Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz

The ocean side walks besides the cliffs are stunning. Great views from above the cliffs but be cautious when stepping close to edges. The actual part of the walking trails are on the other side of the highway. Relax and peaceful walk and much less crowded than many other nearby areas. Hardly any beach access but worth a visit.

This park was the perfect place to lead a group hike to close out our 2.5 day Leadership Retreat held in Santa Cruz. It has clear trails that are easy to moderate. The trail that my group and I explored led us to incredible scenic views. So relaxing and refreshing! Upon entry into the park there are clean bathrooms and picnic tables. Parking is available as well. Overall, the Old Cove Landing Trail is great for hikers that are looking for something more relaxing/ easy and scenic then challenging and strenuous. Please note- we did not complete the entire loop due to time constraints. But this was my experience up to the edge by the ocean. There are more challenging trails in the park. This park is definitely recommended. As a New Yorker who was visiting the area, it made me love California even more.