Distance
32.4 mi
Elevation
2,915 ft
Surface
Road
Start
Boardwalk
Leg 01
Leaving the city
The ride begins at the boardwalk and leaves town quickly. Within a block, you are hit with cold ocean breezes, cypress trees, and cliffs with waves crashing below.
The new North Coast Rail Trail carries you out along the edge of the land, past old barns and farms, toward the north coast. It is flat and quiet, with a light headwind. A tip from the locals: respectfully navigate past the "Road Closed" signs. Technically, the rail trail is still under construction, which is why Strava and RideWithGPS don't route all the way along the path.
At some point, you will need to turn onto Highway 1. It is not the most pleasant stretch, but the bike lane is wide and northbound traffic is light in the morning. Along the way, farm stands with hand-painted signs: pistachios, avocados, five for a dollar.
Leg 02 · 7 mi · 2,200 ft
Bonny Doon climb
The green sign for Bonny Doon Road is impossible to miss. The road turns inland and starts to rise: 7 mi, 2,200 ft.
The road is quiet, with only a few locals and the occasional sports car. Most of it is shaded by redwoods and oaks.
Leg 03
Daydreaming
Bonny Doon is barely a town. A few roads, a handmade sign with a mosaic heart, and homes set deep in the forest, most of them hidden from view.
At the winery, turn left on Bonny Doon Road for a bonus loop. It is hard not to daydream about leaving it all behind and living among the trees, making things with your hands in a shed: pottery, furniture, bike frames.
Leg 04
Empire Grade descent
At the corner of Pine Flat Road, turn onto Empire Grade. The way back is simple. Good pavement, long sightlines, no surprise hairpins.
It's a pedally descent with only a few segments. The biggest hazard is other riders crossing the road.
Lore
The UCSC Trails
On the descent, you pass the woods behind the university campus. Inside are trails cut by hand over decades, known simply as the UCSC trails. They are technically "illegal," though on any given weekend that would be hard to believe.
Pickups loaded with downhill bikes line the road. This hillside is one of the reasons Santa Cruz is a center of mountain bike culture.
Leg 05
The city
Back in town, the bike lane ends and the city takes over. The art, the riders, the market, the coffee. For coffee: Verve or Cat & Cloud.
Santa Cruz is a gem. Everywhere you look, there is a beautiful gravel or mountain bike leaning against something. With roads and trails like these at the edge of town, it's hard not to feel inspired to ride.
32.4 mi · 2,915 ft
The route
Distance and elevation from the RideWithGPS route. Ride within your ability and follow local rules on the road and trail.