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Santa Cruz County, California Hiking Trails

location_on California · 140 HiiKER Hikes

View Hikes on map
Santa Cruz County Static Map View Map Achistaca Trail, Long Ridge Trail and Peters Creek Trail Loop Salsipuedes-Pajaro way West Ridge Trail and Loma Prieta Loop Trail Fall Creek - Cape Horn Loop Trail

What to expect

Santa Cruz County, California packs redwood shade, ocean air, and long ridge views into one compact stretch of coast. Walk the Skyline to Sea Trail from Castle Rock toward Big Basin, wander Aptos Creek near Nisene Marks, or head for blufftop overlooks by Moran Lake and Davenport. From the Santa Cruz Mountains to quiet forest loops above Boulder Creek, this is a region where surf and deep woods meet on the trail.

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Most popular hikes in Santa Cruz County

1
Skyline to Sea Trail
Skyline to Sea Trail map

Easy

Skyline to Sea Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.7 (7) · 39.0 km · Est. 3 days

2
Skyline To The Sea, Travertine Springs and Skyline Loop Trail
Skyline To The Sea, Travertine Springs and Skyline Loop Trail map

Medium

Skyline To The Sea, Travertine Springs and Skyline Loop Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 5.0 (1) · 13.7 km · Est. 3 hrs 33 min

3
Saratoga and Summit Rock Loop Trail
Saratoga and Summit Rock Loop Trail map

Medium

Saratoga and Summit Rock Loop Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.4 (5) · 17.5 km · Est. 4 hrs 29 min

4
Moran Lake
Moran Lake map

Easy

Moran Lake

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.3 (3) · 1.5 km · Est. 18 min

5
Aptos Creek - Buggy Trail
Aptos Creek - Buggy Trail map

Easy

Aptos Creek - Buggy Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.3 (4) · 3.5 km · Est. 50 min

6
Laurel Creek Loop from Chestnut Park
Laurel Creek Loop from Chestnut Park map

Easy

Laurel Creek Loop from Chestnut Park

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.5 (2) · 1.2 km · Est. 15 min

7
Byrne - Milliron Forest - Rattlesnake Loop Trail
Byrne - Milliron Forest - Rattlesnake Loop Trail map

Difficult

Byrne - Milliron Forest - Rattlesnake Loop Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.5 (2) · 2.5 km · Est. 45 min

8
Redwood Grove Loop Trail Loop
Redwood Grove Loop Trail Loop map

Easy

Redwood Grove Loop Trail Loop

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.4 (7) · 1.5 km · Est. 19 min

9
Cave Gulch, Long Meadow and Wally Wood Loop Trail
Cave Gulch, Long Meadow and Wally Wood Loop Trail map

Easy

Cave Gulch, Long Meadow and Wally Wood Loop Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 4.6 (5) · 7.6 km · Est. 1 hrs 53 min

10
Saratoga Gap and Achistaca Loop Trail
Saratoga Gap and Achistaca Loop Trail map

Medium

Saratoga Gap and Achistaca Loop Trail

Santa Cruz County, California · star 5.0 (3) · 7.3 km · Est. 1 hrs 48 min

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