A Coastal Hike at Wilder Ranch State Park

Wilder Ranch State Park, just west of Santa Cruz, has a rugged and spectacular coastline that can be explored via the Ohlone Bluff Trail. The problem is that it is a one-way trail. In order to hike the route going one way my College of San Mateo class carpooled from near the main entrance to the parking area for 4 Mile Beach, which is a 1.9 mile drive on Highway 1.  In order to avoid paying the $10 parking fee we met at the parking area along Highway 1 just east of the main park entrance. We then carpooled to our trailhead.

Four Mile Beach is a big and popular beach. From there we ascended the bluffs and headed east, skirting around 3 Mile Beach. We passed a vast field of Brussels Sprouts. There are spectacular views of sea stacks and cliffs plunging into the Pacific. We stopped for lunch at Strawberry Beach, where we observed seaweed and pelicans skimming above the water. After lunch we took a footpath down the cliff to Sand Plant Beach and up the other side. for more beautiful ocean views. The weather was perfect. Keep an eye out for a rock shelf just below the cliff for hundreds of harbor seals, who haul out there to rest. Soon after is a side trail that descends to a small beach with the Fern Grotto. This ancient sea cave has lots of ferns hanging from the ceiling and water perpetually dripping, even in the dry season. Adventure seekers crawl deep into the cave with flashlights.

I had almost given up seeing a sea otter when we spotted one just before the trail turns inland at Wilder Beach. Sea otters can be found as far north as Ano Nuevo State Park.

After the hike we walked to the Cultural Preserve where the Heritage Harvest Festival was going on. There is a cluster of historic ranch buildings, including houses, bunk house, granary, horse barn, cow barn, blacksmith shop, and an adobe going back to Mexican times in the early nineteenth century. In the shop you can see lots of late nineteenth century technology run by a pelton wheel. If you arrive during the harvest festival you will see lots of docents in period costumes demonstrating how people lived in the old days.

TO GET THERE... The main entrance is 2 miles west of Santa Cruz on Highway 1.