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Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Needle Rock loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Needle Rock loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

Moderate

5.0

(2335)

17,142

riders

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Needle Rock loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

02:09

31.9km

190m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 12, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Wilder Ranch State Park

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

110 m

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Highlight • Structure

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California's oldest surviving amusement park. This 24-acre park was founded in 1907 and offers old-fashioned carnival games and food booths.

Tip by

6.55 km

Wilder Ranch State Park Entrance

Highlight • Rest Area

A narrow single track turns coastside off the main biketrail away from the highway the becomes wider along a now disused former dirtroad to the ranch houses.

Tip by

8.04 km

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Nature Reserve

8.19 km

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Highlight • Beach

Wide and wild beach preserve closed to the public. Park info at parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549
Good gravel and dirt trails lead out to and along the cliffs. Several coves to the west …

Tip by

11.5 km

Needle Rock

Highlight • Natural Monument

This cool rock spire eroded out of the coastal bluffs by the Pacific Ocean waves is best visible along the Ohlone Bluffs Trail in Wilder Ranch State Park. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549
The …

Tip by

12.5 km

Strawberry Beach

Beach

13.2 km

Ohlone Bluff Trail 🌊 Wilder Ranch SP

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Sweet hard-packed dirt trail meandering atop coastal cliffs with terrific beach and Pacific Ocean views. Some of the State Park land is still leased to farmers, so depending on the …

Tip by

16.2 km

Four Mile Beach

Highlight • Beach

Beautiful path on the cliff… paradise!

Translated by Google •

Tip by

23.0 km

Railroad gravel road and Old Cove Landing Trail

Highlight • Trail

An alternative to the busy Hwy 1 is to stay along the abandoned railway line. It is fairly decent smooth at the beginning, but then gets a bit courser gravel …

Tip by

31.6 km

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Highlight • Beach

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California's oldest surviving amusement park. This 24-acre park was founded in 1907 and offers old-fashioned carnival games and food booths.

Tip by

31.9 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

14.2 km

12.7 km

1.86 km

1.69 km

785 m

665 m

Surfaces

15.0 km

13.0 km

3.15 km

469 m

319 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Friday 4 September

23°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Wilder Beach Natural Preserve – Needle Rock loop from Beach Station (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Wilder Ranch State Park Entrance

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Needle Rock

Ohlone Bluff Trail 🌊 Wilder Ranch SP

Four Mile Beach

Railroad gravel road and Old Cove Landing Trail

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Nearby routes

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