01
Best oceanfront stroll
East Cliff Drive at Pleasure Point
Pleasure Point • Clifftop Coastal Path • Closest To The Waves
A short, endlessly scenic stroll tracing the bluffs and surf culture at the heart of Pleasure Point.
Start near Pleasure Point Beach County Park and follow the paved path as it hugs the bluff above world-famous surf breaks and tide pools. It’s more of a walk than a backcountry hike, but the mix of ocean views, benches, and people-watching makes it a go-to for locals before or after work. Come at golden hour for the classic combination of glassy waves, silhouetted surfers, and an easy, breezy out-and-back.
02
Best coastal bluff hike
Wilder Ranch State Park
Santa Cruz North Coast • Historic Coastal Ranch Park • Iconic Coastal Day Hike
Head a few miles up Highway 1 for broad ocean vistas, sea cliffs, and mellow dirt paths that feel far from town.
From Pleasure Point, Wilder Ranch is close enough for a quick outing but remote enough to feel like a true escape. The coastal loop options roll along bluffs above sea caves and pocket beaches, with farm buildings and grazing fields reminding you this was once a working dairy ranch. Pack a wind layer and plan to linger at one of the overlooks to watch for harbor porpoises and migrating whales in season.
03
Best redwood immersion
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Santa Cruz Mountains • Old-Growth Redwood State Park • Classic Redwoods Fix
An easy drive inland brings you into towering redwoods, soft duffy trails, and cool river canyon air.
Henry Cowell is where many Santa Cruz locals take visitors for their first real look at coastal redwoods. The flat Redwood Grove loop is an easy crowd-pleaser, while side trails toward the river or up to ridges offer more of a workout. It’s an ideal contrast to Pleasure Point: swap salt spray for the smell of bay and redwood, and trade surf chatter for the sound of Steller’s jays and distant train whistles.
04
Best longer forest day
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos & Soquel Creek • Deep Second-Growth Redwood Forest • Best For Quiet, Longer Miles
Miles of shaded trails climb old logging roads and creek canyons just inland from the coast.
Tucked behind Aptos, Nisene Marks feels wilder and less manicured than many coastal parks, with steep canyons, narrow bridges, and long, winding fire roads. You can keep it mellow on the lower Aptos Creek area or commit to a bigger loop that has you climbing for hours under redwoods and tanoaks. It’s the place Pleasure Point hikers head when they want to log serious miles without driving deep into the mountains.
05
Best close-to-town workout
DeLaveaga Park Trails
Santa Cruz Hills Above The Eastside • Urban-Adjacent Canyon And Ridge Network • Go-To Close-To-Town Workout Loop
A tangle of singletrack and fire roads offers quick climbs, shade, and city overlooks just inland from Pleasure Point.
DeLaveaga’s trail network winds through mixed forest, crossing ravines and popping out on ridges with filtered views toward the bay. Routes can be as short or as punchy as you want, making it a favorite for pre-work hill repeats or a quick leg-stretcher when surf is flat. Bring a sense of adventure and a map app: part of the fun is linking together your own loop from the many crisscrossing paths.