Los Gatos, CA: Santa Cruz Mountains Ramble

Los Gatos, CA: Santa Cruz Mountains Ramble

Climb under the shade of redwoods on this challenging metric century from Los Gatos to Santa Cruz and back.

Author:	Bicycling Magazine
Date:	7 Oct 2008 9:23:57 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	65.9 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 10466 ft Total Loss: 10475 ft Net Change: -10 ft
Difficulty:	8 / 10
Tags:	Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, California, San Jose
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

Exploring roads and hills less-traveled in the Santa Cruz area, this advanced climbing route highlights terrific mountain views, shady backroads, and massive redwoods. It’s a perfect training ride for roadies looking to take on the Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge, a hill climber’s century hosted every July by the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club.

From Los Gatos, take the larger loop clockwise. After a 10-mile warm-up, drop down Soquel San Jose Road and ride the interior loop counterclockwise. Though most of the roads on this 65-miler are narrow or without shoulders, they also have little to no traffic. Summit Road, Highland Way, and Soquel San Jose Road are the exceptions with moderate traffic and limited shoulders. Skip the out-and-back to Wrights Station and the Mt. Bache/Loma Prieta leg for a shorter, less strenuous climbing route.

-Mapped by Russ Stevens

TO TRAILHEAD: The route starts and ends at the Amtrak Highway 17 Express bus stop on the corner of Old Santa Cruz Hwy. and Lexington School Rd.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Santa Cruz Mountains Ramble

Dist: 65.90 mi	Points: 1568	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.00 mi	Start	From Lexington School, head east on Old Santa Cruz Highway.	Then go 0.10 mi
0.10 mi	Turn Right	Old Santa Cruz Highway	Then go 3.71 mi
3.81 mi	Bear Left	Stay on Old Santa Cruz Highway.	Then go 1.00 mi
4.80 mi	Turn Left	Merge onto Summit Road.	Then go 1.34 mi
6.15 mi	Turn Left	Take Morrill Road.	Then go 0.85 mi
7.00 mi	Turn Left	Climb up Wright Station Road.	Then go 1.36 mi
8.36 mi	U-Turn	at the bridge. Climb back up Wrights Station.	Then go 1.41 mi
9.77 mi	Straight	Continue down Morrill Road.	Then go 0.16 mi
9.93 mi	Turn Left	Merge back onto Summit Road.	Then go 0.60 mi
10.52 mi	Turn Right	Take San Jose Soquel Road.	Then go 2.29 mi
12.81 mi	Bear Left	Turn onto Stetson Road.	Then go 2.63 mi
15.44 mi	Turn Left	Take Skyland Road.	Then go 2.70 mi
18.14 mi	Turn Right	onto Highland Way.	Then go 1.43 mi
19.57 mi	Bear Left	Take Mt. Bache Road.	Then go 0.98 mi
20.55 mi	Bear Right	Take Loma Prieta Way.	Then go 2.74 mi
23.29 mi	U-Turn	at the end of the pavement	Then go 3.74 mi
27.03 mi	Straight	Merge back onto Highland Way.	Then go 1.45 mi
28.48 mi	Straight	Highland becomes Summit Road.	Then go 0.26 mi
28.74 mi	Turn Left	Turn onto San Jose Soquel Road.	Then go 2.28 mi
31.02 mi	Bear Right	on Soquel Road.	Then go 8.92 mi
39.94 mi	Turn Right	Merge onto Soquel Drive.	Then go 0.69 mi
40.63 mi	Turn Right	Head up North Rodeo Gulch Road.	Then go 5.46 mi
46.09 mi	Turn Left	Take Mountain View Road west.	Then go 0.88 mi
46.97 mi	Turn Left	Mountain View becomes Branciforte Drive.	Then go 2.97 mi
49.94 mi	Turn Right	Take Granite Creek Road.	Then go 3.22 mi
53.16 mi	Turn Left	to stay on Granite Creek.	Then go 0.24 mi
53.40 mi	Turn Left	Merge onto Scotts Valley Drive.	Then go 0.09 mi
53.49 mi	Turn Left	Take Victor Square.	Then go 0.03 mi
53.52 mi	Turn Left	on Victor Square/Scott's Valley Market parking lot.	Then go 0.04 mi
53.56 mi	Turn Right	to access Scott's Valley Market parking lot.	Then go 0.04 mi
53.60 mi	Straight	Head back toward Scotts Valley Drive.	Then go 0.07 mi
53.67 mi	Turn Right	Merge back onto Scotts Valley Drive.	Then go 0.10 mi
53.77 mi	Turn Left	Head north on Glenwood Drive.	Then go 1.33 mi
55.10 mi	Turn Left	Stay on Glenwood.	Then go 0.52 mi
55.62 mi	Bear Right	to stay on Glenwood.	Then go 0.93 mi
56.55 mi	Bear Left	Head up Mountain Charlie Road.	Then go 3.76 mi
60.31 mi	Bear Right	to stay on Mountain Charlie.	Then go 0.89 mi
61.20 mi	Turn Right	on Skyline Boulevard.	Then go 0.08 mi
61.28 mi	Bear Right	on Skyline.	Then go 0.13 mi
61.41 mi	Turn Left	Merge back onto Mountain Charlie Road.	Then go 0.74 mi
62.15 mi	Turn Left	Merge back onto Old Santa Cruz Highway.	Then go 3.66 mi
65.81 mi	Turn Left	and head toward Lexington School.	Then go 0.10 mi
65.90 mi	Stop	at Lexingston School

Points of Interest

Start/End

Location: 37.180510°, -121.991158°
This route starts and ends at Lexington School in Los Gatos.

Different Options

Location: 37.127758°, -121.947116°
There are two options to reduce miles and climbing: 1. Skip Wrights Station by continuing straight on Summit Road instead of turning left on Morrill Road. 2. Skip Mt. Bache and Loma Prieta by turning left instead of right from Skyland Road onto Highland Way. Then go 0.5 mile to the Summit Store.

Climbing Wrights Station

Location: 37.132472°, -121.942406°
©Russ Stevens

Summit Store

Location: 37.120034°, -121.929081°
©Russ Stevens

Soquel San Jose Road

Location: 37.118502°, -121.925658°
Soquel San Jose Road has a good amount of traffic and limited shoulder. However, it also has good pavement and wide corners, making for a descent fast enough to stay ahead of most cars.

Skyland Road

Location: 37.105985°, -121.930904°
It gets pretty steep here! ©Russ Stevens

The Top of Loma Prieta

Location: 37.097497°, -121.848164°
©Russ Stevens

Scott's Valley Market

Location: 37.060896°, -122.006393°
Fuel up well at at Scott's Valley Market: The climb up Mount Charlie will really test your limits. This undulating climb oscillates from -5 to 15 percent grades. Bring your granny gear (or an extra set of legs).