12.8 miles
Distance
2,650 ft
Climb
-544 ft
Descent
01:31:35
Avg time

Aptos Creek Road Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Nisene Marks State Park
    Aptos, California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Access Trail or Doubletrack rate
  • Trail Type
    Dirt/Gravel Road
  • Bike Type
    Gravel
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 80 in Trail Running
    • 30 in Hiking
  • Land Owner
    California State Parks

Aptos Creek Road is the main legal dirt trail (road) in Nisene for bikes. It's a pretty road that connects the civilization of Aptos to the vistas at top of the ridge where Nisene Marks State Park touches and enters Soquel Demonstration Forest.

It starts shallow and about 4 miles in it starts to move into first gear climbs.

Many casual cyclists will ride it out and back, turning around at their leisure, and your more hardcore will ride it to get to and or from the Demo. It has a lot of hikers and runners in the lower section.

The higher up one goes, the fewer people you will see.

There is also a shuttle service from the bike shop at the base of the trail that takes folk to the top where they can play in the Demo and then do the 12 miles down that road back to their cars.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Aptos Creek Road multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    2,104 ft
  • Altitude min
    156 ft
  • Altitude max
    2,577 ft
  • Altitude start
    156 ft
  • Altitude end
    2,260 ft
  • Grade
    3.1%
  • Grade max
    -26%
  • Grade min
    47.3%
  • Distance climb
    9 miles
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    1 mile
  • Avg time
    01:31:35
  • Avg reverse time
    01:55:35
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Apr 4, 2025
Variable
Avg: 3.91 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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  • Wet
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      Directions to aptos-creek-road trailhead (36.985740, -121.904290)
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      Aptos Creek Road Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Apr 4, 2025 @ 12:07pm
      Apr 4, 2025
      Mar 9, 2025 @ 10:59am
      Mar 9, 2025
      		 The trail was nice and tacky, and there were very few mud puddles, which were easily avoided; compared to previous years when we had much more...
      Jan 8, 2025 @ 11:19am
      Jan 8, 2025
      		 Several tree limbs down from wind last night. One is significant and would prevent a vehicle from passing. Past Sand Point about 1 mile. Chainsaw...
      Dec 16, 2024 @ 8:06am
      Dec 16, 2024
      		 Fallen trees at least 4 spots Chainsaw required
      Nov 8, 2024 @ 12:07pm
      Nov 8, 2024
      		 After first minor rain, swamp already forming at uphill left near top of ACFR from Buzzard. Need to install a Knick drain in turn.
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 20 rides
      • 21 miles avg distance
      All
      • 362 rides
      • Last: Apr 26, 2025

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Photos

      more »
      46 |
      Jun 20, 2024 @ 1:56pm
      Jun 20, 2024
      193 |
      Dec 19, 2022 @ 6:50pm
      Dec 19, 2022
      160 |
      Dec 19, 2022 @ 6:50pm
      Dec 19, 2022
      245 |
      Jul 9, 2021 @ 7:16pm
      Jul 9, 2021

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Flow Trail loop14 miles
      Flow/Braille Double Lap18 miles
      Flow Loop via Bussard14 miles
      Braille Loop10 miles

      Trail Products

      2 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      Aptos Creek
      45:35 | 1262 | Jul 23, 2020 , Aptos
      First ride with the Gopro Karma Grip
      1381 | Jan 8, 2018 , Aptos

      Nearby Trails

      Nisene Marks State Park

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