SUNDAY DRIVE
The payoffs:
A mountain bike ride to a foothill ridge provides a spectacular lookout over the ocean and Monterey Bay. A short walk leads to a bluff top that is set over a gorgeous cove, with sea otters and shorebirds often seen.
Location:
Wilder Ranch is just north of Santa Cruz and spans 7,000 acres on both sides of Highway 1, connected by a bike/ pedestrian subway.
When you get there:
From the parking lot, you’ll see a paved pathway that leads to the historic dairy ranch. Take that to the ranch and continue between the buildings. You’ll emerge at a subway for Highway 1 that leads to the foothills on the east side of the highway.
Bike to lookout view: From the
subway, you will arrive quickly at a fork in the trail. Bear left (signed Wilder Ridge Loop); the route then climbs and levels in a series of hills and terraces. At 1.6 miles, after a 500-foot climb, there is a short spur trail on the left that leads to the viewpoint over Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The trip can be extended far into the foothills, or into a loop on the coast.
Optical illusion: When you look across Monterey Bay, the Monterey Peninsula can look like an island, since it is bordered by the invisible Salinas Valley (at sea level) on one side and the ocean on the other.
Hike to ocean bluff:
From the historic ranch, take the Old Cove Landing Trail to a bluff-top lookout over a deep cove at Wilder Beach (no access to cove; closed to protect wildlife). You can often see otters here and good numbers of shorebirds. You can then turn north on the Ohlone Bluff Trail and walk to Fern Grotto, Sand Plant Beach and beyond to Strawberry Beach. Flat.
Historic ranch:
A farmhouse and dairy operation built in the 1890s have been preserved for tours and picnics. As you enter the facility, the Victorian house is on your left, the cow barn on your right.
Cost/hours: $10 per vehicle, 8 a.m. to sunset. Map: Map/brochure available at park entrance; PDF at www. parks.ca.gov. Trail rules: Bikes permitted on single track; 15-mph speed limit. If encountering horses, stop, dismount and walk to the side. If encountering hikers, slow down and pass with respect and room. Some trails are closed during wet conditions in the winter (signed). On the bluff trail, be prepared to carry bikes a short distance across Sand Plant Beach. No smoking. No dogs anywhere in park.
Contact: Wilder Ranch State Park, (831) 423-9703, www. parks.ca.gov.
HOW TO GET THERE
GPS: 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz First leg: From your location, drive to Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz and Highway 1.
From Half Moon Bay: At Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, drive south and at the lighted intersection with Kelly Avenue, set your odometer. Continue south on Highway 1 for 44.5 miles to the signed state park entrance (Coast Road) on the right. Turn right and drive 0.4 of a mile to parking.
From Santa Cruz:
At Highway 1 in Santa Cruz, drive north and at the lighted intersection at Western Drive, set your odometer. Continue north on Highway 1 1.8 miles to the signed state park entrance (Coast Road) on left. Turn left and go 0.4 of a mile to parking.
Distances:
2 miles from Santa Cruz, 36 miles from San Jose, 45 miles from Half Moon Bay, 76 miles from San Francisco, 64 from Dublin, 80 miles from Walnut Creek, 85 miles from Sausalito.