Waddell Creek (Santa Cruz County)

OTE Ratings: O8/T2/E2
Distance: 11 - 15 miles (guess)
Time: 2 - 3 hours
USGS 7.5' topo: Ano Nuevo, CA (southern half); Franklin Point, CA (northern half)

Description

Great beginner and family trip. A really refreshing change from the steeps. The falls at the end are really wonderful. This trail follows a well graded fire road along Waddell Creek up to Berry Creek Falls. At the end of the fire road, you will have to park your bike and walk 1/2 mile to the actual falls. Do not ride to the falls, the rangers have no humor about this. Bring a lock.

For most of the trip you are surrounded by overhanging shade trees. The trail is a very gentle uphill on the way in, however it gets a little steeper for 1/4 mile or so. The trail is really good, I've seen a tandem pulling a trailer up this trail. There is a bridge over Waddell Creek, however the adventurous can ford the 30' wide creek.

Directions to the start

(N 37.09686°, W 122.27986°)
Park in the beach parking lot where Waddell Creek meets the Pacific on Hwy 1 (20mi North of Santa Cruz, 31mi South of Half Moon Bay).

The ride

The trail starts across Hwy 1 at a gate. For the first 1/4 mile or so the trail is a poorly patched asphalt road. Then you come up to the ranger station. After this point you will be on a fire road. There are some dead-ends leading off of the fire road, just stick to the main road. Enjoy!

For more information

See also "Trek4Fun's" description of this ride (with photos)
"Chain Reaction Bicycles" has a web page (with several photos) describing this preserve

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