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Santa Cruz Trail

 4.3 (4)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Central Coast
  4. Los Padres National Forest
Google Map

4.5 Miles 7.3 Kilometers


Singletrack

35' 11 m

Ascent

-2,662' -811 m

Descent

11%

Avg Grade (6°)

28%

Max Grade (15°)

3,973' 1,211 m

High

1,345' 410 m

Low

Shared By Kevin Fox

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

“Some of the sweetest, most consistent singletrack around!”

— Kevin Fox

This has been hidden from our maps to prevent overlap with existing trails, or because our research has found there is no legal access.

Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Unknown

Features -none-

This trail is currently closed due to significant slide damage and high-risk hike-a-bike conditions.

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

Local Club: Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers

Nov 13, 2018: Lower Santa Cruz and Camuesa Trail Work

Oct 19, 2018: West Fork Cold Spring Trail Work

Oct 9, 2018: Upper Cold Spring Trail

Land Manager: USFS - Los Padres National Forest Office

Dec 3, 2018: Los Padres to host 5th Annual Women in Wildfire Training Camp

Nov 29, 2018: Los Padres signs Big Sur Community Fuelbreak Record of Decision

Nov 27, 2018: Los Padres issues Decision Memo for Cuddy Valley project

You & This Trail


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Your Check-Ins

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.

Stewarded By

Stewarded by Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 4 votes

#2

in Los Padres National Forest

#5461

Overall
  4.3 from 4 votes
5 Star
50%
4 Star
25%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#2

in Los Padres National Fo…

#332

in California

#5,461

Overall
31 Views Last Month
3,864 Since Oct 9, 2013
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Photos

santa cruz trail meadow
santa cruz trail meadow
 4
One of the more exposed sections of the Santa Cruz Trail
One of the more exposed sections of the Santa C…
 5
The Start of the Santa Cruz Trail @ Alexander Saddle.
The Start of the Santa Cruz Trail @ Alexander S…
 3
Trail is toast (Apr 2017). See what's left of upper/middle Santa Cruz singletrack.
Trail is toast (Apr 2017). See what's left of u…
 3

2 Comments

Sort by: Oldest
Newest Oldest Popular
Mike Tarpey
Santa Barbara, CA
Mike Tarpey   Santa Barbara, CA
best ridden as a loop from Upper Oso parking lot heading up buckhorn fire-road, hanging a left at the water tower, down to happy hollow campground and crossing over the OHV gate up to the lop of Little Pine.. its all down hill from there! Jul 23, 2014
larry s
west hills (LA)
larry s   west hills (LA)
As of May 9, 2017, the awesome Santa Cruz trail is "closed until further notice". It got hammered in the Spring deluge and is currently closed due to major slides. goo.gl/Ih1ooC Also, the whole Santa Ynez valley is now under "new mgmt", the Parks Management for the Forest Service, and each day visit will cost you $10. Adventure Passes no longer accepted. May 9, 2017

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