more stats
1,496 ft
Distance
-112 ft
Descent
00:02:14
Avg time
-112 ft
Altitude change
1,244 ft
Altitude min
1,356 ft
Altitude max
1,356 ft
Altitude start
1,243 ft
Altitude end
-7.5%
Grade
-16.1%
Grade max
-2%
Grade min
1,496 ft
Distance down
00:02:14
Avg time

Flow Trail 4 Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Adaptive Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Soquel Demonstration State Forest
    Santa Cruz, California
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 45 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
    • 5 in Adaptive Biking
    • 80 in Gravel Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #17172 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #105326 in Trail Running
    • #21826 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Exposure
    Normal
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Adaptive MTB, Gravel
  • Direction
    Downhill Only[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Downhill Only for Trail Running
    • Downhill Only for Hiking
    • Downhill Only for Adaptive Biking
    • Downhill Only for Gravel Biking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Jump
  • Land Owner

Built specifically for mountain bikes, a flow trail emphasizes speed and rhythm, featuring berms, rollers, jumps and other features that are designed in a way that uses the rider’s momentum to minimize pedaling and braking (think downhill pump track). From the young (or not so young) beginner, to the downhill pro, a flow trail delivers smiles for riders of all ages and skill level.

MBoSC has partnered with land manager California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to build a four mile flow trail in Soquel Demonstration State Forest (SDSF). The objectives of this project are to promote mountain biking by creating a progressive trail that can be enjoyed by riders of all ages and ability level, and to increase the diversity of riding opportunities, demonstrate innovative and sustainable trail building design and techniques, and provide a model for other land managers for similar types of projects.

Adaptive Bike Info
aMTB Blue Rating: Intermediate features and steeper terrain.
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 17 rides
  • 20 miles average
6 Months
  • 389 rides
  • 19 miles avg distance
All
  • 3,116 rides
  • Last: Sep 16, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Sep 11, 2026
Very Dry
Avg: 4.6 (41 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to flow-trail-4 trailhead (37.080140, -121.897630)

      Photos

      27 more »
      mtb
      82 |
      Nov 17, 2023 @ 8:21am
      Nov 17, 2023
      mtb
      58 |
      Nov 17, 2023 @ 8:21am
      Nov 17, 2023
      mtb
      137 |
      Feb 27, 2022 @ 8:43am
      Feb 27, 2022
      report
      mtb
      72 |
      Jan 16, 2025 @ 2:15pm
      Jan 16, 2025

      Videos

      15 more »
      Last Ride Down SEQUEL MTB FLOW Trail Before...
      mtb
      14:13 | 83 | May 2, 2024 , Santa Cruz
      Flow Trail / Santa Cruz, CA (Soquel Demo...
      mtb
      12:31 | 289 | Apr 30, 2024 , Santa Cruz
      Demonstration Forest, Flow Trail 4-6 with Sean...
      mtb
      364 | Nov 21, 2022 , Santa Cruz
      Flow Trail Two Weeks After the Rain
      mtb
      9:30 | 376 | Jan 21, 2022 , Santa Cruz

      Routes with this trail

      4.3 14 miles 2,088 ft 17 Loop
      New Flow Trail in Santa Cruz
      5.0 18 miles 3,222 ft 14
      The Flow Trail is one of the best-known trails in Santa Cruz. It's 3.5 miles of fast, flowy downhill fun....
      4.3 14 miles 2,098 ft 13
      Best route for the flow trail with minimal climbing
      4.7
      41 Ratings
      5 78%
      4 15%
      3 5%
      2 2%
      1

      1 Review & Comments

      twowheeledwanderer twowheeledwanderer
      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 https://twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/santa-cruz-flow-trail

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      Where is Flow Trail 4 located?
      Flow Trail 4 is located in Soquel Demonstration State Forest, Santa Cruz, California, United States. It is part of the Soquel Demonstration State Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 37.08014, -121.89763.
      How hard is Flow Trail 4?
      Flow Trail 4 is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 7.5%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      What is the elevation gain for Flow Trail 4?
      The trail has 112 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,244 ft to 1,356 ft.
      Is Flow Trail 4 a point to point trail?
      Yes, Flow Trail 4 is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      How long is Flow Trail 4?
      Flow Trail 4 is 1,496 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      Are dogs allowed on Flow Trail 4?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Flow Trail 4. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      When is the best time of year to ride Flow Trail 4?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Flow Trail 4 are:
      • May (199 activities)
      • April (177 activities)
      • November (170 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      How do I access Flow Trail 4? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Flow Trail 4 are: View all parking locations in the area.
      How long does it take to ride Flow Trail 4?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 3 minutes to ride Flow Trail 4. The trail is 1,496 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      How busy is Flow Trail 4?
      Flow Trail 4 is a very popular trail. There have been 21,679 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 22,756 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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