Beautiful Ocean Views and Hiking – Wilder Ranch – Santa Cruz CA

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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By

Carrie Marie

6 Comments

  1. Reply

    14 Beautiful California State Parks You've Got to See - Destination Daydreamer

    […] Wilder Ranch is a beautiful California State Park north of Santa Cruz with the most gorgeous ocean views. Visitors can walk, bike, and hike along various trails in the park. […]

  2. Reply

    The Beautiful Outdoors at Byrne-Milliron Forest - Carrie Marie is me

    […] Beautiful Ocean Views and Hiking – Wilder Ranch – Santa Cruz, CA […]

  3. Reply

    Experience Beautiful Hikes at UC Santa Cruz - Carrie Marie is me

    […] from .9 miles to 6.5 miles round trip. As a matter of fact, one the trails actually leads to Wilder State Park, a location that we have previously […]

  4. Reply

    Chris

    Wilder 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)

  5. Reply

    Hiking Trails at Pfeiffer State Park - Big Sur, California - Carrie Marie is me

    […] Beautiful Ocean Views and Hiking – Wilder Ranch – Santa Cruz CA […]

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