Wilder Ranch State Park Horse Camping
Campground
Campground · 1.0 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Pescadero
Ridge Loop
Photo: fogcat5, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.7 mi
- round trip
- 380 ft
- climb
- 287 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jan–Dec
- best months
Clear at last check
Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 14 h ago
Ridge Loop is an easy out-and-back hike in Wilder Ranch State Park in California, managed by State Park and Recreation. The route is 3.4 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 380 feet, and it reaches a high point of 287 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.1 miles in, with an 8% grade. The most comfortable time to go is late summer into early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Santa Cruz show September highs around 77°F with only about one wet day, while winter brings highs in the low 60s and roughly 10 wet days a month. The hike takes about 1.5 hours. The Engelsman Loop Trail for mountain biking is 0.3 miles away, and the Cowboy Loop Trail and Twin Oaks Trail are both within a mile. Climbers can find UC Santa Cruz about 2.5 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
Fast food
On your way back · 2 mi
If it rainsMrwrite, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Mrwrite, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in PescaderoBest time to go · Jan–Dec
Best time to visit Ridge Loop
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
63° / 41°
11 wet
Feb
64° / 43°
10 wet
Mar
67° / 44°
10 wet
Apr
69° / 46°
6 wet
May
71° / 49°
3 wet
Jun
74° / 52°
1 wet
Jul
74° / 54°
1 wet
Aug
76° / 55°
1 wet
Sep
77° / 53°
1 wet
Oct
74° / 50°
4 wet
Nov
67° / 44°
7 wet
Dec
61° / 41°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santa Cruz, CA, 5 mi away at 70 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
