Little background... I am from the Boston area and came out to the santa cruz area for a few days of riding. Keep in mind the northeast were I ride is pretty flat. The biggest climb I have done is maybe 3 minutes long?
Saturday I landed and my buddy and I went for a ride a Nisene Marks in Aptos (i think?), we did a quick hour ride before it got dark- really flowy trail alot of fun and the biggest climbs I have done/seen ever.
Sunday we hit Demo and rode pretty much every trail there, about 3.5 hours worth. I was blown away by the climbs, they were brutal. The downhill trails were just amazing however, so much longer than what I normally ride.
On monday I headed out alone to Big Basin, I got a late start and didn't get the the park until noon. I asked the park ranger for a map and advice on trails, he kinda just pointed at the map and said take the gazos creek road loop. I should have paid more attention and asked some questions at this point-
I started down las gazos creek, pretty boring, but some decent climbs and descents all on fireroad. I thought the idea of riding to the ocean and back to the park would be pretty cool. After about 7 or 8 miles the trail started really going downhill for a long time, I was cranking alone when i realized just how much elevation I had lost, and how much I would have to climb back up! The road went down hill all the way until the ocean, which was a nice break. I did not want to climb the boring fireroad all the way back to the park so I headed down highway 1 a bit, looking for a trail that I could take back to the park.
I stopped at the ranger station and asked the ranger what the quickest way back to the park was, I was about 24 miles in at this point and was pretty beat. He said that the skyline to the sea trail was the most direct route, another 12 miles or so. The first portion of the trail went well, until it became super steep and unrideable. I ended the day pushing the bike for over 2 hours, blahhh.
Total- 7 hours, 35 miles, and 3,800ft of climbing
Sunday in Demo
![]()
My buddy Mike going for it
![]()
halfway through the big basin ride
![]()
I'm not having alot of fun at this point
![]()
![]()
![]()
Saturday I landed and my buddy and I went for a ride a Nisene Marks in Aptos (i think?), we did a quick hour ride before it got dark- really flowy trail alot of fun and the biggest climbs I have done/seen ever.
Sunday we hit Demo and rode pretty much every trail there, about 3.5 hours worth. I was blown away by the climbs, they were brutal. The downhill trails were just amazing however, so much longer than what I normally ride.
On monday I headed out alone to Big Basin, I got a late start and didn't get the the park until noon. I asked the park ranger for a map and advice on trails, he kinda just pointed at the map and said take the gazos creek road loop. I should have paid more attention and asked some questions at this point-
I started down las gazos creek, pretty boring, but some decent climbs and descents all on fireroad. I thought the idea of riding to the ocean and back to the park would be pretty cool. After about 7 or 8 miles the trail started really going downhill for a long time, I was cranking alone when i realized just how much elevation I had lost, and how much I would have to climb back up! The road went down hill all the way until the ocean, which was a nice break. I did not want to climb the boring fireroad all the way back to the park so I headed down highway 1 a bit, looking for a trail that I could take back to the park.
I stopped at the ranger station and asked the ranger what the quickest way back to the park was, I was about 24 miles in at this point and was pretty beat. He said that the skyline to the sea trail was the most direct route, another 12 miles or so. The first portion of the trail went well, until it became super steep and unrideable. I ended the day pushing the bike for over 2 hours, blahhh.
Total- 7 hours, 35 miles, and 3,800ft of climbing
Sunday in Demo
My buddy Mike going for it
halfway through the big basin ride
I'm not having alot of fun at this point
