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Santa Cruz Trail

Difficult
 4.3 (6)

Some of the sweetest, most consistent singletrack around!


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Map Key

4.5

Miles

7.3

KM

Singletrack

3,973' 1,211 m

High

1,345' 410 m

Low

35' 11 m

Up

2,662' 811 m

Down

11%

Avg Grade (6°)

28%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Description

The Santa Cruz trail heads south from Alexander saddle. The trail begins by heading down through a series of steep meadows. There is little to obscure your view but the exposure is quite significant. After a few miles, the trail changes character and encounters a couple rocky technical sections culminating in a series of shale slides.

Once the slides are navigated, the trail winds and twists deeper into the canyon. It is easy to miss the junction on the left with the 19 Oaks Train. As the angle eases the fun continues. A few rocky sections, and some tread balanced precariously on the canyon wall, end suddenly as the Big Pine/Buckhorn road is met.

You'll be wishing the trail was twice as long!

Contacts

Shared By:

Kevin Fox with improvements by James M

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 6 votes

#7823

Overall
  4.3 from 6 votes
5 Star
50%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#479

in California

#7,823

Overall
26 Views Last Month
4,734 Since Oct 9, 2013
Difficult

0%
0%
0%
25%
75%
0%

Photos

santa cruz trail meadow
Oct 11, 2013 near Mission…, CA
A must!!!! Mind messing exposure and beauty.
Apr 17, 2022 near Mission…, CA
One of the more exposed sections of the Santa Cruz Trail
Jun 4, 2015 near Mission…, CA
The Start of the Santa Cruz Trail @ Alexander Saddle.
Jun 4, 2015 near Mission…, CA
Trail is toast (Apr 2017). See what's left of upper/middle Santa Cruz singletrack.
Apr 17, 2017 near Mission…, CA

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Apr 7, 2016
Ben Norman
May 16, 2015
Ken Johnson
Initial challenge is exposure on the right. Not the place for a mistake. The trail is immensely rewarding. The views are amazing.