldwin singletrack	"The Beast"	Scenery	Enchanted, watch those pedals
Enchanted	Enchanted weeee!	Enchanted rock	Enchanted gnarly!	Enchanted
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus	Long Meadow	Long Meadow	Old Cabin beginning
Old Cabin weeee!	Old Cabin cool!	Old Cabin switchback	Wild Boar	Wilder Ridge
Wilder Ridge a trail?	Wilder Ridge careful!	Wilder Ridge	Woodcutter's beginning	Woodcutter's getting cool
Woodcutter's switchback	Woodcutter's gnarly	Woodcutter's gnarly	Woodcutter's weee!	End of the trail

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