17.8 miles
Distance
3,214 ft
Climb
-3,218 ft
Descent
2,577 ft
High Point

Demo Flow to Braille route

Detailed Description
Flow and Braille is a 18 mile popular intermediate route located near Santa Cruz California. This mountain bike only route. This route includes 21 trails. This route climbs 3,214 ft with a max elevation of 2,577 ft then descends -3,218 ft.
Local Trail Association
Local trail association
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (santacruztrails.org)
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67 Reviews & Comments

  • + 0
NoelleER (Aug 6, 2022 at 18:27)
Trail Ridge Trail
So we rode the ridge to flow trail super fun . The flies on the way up lagoon were horrible 2/3 way up. The ridge was techy but doable. No dabing necessary except when u lose the line. The way back no one mentioned because it’s HORRIBLE!!! ~4 miles of gradual uphill with a few punches. So gassed drank 2 liters - it was about 85’ @ 2pm when we got to car, I think we started about 11. Okay Saw a few people on a Wednesday 1/2 on Ebikes. A local said weekends are busy.
[Reply]
  • + 0
NoelleER (Aug 6, 2022 at 18:27)
Trail Ridge Trail
So we rode the ridge to flow trail super fun . The flies on the way up lagoon were horrible 2/3 way up. The ridge was techy but doable. No dabing necessary except when u lose the line. The way back no one mentioned because it’s HORRIBLE!!! ~4 miles of gradual uphill with a few punches. So gassed drank 2 liters - it was about 85’ @ 2pm when we got to car, I think we started about 11. Okay Saw a few people on a Wednesday 1/2 on Ebikes. A local said weekends are busy.
[Reply]
  • + 0
NoelleER (Aug 6, 2022 at 18:27)
Trail Ridge Trail
So we rode the ridge to flow trail super fun . The flies on the way up lagoon were horrible 2/3 way up. The ridge was techy but doable. No dabing necessary except when u lose the line. The way back no one mentioned because it’s HORRIBLE!!! ~4 miles of gradual uphill with a few punches. So gassed drank 2 liters - it was about 85’ @ 2pm when we got to car, I think we started about 11. Okay Saw a few people on a Wednesday 1/2 on Ebikes. A local said weekends are busy.
[Reply]
  • + 0
NoelleER (Aug 6, 2022 at 18:27)
Trail Ridge Trail
So we rode the ridge to flow trail super fun . The flies on the way up lagoon were horrible 2/3 way up. The ridge was techy but doable. No dabing necessary except when u lose the line. The way back no one mentioned because it’s HORRIBLE!!! ~4 miles of gradual uphill with a few punches. So gassed drank 2 liters - it was about 85’ @ 2pm when we got to car, I think we started about 11. Okay Saw a few people on a Wednesday 1/2 on Ebikes. A local said weekends are busy.
[Reply]
  • + 0
ottersports (May 27, 2022 at 14:44)
Trail Braille DH
Epic DH line. Not to advanced, but lots of chunder
[Reply]
  • + 2
jstn4102 (May 9, 2022 at 10:18)
Trail Ridge Trail
I feel like Ridge should be rated as a Black. I think as another commenter pointed out, the trail is getting more technical over time. There are sections of ridge that have consecutive root drops, and technical steep and chunky rollers. There are also small sections of the uphill sections of ridge that are pretty technical and I see most riders dab.
[Reply]
  • + 2
jstn4102 (May 9, 2022 at 10:18)
Trail Ridge Trail
I feel like Ridge should be rated as a Black. I think as another commenter pointed out, the trail is getting more technical over time. There are sections of ridge that have consecutive root drops, and technical steep and chunky rollers. There are also small sections of the uphill sections of ridge that are pretty technical and I see most riders dab.
[Reply]
  • + 2
jstn4102 (May 9, 2022 at 10:18)
Trail Ridge Trail
I feel like Ridge should be rated as a Black. I think as another commenter pointed out, the trail is getting more technical over time. There are sections of ridge that have consecutive root drops, and technical steep and chunky rollers. There are also small sections of the uphill sections of ridge that are pretty technical and I see most riders dab.
[Reply]
  • + 2
jstn4102 (May 9, 2022 at 10:18)
Trail Ridge Trail
I feel like Ridge should be rated as a Black. I think as another commenter pointed out, the trail is getting more technical over time. There are sections of ridge that have consecutive root drops, and technical steep and chunky rollers. There are also small sections of the uphill sections of ridge that are pretty technical and I see most riders dab.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Kidklayko (May 11, 2022 at 10:35)
Trail Ridge Trail
Agreed it has one little rock garden that can be a little tricky, though I think part of the reasons it's eroded so fast is because of the E-bikes that sneak in.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Kidklayko (May 11, 2022 at 10:35)
Trail Ridge Trail
Agreed it has one little rock garden that can be a little tricky, though I think part of the reasons it's eroded so fast is because of the E-bikes that sneak in.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Kidklayko (May 11, 2022 at 10:35)
Trail Ridge Trail
Agreed it has one little rock garden that can be a little tricky, though I think part of the reasons it's eroded so fast is because of the E-bikes that sneak in.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Kidklayko (May 11, 2022 at 10:35)
Trail Ridge Trail
Agreed it has one little rock garden that can be a little tricky, though I think part of the reasons it's eroded so fast is because of the E-bikes that sneak in.
[Reply]
  • + 1
spokesmanmtb (May 16, 2022 at 11:37)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t think that they are the reason the trail is wearing out.
[Reply]
  • + 1
spokesmanmtb (May 16, 2022 at 11:37)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t think that they are the reason the trail is wearing out.
[Reply]
  • + 1
spokesmanmtb (May 16, 2022 at 11:37)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t think that they are the reason the trail is wearing out.
[Reply]
  • + 1
spokesmanmtb (May 16, 2022 at 11:37)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t think that they are the reason the trail is wearing out.
[Reply]
  • + 1
Danial2L1Ihi (Jul 2, 2022 at 13:22)
Trail Ridge Trail
True but I see them there quite a bit
[Reply]
  • + 1
Danial2L1Ihi (Jul 2, 2022 at 13:22)
Trail Ridge Trail
True but I see them there quite a bit
[Reply]
  • + 1
Danial2L1Ihi (Jul 2, 2022 at 13:22)
Trail Ridge Trail
True but I see them there quite a bit
[Reply]
  • + 1
Danial2L1Ihi (Jul 2, 2022 at 13:22)
Trail Ridge Trail
True but I see them there quite a bit
[Reply]
  • + 1
Kidklayko (Jul 2, 2022 at 18:00)
Trail Ridge Trail
Exactly
[Reply]
  • + 1
Kidklayko (Jul 2, 2022 at 18:00)
Trail Ridge Trail
Exactly
[Reply]
  • + 1
Kidklayko (Jul 2, 2022 at 18:00)
Trail Ridge Trail
Exactly
[Reply]
  • + 1
Kidklayko (Jul 2, 2022 at 18:00)
Trail Ridge Trail
Exactly
[Reply]
  • + 0
mweitz (May 8, 2022 at 18:32)
Trail Braille DH
I did Braille then flow. The pedal out sucked but I liked having more emerge for Braille as it is a bit more physically challenging than Flow. Next time I’ll try Flow first.

It really isn’t that hard and you can go over the gnarly sections slowly if you have decent brakes.
[Reply]
  • + 0
steelispossiblyreal (Feb 27, 2022 at 8:20)
Trail Ridge Trail
This is a great way to get your descending legs after climbing for a while. Solid warmup before you drop Braille or Flow. Some swoop natural flow, rock gardens, side hits.
[Reply]
  • + 0
steelispossiblyreal (Feb 27, 2022 at 8:20)
Trail Ridge Trail
This is a great way to get your descending legs after climbing for a while. Solid warmup before you drop Braille or Flow. Some swoop natural flow, rock gardens, side hits.
[Reply]
  • + 0
steelispossiblyreal (Feb 27, 2022 at 8:20)
Trail Ridge Trail
This is a great way to get your descending legs after climbing for a while. Solid warmup before you drop Braille or Flow. Some swoop natural flow, rock gardens, side hits.
[Reply]
  • + 0
steelispossiblyreal (Feb 27, 2022 at 8:20)
Trail Ridge Trail
This is a great way to get your descending legs after climbing for a while. Solid warmup before you drop Braille or Flow. Some swoop natural flow, rock gardens, side hits.
[Reply]
  • + 1
slmuller (Dec 14, 2021 at 10:48)
Trail Flow Trail 1
Holy brake bumps Batman y'all gotta figure out how to stay off the stoppers
[Reply]
  • + 1
kris142b (Dec 5, 2021 at 19:11)
Trail Buzzard Lagoon Road
Somehow managed to find myself on this trail today trying to get to Flow trail. 10/10 do not recommend. Got 3 miles downhill before realizing something isnt right. Not a fun walk back up.
[Reply]
  • + 0
mtbflauto (Feb 3, 2021 at 11:37)
Trail Flow Trail 1
How is the trail right now? Is it still running rough from last season?
[Reply]
  • + 0
Cabothe89 (Jan 3, 2021 at 19:42)
Trail Flow Trail 1
Flow trail is very wet right now (and will be more wet after rain this week)! Pls don’t ride until it dries out so the trail doesn’t get ruined Smile
[Reply]
  • + 1
Emilianofloressaenz (Oct 26, 2020 at 6:46)
Trail Flow Trail 1
Rode yesterday and this trail has seen better days suuuuper blown out with huge brake holes kinda sad to see hopefully they fix it by next season
[Reply]
  • + 0
davidtzlu (Oct 14, 2020 at 13:49)
Trail Flow Trail 5
Tree down around blind corner.
[Reply]
  • + 1
spokesmanmtb (Oct 14, 2020 at 16:37)
Trail Flow Trail 5
Is this the tree that is down at the very bottom of the trail on the fire road? If so, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a blind corner, but it is a tiny bit of a surprise. I had plenty of time to slow down when I saw it. And it’s not actually on the trail, it’s after the trail.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Roadkilltester (Sep 28, 2020 at 23:03)
Trail Aptos Creek Road
Great ride but avoid the weekends...crazy busy. Weekdays are so much better with smaller crowds. It’s dry but that what you get until the rain starts.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Roadkilltester (Sep 28, 2020 at 23:03)
Trail Aptos Creek Road
Great ride but avoid the weekends...crazy busy. Weekdays are so much better with smaller crowds. It’s dry but that what you get until the rain starts.
[Reply]
  • + 2
bowersdaniel9 (Jul 17, 2020 at 13:49)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ridge is getting more technical as it erodes
[Reply]
  • + 2
bowersdaniel9 (Jul 17, 2020 at 13:49)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ridge is getting more technical as it erodes
[Reply]
  • + 2
bowersdaniel9 (Jul 17, 2020 at 13:49)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ridge is getting more technical as it erodes
[Reply]
  • + 2
bowersdaniel9 (Jul 17, 2020 at 13:49)
Trail Ridge Trail
Ridge is getting more technical as it erodes
[Reply]
  • + 1
okcorrell (May 25, 2020 at 20:16)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
The closed section is now open. Happy riding!
[Reply]
  • + 1
okcorrell (May 25, 2020 at 20:16)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
The closed section is now open. Happy riding!
[Reply]
  • + 1
okcorrell (May 25, 2020 at 20:16)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
The closed section is now open. Happy riding!
[Reply]
  • + 1
okcorrell (May 25, 2020 at 20:16)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
The closed section is now open. Happy riding!
[Reply]
  • + 1
okcorrell (May 25, 2020 at 20:16)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
The closed section is now open. Happy riding!
[Reply]
  • + 0
Goatheadtom (Feb 23, 2020 at 12:40)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
Kk kkkkoossoon
P op iooopooo
[Reply]
  • + 0
Goatheadtom (Feb 23, 2020 at 12:40)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
Kk kkkkoossoon
P op iooopooo
[Reply]
  • + 0
Goatheadtom (Feb 23, 2020 at 12:40)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
Kk kkkkoossoon
P op iooopooo
[Reply]
  • + 0
Goatheadtom (Feb 23, 2020 at 12:40)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
Kk kkkkoossoon
P op iooopooo
[Reply]
  • + 0
Goatheadtom (Feb 23, 2020 at 12:40)
Trail Hihns Mill Road
Kk kkkkoossoon
P op iooopooo
[Reply]
  • + 1
Karlvision (Dec 8, 2019 at 20:17)
Trail Braille DH
Mostly firm but wet today. There were a few puddles that are easily avoided. There are at least two spots that have large downed trees laying across the trail.
[Reply]
  • + 3
twowheeledwanderer (Dec 4, 2019 at 12:14)
Trail Braille DH
Braille is a great second lap if you're doing a big day in Demo Forest. Do the Flow Trail first then climb back up Sulphur Spring Road and hit Braille for round two. It is VERY different from Flow. Flow is a fast, bermed machine-built track whereas Braille is very much raw, steep old-school DH. I love them both! Read more about both trails here twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/santa-cruz-flow-trail
[Reply]
  • + 1
twowheeledwanderer (Dec 3, 2019 at 11:21)
Trail Flow Trail 5
The Flow Trail is so fun! It's 3.4 miles of fast, flowy singletrack with machine-built berms and lots of little rollers to catch air. Climbing up to the top is no joke, though... I wrote a post about everything you need to know about the Flow Trail and Demo Forest twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/santa-cruz-flow-trail
[Reply]
  • + 1
twowheeledwanderer (Dec 3, 2019 at 11:21)
Trail Flow Trail 4
The Flow Trail is so fun! It's 3.4 miles of fast, flowy singletrack with machine-built berms and lots of little rollers to catch air. Climbing up to the top is no joke, though... I wrote a post about everything you need to know about the Flow Trail and Demo Forest twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/santa-cruz-flow-trail
[Reply]
  • + 1
twowheeledwanderer (Dec 3, 2019 at 11:20)
Trail Flow Trail 3
The Flow Trail is so fun! It's 3.4 miles of fast, flowy singletrack with machine-built berms and lots of little rollers to catch air. Climbing up to the top is no joke, though... I wrote a post about everything you need to know about the Flow Trail and Demo Forest twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/santa-cruz-flow-trail
[Reply]
  • + 2
twowheeledwanderer (Dec 3, 2019 at 11:20)
Trail Flow Trail 1
The Flow Trail is so fun! It's 3.4 miles of fast, flowy singletrack with machine-built berms and lots of little rollers to catch air. Climbing up to the top is no joke, though... I wrote a post about everything you need to know about the Flow Trail and Demo Forest twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/santa-cruz-flow-trail
[Reply]
  • + 1
WillieB (Nov 11, 2019 at 22:08)
Trail Flow Trail 5
This is the sickest segment
[Reply]
  • + 0
Olemanmtb (Jun 30, 2018 at 3:28)
Trail Flow Trail 6
Superb and highly recommend. Rode all 6 hats off to persons who maintain these trails at Demo Forest
[Reply]
  • + 0
Olemanmtb (Jun 30, 2018 at 3:24)
Trail Flow Trail 1
Superb and highly recommend
[Reply]
  • + 1
cosmicheretic (Feb 25, 2018 at 22:59)
Trail Braille DH
Rode it today and your description is bang on. I prefer it to the flow trails buff rollers. The steep narrow sections with root drops are good fun!
[Reply]
  • + 0
owenb723 (Dec 12, 2017 at 18:09)
Trail Aptos Creek Road
So Awesome must ride
[Reply]
  • + 0
owenb723 (Dec 12, 2017 at 18:09)
Trail Aptos Creek Road
So Awesome must ride
[Reply]
  • + 0
aguynamedjoe SCMTS Staff (Sep 5, 2017 at 7:11)
Trail Buzzard Lagoon Road
Buzzard Lagoon is best ridden on a cross bike as a segment of a longer ride, like Up Eureka Canyon, Down Buzzard. It does have a great view of the Monterey Bay halfway down.
[Reply]
  • + 5
aguynamedjoe SCMTS Staff (Aug 13, 2017 at 18:54)
Trail Braille DH
Braille is a nice opposite of Flow, the next trail down Ridge you can choose to ride. Braille is "Natural". It has hard stuff, jump ramps, steepness, and narrow sectors that follow the natural contour of the hill. There are go-arounds for all the jumps that have been built, but some of the steep sectors are scalloped and have root drops that we all have to deal with. I think those are what gives it a Black Diamond. As I mentioned, it's the opposite of Flow, which is buff, bermed, pumped, and manicured. The Demo, and we riders, are so lucky we have BOTH to choose from.
[Reply]





Trails in Route

Details

More Stats for Flow and Braille mountain bike route
  • Altitude change
    -4 ft
  • Altitude min
    777 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,646 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,644 ft
  • Grade max
    -70.4%
  • Grade min
    28.6%
  • Distance climb
    9 miles
  • Distance down
    8 miles
  • Distance flat
    3,281 ft
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Demo Dayz
Demo Dayz
trail: Braille DH
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May 9, 2022
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Demo Dayz
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May 9, 2022

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
Braille DH
Aug 5, 2022 @ 3:16pm
Aug 5, 2022
Large tree down towards the bottom of the trail. Had to go around as the tree was too large to go over.
Flow Trail 6
Jul 30, 2022 @ 8:29am
Jul 30, 2022
Hihns Mill Road
Jul 30, 2022 @ 8:29am
Jul 30, 2022
Ridge Trail
Jul 30, 2022 @ 8:29am
Jul 30, 2022
Flow Trail 5
Jul 30, 2022 @ 8:29am
Jul 30, 2022
more reports »
  • By jaybizy1800 & contributors
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