☀️ Santa Cruz Outdoor

Seabright Beach

Large beach between harbor and boardwalk, good for lounging. Has the most fire pits of any Santa Cruz beaches (they get all taken pretty early on the weekends). Fun fact: the first surf ever to happen in California was at this spot when 3 Hawaiian princes visited in the 1800s

Blacks Beach

Smaller, hidden beach with fewer crowds. Very little parking nearby so best to either bike here or walk on the sand from Twin Lakes beach next door. Also has a couple fire pits.

Pleasure Point - Surfing

Popular surf breaks. Second point is most well-known and can get very crowded. Further down are good spots for beginners (where Surf School Santa Cruz does their classes)

Privates Beach - Surfing

Small local beach. Surf can be spotty but when it’s hitting, it is a great longboard spot

Medicine Buddha Loop - Hiking

Hiking on privately owned buddhist retreat, but open to public. Parking limited outside of gate. 6ish mile loop.

Wilder Ranch State Park - Hiking/Biking

Coastal hiking on cliff edges. Large park also on other side of highway. Can also bike on trail. Like most outdoor spots in SC, can get crowded on weekends.

Henry Cowell State Park - Hiking

Popular park for hiking among redwoods. Can get crowded on weekends. Google location is the trail head outside of the park to avoid parking fee and traffic. Worth hiking to the river and railroad bridge

Nisene Marks State Park - Hiking

Great hiking and trail running in wooded trails. Avoid parking fee and crowded entry by parking in local Safeway parking lot and go down Aptos Rancho Rd.

Santa Cruz Run Club

Cool folks who meet at nearby Gilman Brewing every Tuesday at 5:30 and run 2-3 miles followed by a beer!

Winston! 🐷

The best neighborhood pig this side of the Mississippi river. Catch him while he’s outside to give him some snacks and a light back brush