Trailstompers Guide to SF Bay Area Trail Running
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Santa Cruz to Big Sur.

From the funky beach town of Santa Cruz south to the famous Big Sur Coast, this area boasts some of the most rugged and remote trails in the Bay Area. Stunning ocean views and a thrilling sense of adventure make this a must-see area. Click on the links below or use the interactive map to explore the parks and open spaces. Scroll down for a full listing of all of the Favorite Runs, rated by difficulty. For more information on how to work with GPX files, refer to the FAQ page.
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Park or Open Space

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Multi-Park Run

Explore the Parks & Open Spaces from Santa Cruz to Big Sur:
  • Wilder Ranch State Park (Santa Cruz)
  • University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz)
  • Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (Aptos) 🐾
  • Fort Ord National Monument (Monterey) 🐾
  • Toro County Park (Salinas) 🐾
  • Pinnacles National Park (Soledad)
  • Garrapata State Park (Carmel)
  • Andrew Molera State Park (Big Sur)
  • Big Sur Coast & Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres NF (Big Sur) 🐾

​​  🐾  Parks with dog-friendly trails!

All of the Favorite Runs from Santa Cruz to Big Sur rated by difficulty.

Easiest:
  • (4.8 miles, 400 feet) Twin gates at the University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz)
  • (8.0 miles, 800 feet) Wilder Ridge Loop in Wilder Ranch State Park (Santa Cruz)

Moderate:
  • (14.1 miles, 1100 feet) Big Wilder/Coast Loop in Wilder Ranch State Park (Santa Cruz)
  • (5.8 miles, 1900 feet) Doud Peak Loop in Garrapata State Park (Carmel)
  • (8.2 miles, 1300 feet) Molera Big Loop in Andrew Molera State Park (Big Sur)

Moderate-Hard:
  • (13.0 miles, 2000 feet) Sand Point Big Loop in Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (Aptos)
  • (14.5 miles, 2100 feet) Sand Point Bigger Loop in Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (Aptos)
  • (13.3 miles, 2700 feet) Pinnacles Super Loop in Pinnacles National Park(Soledad)

Hard:
  • (9.0 miles, 3400 feet) Post Summit in Andrew Molera State Park (Big Sur)
  • (14.4 miles, 3500 feet) Pico Blanco Summit in Los Padres National Forest (Big Sur) 🐾
  • (12.0 miles, 3800 feet) Junipero Serra Peak in Los Padres National Forest (Big Sur) 🐾

Inhumane:
  • (16.6 miles, 5800 feet) Cone Peak Summit in Los Padres National Forest (Big Sur) 🐾

​🐾  Dog-friendly routes!

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