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Wilder Beach – Wilder Beach Natural Preserve loop from Natural Bridges State Beach

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Hiking trails & Routes

Wilder Beach – Wilder Beach Natural Preserve loop from Natural Bridges State Beach

Moderate

3.3

(18)

hikers

Wilder Beach – Wilder Beach Natural Preserve loop from Natural Bridges State Beach

03:04

11.7km

80m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 2, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Wilder Ranch State Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

118 m

Antonelli Pond - Moore Creek Trail and Preserve

Highlight • Lake

Antonelli Pond is a man-made pond fed by Moore Creek on the west side of Santa Cruz. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has restored this neighborhood with trails for hiking and dog walking, enjoy a picnic, or get close up to birds and waterfowl.
A pleasant, short trail travels on both sides of Antonelli Pond. To make a contiguous loop one can travel along Delaware Ave a short distance to connect to both trailheads. The western section (closest to Shaffer Rd) offers the longer of the two paths. The accessible path travels for .25 miles past riparian habitat, interpretive panels, and picnic tables, and ends at a loop around an immature native pollenator garden. Views across the pond invite bird watching.
The shorter accessible portion of the eastern path turns to dirt at about one-tenth mile. Afterwards the trail becomes compacted dirt and narrows to less than 28 inches for a short distance. I was able to continue another .15 miles before mud prevented further passage however, other barriers make this a turnaround point for those on wheels.
landtrustsantacruz.org/protected-areas/antonelli-pond

Tip by

603 m

Natural Bridges State Beach Trail, Creek, Butterfly Preserve

Highlight • Trail

Northern entrance to the coastal park from Delaware Ave. The trailhead is pedestrian and biker only, The former road goes straight to the beach, while smaller trails turn east into the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve, and West into the upper portions of the State Beach Park.

Tip by

5.88 km

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Nature Reserve

5.93 km

Wilder Beach

Highlight • Beach

Protected as a natural preserve, the wide sandy beach is undeveloped and wild.

Tip by

6.03 km

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Highlight • Beach

Wide and wild beach preserve closed to the public. Park info at parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549
Good gravel and dirt trails lead out to and along the cliffs. Several coves to the west are open to public access, the most popular being Four Mile beach at the west end of the park. Look for the sea lions down on the beach.

Tip by

7.12 km

Fern Grotto Beach

Highlight • Beach

Fern Grotto Beach is a nice sandy beach in a deep rocky cove, surrounded by sandstone walls on all sides. The grotto is a shallow cave at the back of the beach with ferns draping down over the entrance. The mouth of the cove isn’t large. From Old Cove Landing Trail a small footpath descends into the back of Fern Grotto Beach. The main trail wraps around the back of the beach and continues to Sand Plant Beach to the north, or Wilder Beach to the south.

Tip by

7.45 km

Sand Plant Beach

Highlight • Beach

Sand Plant Beach is a nice sandy beach in a deep rocky cove, surrounded by sandstone walls on three sides. The narrow mouth of the cove can trap seaweed along the waterline. From Old Cove Landing Trail a small footpath descends into the back of the beach. The main trail wraps around the back of the beach and continues to Fern Grotto Beach nearby, then to Wilder Beach and the Wilder Ranch visitor center parking lot.

Tip by

8.97 km

Wilder Ranch

Highlight • Historical Site

Historic ranch, now a state preserve with demonstrations of old farming techniques and miles of trails popular with hikers and bikers in the hills and along the dramatic coastline. Restrooms and drinking water available here.

Tip by

11.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.44 km

1.71 km

1.37 km

220 m

Surfaces

4.82 km

4.05 km

2.02 km

594 m

128 m

126 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Saturday 15 August

24°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

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Wilder Beach – Wilder Beach Natural Preserve loop from Natural Bridges State Beach

Antonelli Pond - Moore Creek Trail and Preserve

Natural Bridges State Beach Trail, Creek, Butterfly Preserve

Wilder Beach

Wilder Beach Natural Preserve

Fern Grotto Beach

Sand Plant Beach

Wilder Ranch

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