Walking in Santa Cruz: Routes and Tips

October 31, 2026

Santa Cruz is easy to explore on foot. The routes below are self-guided, flat or gently graded, and mostly free. Distances come from park and city pages and can vary by route.

West Cliff Drive

The paved coastal path runs from the Wharf past Lighthouse Point to Natural Bridges, roughly 3 miles each way. It is flat and has ocean views the whole way. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at 701 West Cliff Drive is on the route and is open noon to 4pm, Thursday to Monday. West Cliff Drive reopened in August 2025, but the bluff keeps eroding, and some stretches of the path near Lighthouse Field collapsed in winter storms. Stay on the path and behind barriers.

Redwood Grove Loop at Henry Cowell

This flat loop is 0.8 mile (1.2 km) long and passes the Fremont Tree, which you can step inside with a flashlight. Dogs and horses are not allowed. Day use is $10 per vehicle, or $9 for seniors 62 and over.

Observation Deck Loop

For a longer walk, the Observation Deck loop at Henry Cowell is 4 to 5.4 miles round trip depending on the route, with roughly 400 to 870 feet of climbing. The deck sits at about 805 feet. Carry water and start early.

Downtown and the Mission

Pacific Avenue is the downtown street, a few blocks inland from the Boardwalk. From there, the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park on Mission Plaza is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, 10am to 4pm, and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Sanctuary Exploration Center at 35 Pacific Avenue is free and open most days Thursday to Sunday.

Natural Bridges Tide Pools and Monarch Grove

Natural Bridges State Beach has tide pools that are safe to visit only at low tide, 2 feet or lower, and the area is a marine protected area where you may not touch or take anything. Public tide-pool tours run on low-tide Saturdays and Sundays. A boardwalk leads to the Monarch Grove, whose season runs from mid-October to mid-February. There are no lifeguards, so keep off the rocks at the water’s edge.

Wilder Ranch Old Cove Landing Loop

This loop is about 2.5 to 3 miles round trip. The Ohlone Bluff Trail has intermittent closures for trail work in October 2026, so check the park page. Dogs are not allowed on the trails. Free ranch tours run on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.

Walking Tips

Wear layers, because the bay is cold even on sunny days.
Never turn your back on the ocean on low beaches and rocks.
Drones are banned in the state parks mentioned here.

Trail details are on the Henry Cowell State Park page and the Wilder Ranch page . Look for guided walks on GetYourGuide .