Pogonip Open Space Preserve is a 640-acre urban park in Santa Cruz, California, offering a diverse landscape of redwood and Douglas fir stands, oak woodlands, and expansive open meadows. The preserve's varied terrain, including hilly sections and creek crossings, provides a suitable environment for several outdoor activities. Located adjacent to the UCSC campus and near downtown Santa Cruz, Pogonip Open Space Preserve serves as an accessible natural retreat for those seeking to engage in sports like hiking, road cycling, touring…
121
Routes
4.8
(160)
Average rating
2597
People visited

4.8
(23)
171
hikers
7.71km
02:24
190m
190m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

20
hikers
1.91km
00:30
10m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
3
hikers
4.89km
01:25
140m
110m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
4.90km
01:26
150m
120m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6.43km
00:42
80m
290m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(33)
131
riders
27.7km
02:28
470m
480m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
29
riders
13.1km
01:14
240m
240m
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(1)
31
riders
10.4km
01:03
250m
250m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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160
riders
64.1km
03:54
550m
550m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
86
riders
19.7km
01:08
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

13
riders
49.5km
03:52
710m
710m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

8
riders
61.3km
04:15
1,050m
1,050m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.8
(9)
63
riders
36.9km
01:53
290m
290m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5
riders
16.1km
00:44
140m
140m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

19
riders
95.7km
04:56
1,330m
1,330m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

33
riders
70.8km
03:38
980m
980m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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5.0
(5)
58
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(6)
25
riders
48.6km
04:06
790m
790m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
30
riders
22.8km
01:44
150m
150m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
34
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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21
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
runners
21.2km
02:48
590m
590m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

19
runners
6.84km
00:45
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Pogonip Open Space Preserve is a 640-acre urban park situated in Santa Cruz, California. It features a diverse landscape of redwood and Douglas fir stands, oak woodlands, and expansive open meadows. The preserve is managed by the City of Santa Cruz.
Pogonip Open Space Preserve offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, Gravel biking, and Jogging. There are 8 routes available for these sports, with an average rating of 4.62 stars.
Yes, Pogonip Open Space Preserve has approximately 11.5 miles (18.5 km) of trails suitable for hiking. These trails explore varied woodlands and open meadows, with options ranging from easy to more challenging. For detailed information, refer to the guide Hiking in Pogonip Open Space Preserve.
Pogonip Open Space Preserve offers approximately 2.5 to 3 miles (4 to 4.8 km) of multi-use trails suitable for mountain biking. The Emma McCrary Trail is a notable beginner-friendly option. More details are available in the guide MTB Trails in Pogonip Open Space Preserve.
Yes, Pogonip Open Space Preserve offers trails suitable for beginners and families. The Emma McCrary Trail is a beginner-friendly multi-use trail. Specific easy hiking options are detailed in the guide Easy hikes in Pogonip Open Space Preserve, and family-friendly routes can be found in Family-friendly hikes in Pogonip Open Space Preserve.
Yes, Pogonip Open Space Preserve has dog-friendly trails. Visitors can find specific routes and guidelines for bringing dogs in the guide Dog-friendly hikes in Pogonip Open Space Preserve.
The preserve features diverse woodlands, open meadows, and creeks. Notable natural features include old-growth redwood trees and views of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. Historical sites include lime kilns, an abandoned clubhouse, and old roads from its past as a lime production site.
Pogonip Open Space Preserve is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 38,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The available routes have an average rating of 4.62 out of 5 stars from over 1,900 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for the preserve, including Hiking in Pogonip Open Space Preserve, MTB Trails in Pogonip Open Space Preserve, and Easy hikes in Pogonip Open Space Preserve. Other guides cover road cycling, city hikes, dog-friendly hikes, and family-friendly options.
Pogonip Open Space Preserve is located north of downtown Santa Cruz and adjacent to the UCSC campus, offering accessible entry points. Information regarding specific parking areas and access points can typically be found on the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation website.
The official website for Pogonip Open Space Preserve is managed by the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation department: cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/open-spaces/pogonip. The phone number for inquiries is +1-831-420-5270.
Yes, Pogonip Open Space Preserve offers traffic-free cycling routes. The Emma McCrary Trail provides vehicle-free access to the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC). More options are detailed in the guide Traffic-free bike rides in Pogonip Open Space Preserve.

