Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge located in Santa Cruz County, within the Monterey Bay area of California. This region features rolling hills and diverse landscapes, including San Andreas oak woodland, chaparral, willow thickets, and seasonal ponds. Comprising approximately 168 acres of mixed habitats across four noncontiguous units, the terrain includes both hilly and flat areas. The refuge was established to protect endangered species such as the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and the California red-legged frog.
74
Routes
4.4
(21)
Average rating
944
People visited

2.96km
00:48
50m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.77km
00:44
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

994m
00:16
10m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1.92km
00:31
20m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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30
riders
50.5km
04:32
1,070m
1,070m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(1)
10
riders
29.1km
01:49
290m
280m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
2
riders
76.3km
03:33
760m
760m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

57
riders
37.9km
01:48
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

28
riders
75.2km
03:37
610m
610m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

23
riders
51.3km
02:29
400m
410m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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50
runners
12.4km
01:29
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

43
runners
19.4km
02:26
340m
340m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

32
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
runners
8.89km
01:04
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(3)
38
riders
22.6km
01:50
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(1)
34
riders
23.7km
01:46
260m
260m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

9
riders
10.7km
01:04
230m
230m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

9
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in Santa Cruz County, California, established to conserve endangered species. It encompasses approximately 168 acres across four noncontiguous units, featuring diverse habitats like oak woodlands, chaparral, and seasonal ponds. The refuge is primarily a habitat and species management area.
No, Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is currently closed to public access. This closure is due to the sensitive nature of its wildlife and habitat, making it unavailable for activities such as hiking, cycling, or jogging.
The refuge was established to protect the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, supporting two known breeding populations. It also provides habitat for other threatened species, including the California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and the robust spineflower.
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge features rolling hills and diverse landscapes. These include San Andreas oak woodland, chaparral, willow thickets, and seasonal ponds. The terrain comprises both hilly and flat areas across its various units.
Public hiking trails are not available within Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, as the refuge is closed to public access. While komoot lists guides such as Hiking in Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, these routes are not accessible to the public within the refuge boundaries.
Cycling is not permitted within Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge because the area is closed to public access. Komoot offers guides like Road Cycling Routes in Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, but these do not grant access to the refuge itself.
The primary purpose of Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is habitat and species management. It was established in 1975 to protect endangered species, particularly the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, and has expanded to include other threatened species due to habitat loss.
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge covers approximately 168 acres. These acres are distributed across four noncontiguous units within the Watsonville Slough System, each contributing to the refuge's diverse habitats.
For inquiries regarding Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, contact the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex at +1-510-792-0222. Additional information can be found on the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website.
Yes, komoot provides several guides related to the area, such as Easy hikes in Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Cycling in Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge. However, it is important to note that the refuge itself is closed to public access.
The official website for Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website. Information about the refuge can be found at fws.gov/refuge/ellicott-slough.
Routes associated with Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge on komoot have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. This rating is based on feedback from more than 4,000 visitors who have shared their experiences in the broader region.

