Route Guidance, Ride Levels
When you ride mountain bikes in Santa Cruz, expect to climb up to 100 feet for every mile you ride. With some exceptions, the trails we ride are unpaved with lots of climbing and descending. We ride open streets to get to trails, usually Wilder, Emma McCrary, UCSC, DeLaveaga. You may need to share the trail with lots of others.
Plan to stay with the group for the full ride, beginning and ending in the same location.
IMPORTANT! Let us know if you are brand new to mountain biking: A few volunteers are certified to instruct beginners. They can help introduce you to essential skills, including braking, shifting.
White Circle: New Rider: Est ride distance, time, elevation: ~8 miles, ~3 hours (~1.5 hours riding), <500 ft.
Appropriate for those who have never or rarely ridden a fat tire bike on dirt, these are unpaved roads or hard-packed trails wide enough for a service vehicle and for two riders to pass comfortably. These routes have a good line-of-sight for safe and easy passing, with minimal obstacles and minimal climbing or descending. The best example in Santa Cruz is the flat Ohlone Bluff Trail in Wilder. Estimated ride distance, time: 8 miles, 3 hours.
The title says it ALL! You are new to mountain bike riding! Your pace is easy and cautious, with the goal of getting comfortable with your bike and learning the basics: body position, shifting, braking, easy cornering. You have either not ridden at all or mostly bike paths, fire roads and mellow singletrack. You can meet fitness demands up to 2 hours and under 1000 ft of climbing. Beginner Santa Cruz trails include: Ohlone Bluff Trail in Wilder and Emma McCrary.
Green Circle: Beginner: Est ride dist, time & elevation: <10 miles, ~2.5 hours (~1.5 hrs riding), < 1000 ft.
You’ve got the basics! You know how to shift, you know which is your front and rear brake. You’ve been riding some and have a little fitness under your belt. You are moving away from dirt/fire roads and want to explore more single track. Rocky sections, climbing and descending are new skills you want to learn! You probably ride a few times a month, once a week when you’ve got time.
These are trails that are sometimes steep and loose with roots and rocks, and newer riders may have to dismount and walk. Santa Cruz’s Green trails include Emma McCrary in Pogonip; Wilder Loop and Englesman in Wilder, Lower Redwood and Enchanted in Delaveaga.
Double Green Circle: Beginner + : Est ride distance, time & elevation: <12 miles, 2.5 hours (1.75 of riding), 1000+ ft.
You are seeking out single track! Starting to ride some small obstacles, your hills are getting steeper and you don’t mind small rocks! Your hills are getting longer and you are good with it! You don’t need as many breaks and you are riding at least once a week and trying to figure out how to get more in.
These rides are extended versions of the Green routes, ideal for beginners who have been on group rides, who want a snappier climbing pace, fewer breaks, more features and are comfortable sharing the trails with others. Depending on how many riders we have, we may break into faster groups that add mileage or slower groups who want to practice/session obstacles.
Blue Square: Intermediate: Est ride distance, time & elevation: ~15 miles, ~3 hours (2+ hrs riding), ~12-1500 ft.
You can manage a ride exclusively on single track. You are descending at a fast pace on flowy smoother single track and can handle steep descents, rutted fire roads and obstacles. You can climb steeper single track terrain and can make it over smaller rocks, roots and ruts. You are looking for ways to kick the intensity up. You’re starting to look for ways to be in the air. You might know what a basic front wheel lift is! You can handle at least 15 miles and 2-3 hours in the saddle. You ride 2-3 times a week typically.
These hilly routes include steep, loose dirt, narrow single-track, and a variety of small or optional features like 1-2’ drops or optional jumps, and log roll-overs.
Double Blue Square: Intermediate+ : Est ride distance, time & elevation: >15 miles, 3+ hrs (2.5 hrs riding), ~2000 ft.
You are FAST! You are in the AIR! However, you probably want to get better there. You land on top of the table with ease. A 2 to 3 foot drop is what you’re all about! Got a big root to get over or some rocks on the climb? Not a problem! You ride a lot and you’re able to get down lots of blue/black trails with lots of rocks, steep descents and some drops. You ride at least 3 times a week and you’re hitting the gym, cuz you wouldn’t be able to ride the fun stuff if you didn’t! You can handle 3-4 hrs in the saddle and easily 2000 ft of climbing.
These are Blue/Black trails but on extended play, with bonus mileage.
Black Diamond: Advanced: Est distance, time & elevation: ~18+ miles, 3.5+ hrs (~3 hrs riding), >2000 ft.
Catch me if you can! Once again, you are fast! Up and down. You know the transition of a jump and can’t get enough of it. No climb scares you. Drop at the bike park? 4-6 feet doesn’t scare you. You can handle pretty much whatever you come across. You seek out rough, technical downhills. 4-6 hrs in the saddle is a breeze.With bigger terrain, steepness, exposure, and gnarliness, these trails require a bigger travel bike, full-face helmet, and self-shuttling to the drop-in. Expect steep, rutted, loose terrain, big roots and rocks, and be ready to maneuver your bike over these obstacles at speed.
Still not sure what to ride? Try taking our quiz: https://bit.ly/3PurHkR