Mountain Biking

Mountain bikes are allowed on only four routes at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Pipeline Road, Powder Mill Fire Road, Rincon Fire Road and Ridge Fire Road. Every other trail, the Santa Cruz Sandhills and the whole Fall Creek Unit are closed to bikes. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet, and bikes yield to hikers and horses. Rincon Fire Road crosses the San Lorenzo River with no bridge, so you walk your bike through.

The Four Routes

California State Parks rates its suggested routes from one star (easiest) to four (hardest).

Pipeline Road

Paved, 3.3 miles. Lower section one star, upper section four stars. Pipeline is a paved road through the park that cars cannot use. The lower part, near the day-use area, is flat and scenic, the easiest riding in the park. Past the Rincon Fire Road turnoff it climbs steeply to the Overlook Bench, then runs steep ups and downs to Graham Hill Road. Expect walkers, families and leashed dogs on the lower stretch.

Powder Mill Fire Road

Packed sand and fine soil, two stars. The agency calls it a good easy ride from the campground. It stays fairly level until it crosses Ridge Fire Road, then descends gradually to Pipeline Road.

Rincon Fire Road

Mixed leaf litter, four stars. For advanced riders who want a long ride. It starts at the Rincon parking lot off Highway 9 and drops quickly to the San Lorenzo River. There is no bridge: riders must walk across. On the far side it climbs to Cathedral Redwoods, a ring of giant redwoods, then runs almost all downhill to Pipeline Road. Rincon also connects to Pogonip city park and University of California, Santa Cruz land, and on through to Wilder Ranch State Park for a longer ride.

Ridge Fire Road

Open to bikes and linking Powder Mill Fire Road with the Pipeline Road area along the ridge near the Observation Deck. Bikes must stay on the fire road here: the trails into the sandhills are closed to them.

Where Bikes Are Not Allowed

• The Fall Creek Unit, entirely.
• The Santa Cruz Sandhills. California State Parks explains that the sandhills grow on Zayante sand soils laid down more than 15 million years ago, found only in central Santa Cruz County, and that over 40 percent of the habitat is already gone.
• Every trail not named above, including the Redwood Grove Loop and the River Trail.

Riding Rules

• Stay on the fire road. Riding off it destroys plants and causes erosion.
• No power sliding or locking the brakes.
• Walk around muddy spots instead of riding through them.
• Pack out everything you bring in.
• Collect nothing: everything in the park is protected by law.
• Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.
• Yield the trail to hikers and horses.

Safety

• Stay off the trestles. The railroad tracks and trestles are private and dangerous; do not cross them.
• River crossings. The San Lorenzo is wide and fast in winter and spring. Cross only with secure footing, and never if the water is deeper than your knees.
• Ride with a partner, so one of you can go for help.

Bike Camping

The campground has an en-route bicycle campsite for cyclists touring the area who pedal into the park. Register at the campground kiosk on Graham Hill Road. More on camping.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: families riding the flat lower Pipeline Road, and strong riders who want the Rincon climb and a link toward Wilder Ranch.

Maybe skip if: you want singletrack. Bikes are confined to fire roads and one paved road here.