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Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 11 Google reviews · Running trail in Santa Cruz, California · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail — running trail in Santa Cruz, CA, photo 1
Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail — running trail in Santa Cruz, CA, photo 2
Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail — running trail in Santa Cruz, CA, photo 3
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Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail — running trail in Santa Cruz, CA, photo 5
BoardwalkOpen 24h

What runners say about Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (11 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

In its current form, the rail trail is just a two way walking/cycling path that stretches from Natural Bridges to Neary Lagoon, passing through neighborhoods and industrial areas along the way, but over the next several years, it will get extended further until it covers the entire county.

★★★★★ — Brian , Mar 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 11 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🪵 Boardwalk

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitecityofsantacruz.com

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail

Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trl, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Get directions

Running trails near Santa Cruz

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Neary Lagoon Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 494 reviews

Santa Cruz, CA

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Wildlife refuge with trails & floating walkways, bird-watching areas, tennis courts & a playground.

under a mile away

Lighthouse Field State Beach

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,056 reviews

Santa Cruz, CA

MixedLitScenicDog-friendly

Iconic spot with a lighthouse offers a variety of vistas & pathways for dog walking & strolling.

under a mile away

Natural Bridges State Beach

4.7 ★★★★★ 2,378 reviews

Santa Cruz, CA

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Compact sandy patch with rock bridges & tidepools, popular for spotting seabirds, whales & seals.

1.0 miles away

Santa Cruz Coastal Campus Trail

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Santa Cruz, CA

1.2 miles away

Moore Creek Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 83 reviews

Santa Cruz, CA

Scenic

This 246-acre greenbelt offers hiking trails through grassy plains with views of the Monterey Bay.

1.6 miles away

Spring Trail Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 90 reviews

Santa Cruz, CA

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Popular outdoor area dotted with redwood trees, featuring numerous walking paths and a koi pond.

1.7 miles away

All running trails in Santa Cruz, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.