Santa Cruz County, California
1,244 hiking & walking trails · 3parks, recreation areas & campgrounds · 19 cities. Real OpenStreetMap + Recreation.gov data, with a free trail map for every listing.
About Hiking in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is home to 1,244 mapped hiking trails and 3 federal parks, campgrounds, and recreation areas spread across 19 cities. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors; park and campground info comes from Recreation.gov.
Looking for something specific? Search all trails in Santa Cruz County or browse parks. Want to narrow further? Pick a city below to see only that city’s outdoor options.
Trails & Parks in Santa Cruz County
Up to 203 pinpoints showing trail and park locations across the county.
Cities in Santa Cruz County
Click any city to see trails and parks within it.
Sample Parks in Santa Cruz County
Sample Trails in Santa Cruz County
Curated Guides for Santa Cruz County
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Santa Cruz County, California?
Yes — we have 1,244 mapped hiking and walking trails in Santa Cruz County, California, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Santa Cruz County, California?
Backdoor Kitty near Scotts Valley is rated hard — the toughest classification among Santa Cruz County, California's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Santa Cruz County, California for families?
3 mile trail loop near Soquel is one of the best family picks in Santa Cruz County, California — easy difficulty, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Santa Cruz County, California?
Each of the 1,244 trails in Santa Cruz County, California has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Santa Cruz County, California?
Santa Cruz County, California has 3 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (2 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Santa Cruz County, California?
We don't show any campgrounds with mapped campsites in Santa Cruz County, California right now — check the state level for more camping options nearby.
Where can I find hiking trails and parks near Santa Cruz County, California?
Browse all hiking trails, walking trails, parks, and campgrounds across California for more options beyond Santa Cruz County, California.
Hiking guides for California
Statewide rankings and guides — useful context for Santa Cruz County.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in California, Ranked
California's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichCalifornia's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten California trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in California
Ten gentle, well-marked California trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Holly MandarichThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in California
California's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in California
Federal parks and recreation areas in California ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleBest Waterfall Hikes in California: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
California's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.