Review Date
March 6, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Rex_Skidmore ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This place is too nice. Do not foul it up.

Very well-maintained trails.

Last week, the rain had cut ruts and had caused complete washouts of sections that were marked with A-frame barricades and orange cones. Thanks, Rangers.

I saw a coyote and a 45-lb wildcat in the same hour span.

Five chilis for the 180-degree view of the world and the horizon over the ocean. And, for the trail maintenance and serenity.

Recommended Route:
Whatever you do, you have to do the 1.9 mile downhill back to the Ranch after you leave tracks on all the other trails. Makes it all worth it.

Review Date
November 23, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: 575rider ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Here is my take on Wilder Ranch: It's good for about a 16 mile loop and if you play it right you can keep it to mostly singletrack. Overall there is nothing too technical, nothing too strenuous (meaning no extended climbs), but rather a decent variety of rolling singletrack with some drops (in the 1 foot range). It does offer great scenery (w/ the Ocean in the background) and a nice variety of eco systems (from sandy areas to exposed hills to 'foresty' areas w/ extensive fern growth).

Recommended Route:
Whichever way you assemble your route you want to include the following singletracks (bring a decent map if you are new to the area because it is easy to get lost): - Zane Grey - Enchanted Loop (West to East to get the most of the somewhat technical decent) - Old Cabin (West to East for the same reason) - Twin Oaks

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Soquel Demonstration Forest
Henry Coe

Review Date
May 6, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: cakes ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
It is great being able to ride out of my back yard into Wilder. With that said, if you are looking for truly awesome singletrack, I have ridden better! Wilder is great for "short and sweet" rides. Enchanted loop is great singletrack but too short. Old cabin trail is great but also way too short. Zane grey is longer but does not offer the "crashing through the forest" feeling and is very bumpy and sandy at times... Unfortunately, there is some really fun singletrack in the area but technically illegal (some in Wilder and most behind the UCSC campus). In Wilder, I wish they would make Woodcutters a true loop but half of it is illegal. If it were totally legal, this would be my favorite trail in Wilder. Check yourself for ticks as I often find them crawling on me after a ride in Wilder. There is definitely some poison oak (luckily I am immune while my friends are not) and I have actually hit some stinging nettle. Very painful!

Recommended Route:
Don't miss Old Cabin trail and Enchanted loop. The way I enter Wilder is from empire grade through the cow pasture or via UCSC. But, most people enter from near highway 1 since there is better parking. If you start at highway 1, I think the *easiest* uphill is to ride up Wilder ridge loop trail to twin oaks trail rather than englishman loop. Stay away from baldwin and sea ridge uphill or downhill, they both suck!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If I want to do some serious singletrack, I head over to Soquel Demonstration Forest and do the Braille trail. Very fun. My all time favorite singletrack is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, which is in Lake Tahoe (so I don't get to do it often enough!)

Review Date
December 23, 2004

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Hagen ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I started out at Empire Grade and rode down from there. This is the first time I've ridden Wilder and also the first time I've ridden in a while. I'm focused now on getting back into ultimate riding shape so I was a little out of shape when I rode it. (Too much cervezas, gonja, laziness, etc.) I had a decent time riding but I do not think I found the hidden secrets everyone is raving about. I really enjoy tight singletracks, switchbacks, etc. and I did not seem to find much of it here although from reading alot of the reviews, It seems as though I really missed out. I remember riding Wilder Loop, Enchanted loop, and a couple others. Can someone out there tell me the best way to go? Preciate it. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!

Recommended Route:
I'll tell you later

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Downieville Downhill, Auburn

Review Date
May 19, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Scabs ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Wilder is the shizz. If you don't agree then you haven't really ridden Wilder. Respect the trails - ride it, don't slide it.

Recommended Route:
The one with the bloody rocks at the bottom

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Demo and...