2.5 miles

Distance

122 ft

Climb

-779 ft

Descent

00:23:30

Avg time

Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Ridge Trail

past supporters

drewperkins
2019 - 2021
Maintainer

Ridge Trail Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

Soquel Demonstration State Forest
Santa Cruz, California
Difficulty Rating

Black Diamond rate
Voted Difficulty

Black Diamond (7 votes)
Hiking SAC Scale

T1 Hiking
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

DH, AM, XC
Direction

Both Directions
Popular direction shown
Climb Difficulty

Black Diamond
Physical Rating

Hard
Trail Visibility

Always easy to follow
eBike Allowed

No
TTFs on Trail

Drop, Log Ride, Rock Garden
Global Ranking
#189 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #33195 in Trail Running
- #24349 in Hiking
Local Popularity
95 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 45 in Trail Running
- 80 in Hiking
Land Owner

CAL FIRE

Ridge is the launching point for most of the descents found in the Demo. All the DH trails start from Ridge, and Ridge connects them all at the top. It's a fun trail with lots of turns, a couple rock gardens, and a couple of Up-Pitches that test your ability to change speed rapidly (fast to slow) as you clear them. There are gathering spots at every trail head where riders can group up - the start at Rosalia, the top of Corral, the top of Sulphur (the helipad), the top of Braille, and the top of Flow. It is mostly ridden fast in the DOWNHILL direction, but sometimes people climb - if you climb, be aware that no one expects to see you, so listen carefully and get ready to give way.

Local Trail Association

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship
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Traditionally Indigenous Territory

More Stats for Ridge Trail mountain bike trail trail

Altitude change

-657 ft
Altitude min

1,884 ft
Altitude max

2,541 ft
Altitude start

2,541 ft
Altitude end

1,883 ft
Grade

-5%
Grade max

-30.1%
Grade min

27.1%
Distance climb

1,703 ft
Distance down

2 miles
Distance flat

1,158 ft
Avg time

00:23:30
Avg reverse time

00:50:13
view trail stats

Status:

on Dec 17, 2022

Ideal

Avg: 4.65 (33 votes)

Your vote: 0

view (13,000)

Directions to ridge-trail-28869 trailhead (37.076710, -121.864430)

update trails status or condition

Ridge Trail Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Dec 17, 2022 @ 7:34pm Dec 17, 2022	The down tree is just above the corral junction
	Dec 17, 2022 @ 8:32am Dec 17, 2022	A tree fell, and is now hanging in between two trees. This is right before the drop.
	Nov 24, 2022 @ 8:19am Nov 24, 2022	Tree down
	Nov 23, 2022 @ 11:01pm Nov 23, 2022
	Nov 13, 2022 @ 8:38am Nov 13, 2022

view all reports »

Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

Past Week

0 rides

6 Months

984 rides
17 miles avg distance

All

12,194 rides
Last: Dec 18, 2022

Photos

18 |

Apr 18, 2022 @ 8:06am

Apr 18, 2022

21 |

Apr 18, 2022 @ 8:05am

Apr 18, 2022

453 |

Feb 3, 2015 @ 8:05pm

Feb 3, 2015

| 1 comments

973 |

May 8, 2013 @ 3:59pm

May 8, 2013

Routes with this trail

title	distance
Flow Trail loop	14 miles
Flow Loop via Bussard	14 miles
Flow/Braille Double Lap	18 miles
Demo Braille Bomber	12 miles

Trail Products

SCMTS Membership
Trail Pass

10 Reviews & Comments

Score Time Post Comment

sanfret

TRAILFORKS (Dec 23, 2022 at 16:48)

Trail really is a spicy blue. Difficult spots aren’t surprises, easily walked or have bypass lines. Braille is significantly more difficult and a real black.

[Reply]

theshonen8899

(Sep 12, 2022 at 13:56)

Really fun trail with nothing too difficult or intimidating. Everything is easy to walk if you don't feel comfortable with it. Don't let the black rating prevent you from taking this to Flow, it's a great trail for an intermediate rider to progress.

[Reply]

NoelleER

(Aug 6, 2022 at 18:27)

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]

jstn4102

(May 9, 2022 at 10:18)

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]

Kidklayko

(May 11, 2022 at 10:35)

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]

spokesmanmtb

(May 16, 2022 at 11:37)

Ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t think that they are the reason the trail is wearing out.

[Reply]

Danial2L1Ihi (Jul 2, 2022 at 13:22)

True but I see them there quite a bit

[Reply]

Kidklayko

(Jul 2, 2022 at 18:00)

Exactly

[Reply]

steelispossiblyreal

(Feb 27, 2022 at 8:20)

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]

bowersdaniel9 (Jul 17, 2020 at 13:49)

Ridge is getting more technical as it erodes

[Reply]