Wilder Ranch is a California State Park north of Santa Cruz with the most beautiful ocean views. There are hiking trails, walking trails and multiple locations for photo opportunities.
Wilder Ranch is part of California’s rich history. During non-pandemic times, visitors can visit the 1897 Victorian home, 1850 Gothic Revival farmhouse and 1896 water-powered machine shop.
Visitors can also enjoy more than 35 miles of trails through the Santa Cruz Mountains or along the coastal bluffs.
Old Cove Landing Trail to Ohlone Bluff Trail
Easy Hike – 2.5 miles – mostly flat
Tailhead: Parking Lot
Head half a mile down Old Cove Landing Trail to the scenic overlook above Wilder Beach, a snowy plover preserve. Just beyond, you’ll find Old Cove Landing, where schooners anchored in the 1800s.
Continue along the coast on the Ohlone Bluff Trail to post 8, where there’s a spur trail leading to Fern Grotto Beach. A quarter mile beyond the spur trail is Sand Plant Beach. From there, head downhill over the railroad track and back to the parking lot.
There are multiple photo opportunity locations along the 2.5 mile walk. As a matter of fact, we took so many photos that it felt like we stopped more than we walked!
This trail is perfect for those looking for a leisurely walk and breath-taking views.
Wilder Ranch Loop
Moderate Hike – 6.3 miles – Elevation Change: 600 feet
Trailhead: Cultural Preserve
From the cultural preserve, take the tunnel under Highway One to the Wilder Ridge Loop. In about two miles (hiking counterclockwise) you’ll reach an overlook with stunning views of Monterey Bay.
You can hike back from there for a 4-mile hike, or continue on to Twin Oak Trail where you can loop back onto Wilder Ridge for a 6-mile hike. You’ll travel through rolling grasslands and chaparral past magnificent coast live oaks, with a few small redwoods and Douglas-fir along the creeks. Look for deer, bobcats, hawks, and turkey vultures along the way.
Redwood Hike
Strenuous Hike – 8 miles – Elevation Change: 600 feet
Trailhead: Cultural Preserve
Head up the Wilder Ridge Loop, then dip down beside Baldwin Creek on the Enchanted Loop, a single-track trail that showcases some of the park’s finest (second-growth) coast redwoods, as well as elk clover, ferns, sorrel, and huge tanoaks. The quiet little ravine provides a nice contrast to the big views and wide-open spaces of the Wilder Ridge Loop.
To date, we have only hiked the easy trail. We have plans to return for the moderate and strenuous hikes. Stay tuned for our thoughts on those!
Check out more of our favorite Northern California Hiking spots below:
Hiking Trails at Pfeiffer State Park – Big Sur, California
Hiking Trails at Nisene Marks – Aptos, CA
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Chris
August 19, 2020Wilder is good for mountain biking as well! I used to come down from UCSC through Gray Whale Ranch and in to Wilder. Then back up through SC up to the University….. ( I was in much better shape back then ! lol)
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