9.8 miles
Distance
1,234 ft
Climb
-1,227 ft
Descent
636 ft
High Point
5 ft
Altitude change
43 ft
Altitude min
43 ft
Altitude start
46 ft
Altitude end
-45.4%
Grade max
26.7%
Grade min
5 miles
Distance climb
4 miles
Distance down
3,734 ft
Distance flat

Update loop with new Englseman trail (thanks MBoSC)

Detailed Description
Wilder Ranch Loop is a 10 mile popular intermediate route located near Santa Cruz California. This mountain bike only route. This route includes 8 trails. This route climbs 1,234 ft with a max elevation of 636 ft then descends -1,227 ft.

Local Trail Association

Local trail association
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (santacruztrails.org)
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Stats

  • Distance
    10 miles
  • Avg time
    2 hr 0 min
  • Altitude change
    5 ft
  • Altitude min
    43 ft
  • Altitude start
    43 ft
  • Altitude end
    46 ft
  • Climb
    1,234 ft
  • Descent
    -1,227 ft
  • Grade max
    -45.4%
  • Grade min
    26.7%
  • Distance climb
    5 miles
  • Distance down
    4 miles
  • Distance flat
    3,734 ft

28 Reviews & Comments

melmikulak melmikulak
Piggybacking on Nov 2020 comment about Zane Gray to lower Ridgeback - awful descent still heavily rutted with crazy deep “alleys” (and poison ivy on both sides to top it off). Just stay on the fire road and save yourself the bummer.
KnightCA
This was a amazing trail to ride, with one important section that is important to avoid on the loop heading back.

Do NOT take the right turn off after Twin Oaks trail onto Wilder Ridge Trail that heads to Zane Gray Cutoff and then to the Wilder Ridge Loop. This trail is filled with deep ruts (so your peddles end up hitting on both sides of the rut while riding) and naked rock with steep uphills. This is a lousy way to finish a ride and was not fun.

DO instead turn left (or stay straight) onto Wilder Ridge Loop returning back to starting point. This trail choice is clear and a relaxing downward slope towards the start.

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Trails in Route

Details

Directions

  1. Walk north on Wilder Ranch Connector.
  2. Continue for 400 meters.
  3. Bear right onto Englesman Loop.
  4. Continue for 30 meters.
  5. Turn left onto West Engelsman Reroute (new).
  6. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
  7. Turn left onto Engelsman Reroute.
  8. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
  9. Turn left onto Wild Boar.
  10. Continue for 800 meters.
  11. Turn left onto Old Cabin.
  12. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
  13. Turn left onto Baldwin/Enchanted/Eucalyptus.
  14. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
  15. Keep right to take Rodrigo.
  16. Continue for 400 meters.
  17. Bear left onto Baldwin/Enchanted/Eucalyptus.
  18. Continue for 30 meters.
  19. Bear left onto Enchanted Loop.
  20. Continue for 300 meters.
  21. Bear right onto Baldwin/Enchanted/Eucalyptus.
  22. Continue for 800 meters.
  23. Keep right to take Enchanted Loop.
  24. Continue for 2 kilometers.
  25. Bear left onto Baldwin/Enchanted/Eucalyptus.
  26. Continue for 200 meters.
  27. Turn left onto Wilder Ridge Loop.
  28. Continue for 2 kilometers.
  29. Turn right to stay on Wilder Ridge Loop.
  30. Continue for 1 kilometer.
  31. Turn left onto Zane Gray Cutoff.
  32. Continue for 5 kilometers.
  33. Make a sharp right onto Wilder Ranch Connector.
  34. Continue for 500 meters.
Avg: 3.85 (6 votes)
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Trail transparency
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  • Singletrack
  • Unpaved

Photos

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trail: Old Cabin
734
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trail: Old Cabin
869
mtb
171
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195

Videos

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Mountain Biking Wilder Ranch at Santa Cruz
mtb
Mountain Biking Wilder Ranch at Santa Cruz
14:25 | 221 | comments: 0 | favs:
Aug 5, 2025
youtuber Enchanted
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Enchanted
17:01 | 692 | comments: 0 | favs:
Jan 2, 2025

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
West Engelsman Reroute (new)
Sep 13, 2026 @ 10:29am (America/Los_Angeles)
Sep 13, 2026
NTD 2026 Remove the big bush on the right reporter
Enchanted Loop
Aug 30, 2026 @ 12:43pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Aug 30, 2026
 reporter
Engelsmans Reroute
Jul 20, 2026 @ 2:36pm (America/Vancouver)
Jul 20, 2026
Nice green flow trail. There's some parts you'll need to peddle but if you take it fast enough it shades into blue.
Old Cabin
Jul 20, 2026 @ 2:33pm (America/Vancouver)
Jul 20, 2026
slightly dry in July but very rideable. Tbh I prefer it going east to west (opposite of map) and there's a little bend of tree roots only rideable that direction.
Twin Oaks
Feb 5, 2026 @ 9:20am (America/Los_Angeles)
Feb 5, 2026
Nice trail, if a little bumpy. Beautiful area. This one suffers to some extent from the same thing as the other trails in this area... neglect. Can be ridden safely by beginners, unlike the Ridge trail.
more reports »
  • By Joshmjensen & contributors
  • #14847 - 8,311 views

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