Review Date
March 4, 2010

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: f4ocity ,  Racer

Summary:
We are super lucky to have Wilder Ranch fully open to mountain biking! If you see a ranger let em know you appreciate it!
Great single track, woven together by fire-roads with fantastic ocean vista's...look for the hidden trails. They are worth the search, but I'm not telling where they are....you'll have to earn it.

video of some wilder riding & jumps @ 1:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14cQElCXTJM

Recommended Route:
Enchanted loop (west to east only) Twin oaks, Mailbox?

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Soquel Demo, Saratoga gap

Review Date
September 9, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Quik564 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
A "greatest hits" video summary of Wilder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwyIHDnuLI

Ocean vistas, rolling grasslands, redwood forests, wildlife and great singletrack. Tons of loops to be had...

Recommended Route:
Old Cove Landing (warmup loop), Englesmann Loop, Wild Boar, Old Cabin, Eucalyptus Loop, Enchanted Loop, Twin Oaks, Zane Gray, Wilder Ridge Loop.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
El Corte de Madera (Skeggs), Demo Forest, Saratoga Gap...

Review Date
August 11, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: rickt99 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I have to give this place the highest rating possible. You'll find other trails and areas with more challenging and technical routes, but you'll be hard-pressed to find any other place that is this postcard-beautiful and fun.

One area of the park offers a nearly-flat, slow-going trail in which families and pedestrians walk along the cliffs and beaches just north of Santa Cruz. I rode one such trail along the cliffs prior to riding up into the hills; the loop took about ten to fifteen minutes, and it was great just to pedal slowly and watch pelicans and seagulls floating just a few feet away.

Next, I rode (from the parking lot) down toward the actual ranch house complex. This is important: you must ride / walk through that little area, and through the tunnel, where you'll find a Map board displaying the trails and routes.

Because this was my first time (at this park), I just pointed the bike uphill, and kept riding for a while. I was amazed at how intensely pretty this place is: Every once in a while, I'd turn around (while pedaling) to see the cliffs and the ocean off in the distance. I finally came upon a hilltop, where the fauna changed from rolling hills with oak trees, to a shaded, dark canopy of redwood trees and single-track fun. There were a number of switchbacks that were (for me) kind of tricky, but not life-threateningly scary.

I believe that this was the Eucalyptus Loop (highly recommended). I emerged from this trail onto another rolling, grassy hilltop, where I wanted to follow another trail (there were many marked trails here), but I was running out of daylight, and had to turn around and go back the way I'd come, which turned out to be ridiculously fun and fast.

My plan is to come back to this place on a regular basis. I wish, though, that I lived closer. Still it's worth making the commute over to Santa Cruz for this area.

Recommended Route:
Eucalyptus Loop

Other recommended trails in the same area:
St. Joseph's Hill, Los Gatos

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, 1.00 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

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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