About Santa Cruz Bike Tours
Santa Cruz Bike Tours is a locally owned guide service offering private mountain bike and coastal bike tours through the forests, trails, and scenic roads surrounding Santa Cruz. Based in Aptos and operating by appointment, the company provides a personalised small-group experience that stands in contrast to the large bus-tour approach — every ride is tailored to the group's fitness level, skill, and interests. Bikes, helmets, water, snacks, and binoculars are included with every booking, so guests show up and ride.
Mountain bike tours explore the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, a 10,000-acre second-growth redwood forest with trails ranging from smooth fire roads to technical singletrack. Guides provide basic instruction for beginners and can ramp up the difficulty for experienced riders. Coastal tours follow the bluffs and beach paths from Capitola to Natural Bridges, offering views of Monterey Bay, sea otters, pelicans, and migrating whales. Both tours run approximately two hours and are available daily with advance reservation.
What makes Santa Cruz Bike Tours special is the intimate, guide-led format — groups are capped at a handful of riders, so every outing feels like riding with a knowledgeable local friend rather than joining a tourist convoy. The guides know every switchback in Nisene Marks and every wildlife hotspot along the coast, and they adjust the pace and route on the fly. For visitors who want to experience Santa Cruz on two wheels without the hassle of renting gear and navigating unfamiliar trails, this is the go-to operation.
