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Summary: I have to give this place the highest rating possible. You'll find other trails and areas with more challenging and technical routes, but you'll be hard-pressed to find any other place that is this postcard-beautiful and fun.
One area of the park offers a nearly-flat, slow-going trail in which families and pedestrians walk along the cliffs and beaches just north of Santa Cruz. I rode one such trail along the cliffs prior to riding up into the hills; the loop took about ten to fifteen minutes, and it was great just to pedal slowly and watch pelicans and seagulls floating just a few feet away.
Next, I rode (from the parking lot) down toward the actual ranch house complex. This is important: you must ride / walk through that little area, and through the tunnel, where you'll find a Map board displaying the trails and routes.
Because this was my first time (at this park), I just pointed the bike uphill, and kept riding for a while. I was amazed at how intensely pretty this place is: Every once in a while, I'd turn around (while pedaling) to see the cliffs and the ocean off in the distance. I finally came upon a hilltop, where the fauna changed from rolling hills with oak trees, to a shaded, dark canopy of redwood trees and single-track fun. There were a number of switchbacks that were (for me) kind of tricky, but not life-threateningly scary.
I believe that this was the Eucalyptus Loop (highly recommended). I emerged from this trail onto another rolling, grassy hilltop, where I wanted to follow another trail (there were many marked trails here), but I was running out of daylight, and had to turn around and go back the way I'd come, which turned out to be ridiculously fun and fast.
My plan is to come back to this place on a regular basis. I wish, though, that I lived closer. Still it's worth making the commute over to Santa Cruz for this area.
Recommended Route: Eucalyptus Loop
Other recommended trails in the same area: St. Joseph's Hill, Los Gatos
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Summary: This place is too nice. Do not foul it up.
Very well-maintained trails.
Last week, the rain had cut ruts and had caused complete washouts of sections that were marked with A-frame barricades and orange cones. Thanks, Rangers.
I saw a coyote and a 45-lb wildcat in the same hour span.
Five chilis for the 180-degree view of the world and the horizon over the ocean. And, for the trail maintenance and serenity.
Recommended Route: Whatever you do, you have to do the 1.9 mile downhill back to the Ranch after you leave tracks on all the other trails. Makes it all worth it.
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Summary: Here is my take on Wilder Ranch: It's good for about a 16 mile loop and if you play it right you can keep it to mostly singletrack. Overall there is nothing too technical, nothing too strenuous (meaning no extended climbs), but rather a decent variety of rolling singletrack with some drops (in the 1 foot range). It does offer great scenery (w/ the Ocean in the background) and a nice variety of eco systems (from sandy areas to exposed hills to 'foresty' areas w/ extensive fern growth).
Recommended Route: Whichever way you assemble your route you want to include the following singletracks (bring a decent map if you are new to the area because it is easy to get lost):
- Zane Grey
- Enchanted Loop (West to East to get the most of the somewhat technical decent)
- Old Cabin (West to East for the same reason)
- Twin Oaks
Other recommended trails in the same area: Soquel Demonstration Forest
Henry Coe
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Summary: It is great being able to ride out of my back yard into Wilder. With that said, if you are looking for truly awesome singletrack, I have ridden better! Wilder is great for "short and sweet" rides. Enchanted loop is great singletrack but too short. Old cabin trail is great but also way too short. Zane grey is longer but does not offer the "crashing through the forest" feeling and is very bumpy and sandy at times... Unfortunately, there is some really fun singletrack in the area but technically illegal (some in Wilder and most behind the UCSC campus). In Wilder, I wish they would make Woodcutters a true loop but half of it is illegal. If it were totally legal, this would be my favorite trail in Wilder. Check yourself for ticks as I often find them crawling on me after a ride in Wilder. There is definitely some poison oak (luckily I am immune while my friends are not) and I have actually hit some stinging nettle. Very painful!
Recommended Route: Don't miss Old Cabin trail and Enchanted loop. The way I enter Wilder is from empire grade through the cow pasture or via UCSC. But, most people enter from near highway 1 since there is better parking. If you start at highway 1, I think the *easiest* uphill is to ride up Wilder ridge loop trail to twin oaks trail rather than englishman loop. Stay away from baldwin and sea ridge uphill or downhill, they both suck!
Other recommended trails in the same area: If I want to do some serious singletrack, I head over to Soquel Demonstration Forest and do the Braille trail. Very fun. My all time favorite singletrack is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, which is in Lake Tahoe (so I don't get to do it often enough!)
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Summary: I started out at Empire Grade and rode down from there. This is the first time I've ridden Wilder and also the first time I've ridden in a while. I'm focused now on getting back into ultimate riding shape so I was a little out of shape when I rode it. (Too much cervezas, gonja, laziness, etc.) I had a decent time riding but I do not think I found the hidden secrets everyone is raving about. I really enjoy tight singletracks, switchbacks, etc. and I did not seem to find much of it here although from reading alot of the reviews, It seems as though I really missed out. I remember riding Wilder Loop, Enchanted loop, and a couple others. Can someone out there tell me the best way to go? Preciate it. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!
Recommended Route: I'll tell you later
Other recommended trails in the same area: Downieville Downhill, Auburn
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