Route Guidance, Ride Levels
When you ride mountain bikes in Santa Cruz, expect to climb up to 100 feet for every mile you ride. With some exceptions, the trails we ride are unpaved with lots of climbing and descending. We ride open streets to get to trails, usually Wilder, Emma McCrary, UCSC, DeLaveaga. You may need to share the trail with lots of others. If you are new to the area, you will need to stay with the group to get back to your vehicle, so please note the estimated distance and time below, and plan your day accordingly. IMPORTANT! Let us know if you are brand new to mountain biking: A few volunteers are certified to instruct beginners. They can help introduce you to essential skills, including braking, shifting.
White Circle
Appropriate for those who have never or rarely ridden a fat tire bike on dirt, these are unpaved roads or hard-packed trails wide enough for a service vehicle and for two riders to pass comfortably. These routes have a good line-of-sight for safe and easy passing, with minimal obstacles and minimal climbing or descending. The best example in Santa Cruz is the flat Ohlone Bluff Trail in Wilder. Estimated ride distance, time: 8 miles, 3 hours.
Green Circle
These are trails that are sometimes steep and loose, and newer riders may have to dismount and walk. Trails can be narrow, with features like low roots and rocks. There will be two-way traffic. To ride Green trails, be familiar with your bike and off-road bike handling, including riding out of the saddle with equally weighted pedals, braking, shifting and safe dismounting. Santa Cruz’s Green trails include Emma McCrary in Pogonip; Wilder Loop and Englesman in Wilder, Lower Redwood and Enchanted in Delaveaga. Estimated ride distance, time: 12 miles, 3 hours.
Double Green Circle
These are extended versions of the Green Circle routes, ideal for beginners who have been on group rides, who want a snappier climbing pace, fewer breaks and negotiating with other trail users. Depending on how many riders we have, we may break into faster groups that add mileage or slower groups who want to practice obstacles. Estimated ride distance, time: 15 miles, 4 hours.
Blue Square
These hilly routes include steep, loose dirt, narrow single-track, and a variety of small or optional features like 1-2’ drops or jumps, log roll-overs. Estimated ride distance, time: 18 miles, 4 hours.
Double Blue Square
These are Blue Square trails but on extended play, with bonus mileage. Estimated ride distance, time: 20 miles, 4 hours.
Black Diamond
With bigger terrain, steepness, exposure, and gnarliness, these trails require a bigger travel bike, full-face helmet, and self-shuttling to the drop-in. Expect steep, rutted, loose terrain, big roots and rocks, and be ready to maneuver your bike over these obstacles at speed. Estimated distance, time: 15 miles, 4 hours.
Double Black Diamond
These are Black Diamond routes but on extended play, with bonus mileage. Plan for a no-drop ride, but be prepared for near-constant movement. Estimated distance, time: 20 miles, 4 hours.
Still not sure what to ride? Try taking our quiz: https://bit.ly/3PurHkR