Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Arana Gulch

    4.7 (9 reviews)

    Arana Gulch Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Arana Gulch

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Arana Gulch

    Jasper was tired after a thorough exploration of the park!
    Klara U.

    This park is amazing! I was on my way to the beach when I saw a sign for Arana Gulch and I pulled a u-turn and headed in the direction of the park. It has a lovely street that you can park on, or there are some meters closer to the marina if that works better for you. I knew myself and the park would be a perfect fit when I saw that it was big friendly. All dogs must be leashes due to the wildlife and cows that are around. There are many trails to walk on, and if you are partial to biking there are a few shorter bike areas you can try. When the sun is out it is so beautiful, not overly crowded and since my dog is reactive it is awesome that 80% of people respect the leashed dog rule. Absolute must try for a relaxed day out.

    Wildflowers in the sunset at Arana Gulch
    Anthony S.

    "If a tree falls in the woods, and there's no one there to hear it, how will the Environmentalists react?" ~Anonymous If you know me, you'll know that I'm an avid indoorsman who's highly regarded for my skill at building rubber band balls, paperclip chains, staple removal and writing Yelp reviews. I like to take a break once in a while and get outside to clear my head...or destroy printers with a baseball bat like those guys from Office Space. When I do get out, I like to take a walk in Arana Gulch. Arana Gulch is a rich habitat of wetlands, live oak forest, and coastal terrace prairie that is quite literally in my backyard. Trails run through the open space from either Agnes Street to the north or the Santa Cruz Harbor from the south. Hiking and biking are allowed on the primary trail north to south, but the real beauty is in the loop that encircles the prairie and that's only open to hikers. When you walk here, you're instantly transported to a natural wonderland full of ancient oak trees that grow over the trail. Spring is a perfect time to visit Arana Gulch as amazing wildflowers are in bloom all over the prairie in whites, pinks and purples. You'll definitely never be alone here. This space is well used by hikers, walkers, bicyclists, dog owners, birdwatchers, homeless folks who camp nearby and some kids who like to smoke "the pot". If you search the bushes hard enough you might find some interesting things. On a recent walk I saw tighty-whiteys hanging from a tree branch, a full tent setup in the underbrush, and someone's water supply. The best find ever however was when I was 10 years old and my friend and I found a whole stash of porn mags on the bluff overlooking the harbor. That was seriously a good day. Anyway go to Arana Gulch, you'll never know what you'll find.

    Giant old oak tree with a view of the harbor along the singletrack trail

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark F.
    151
    578
    5465

    12 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Good trails for a 5k or less. You'll have to do a couple loops, but it is nice and quiet and perfect trails for running on your easy days.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    While vacationing in the area a enjoyed the hike and the path down to the marina. I'll definitely be back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Arana Gulch

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 1,963 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Wilder Ranch State Park

    Wilder Ranch State Park

    4.6
    (303 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    What a delightful State Park with medium and short trails that are coastal. We went at the end of…read morethe day, so we couldn't hike very far-- thus, we plan on returning another day when we could arrive earlier with the right gear (snacks, water, sunscreen, hat, camera, etc) because there is SO MUCH to see here! The trails aren't super long to get to cool sites, like seal pups and fern caves, and you get to gaze at beautiful wildflowers and bushes along the way, like giant calla lilies and blackberries. There were also many frogs croaking and birds singing while we were hiking, which created such unexpected symphonies. It also wasn't very crowded. We saw a few groups of casual hikers and a few joggers. There was some construction in areas close to the parking lot that was unsightly and a parking fee, but other than that, everything was just lovely. I can't wait to return to Wilder Ranch for a deeper exploration! [TIP: If you're a serious hiker who's looking for an all day trip, this isn't the location for you. Wilder Ranch is on the easy to medium hike level with trails that are fairly short, like 2.5 miles for one of the popular beach loops. You can, of course, make it a longer hike but exploring multiple trails or crossing the freeway to the other trails, but it is not the kind of location you can get lost. It's perfect for families and people who have a couple hours to spare.]

    Great for hiking. Provided some great scenic views. Got some great photos and felt the ocean mist…read moreright at the edge of some cliffs. After parking you made about a mile walk to where the cliffs overlook the ocean. There is no beach access at this location. Parking with access was $10. Good price for the experience for my family of 3. After the 3 hour drive from Sacramento this visit was the perfect way to stretch our legs and also get some much needed steps in.

    Photos
    Wilder Ranch State Park
    Wilder Ranch State Park
    Wilder Ranch State Park
    Wilder Ranch State Park
    Wilder Ranch State Park

    See all

    Wilder Ranch State Park
    Natural Bridges State Beach

    Natural Bridges State Beach

    4.3
    (531 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    Such an awesome beach that feels sort of hidden in plain sight…read more We came here while on the search for tide pools, while we did find tide pools they didn't have the marine life we were hoping for, we did explore some cool natural coves and hang with a seal lion pup. This is a state run beach, so to get that premier and close parking you'll need to pay. It was ten-dollars, but that covered you for the whole day and you could leave and come back if needed. The beach area itself is small, but offers amazing views of the "natural bridges" or rock formations that give its name. My son and I crawled through a small hole in the rock wall that opened up to private cove. The cover was awesome, but not a place where you can lounge due to the tides. The tide pools are located high up on the rocks that are only accessible during low tide. You'll mostly only find sea anemones and a few small crabs. There are some picnic tables here near the back of the beach under some shaded trees, so families can enjoy lunch without leaving. This picnic area butts up to a pond that, I assume, when it's high tide is a direct link to the ocean.

    Walked through the monarch butterfly preserve area and ended up overlooking the beach. For a…read moreTuesday, it wasn't so busy, so parking was easy. Gorgeous views, small beach area, and cool view of the rock bridge. It was a quick visit for me, but it was pretty.

    Photos
    June 2023
    June 2023
    Natural Bridges State Beach
    Natural Bridges State Beach

    See all

    Arana Gulch - parks - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...