Ridge Trail Cruz 2010

Saturday September 11

Hike or ride in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains at the 5th annual Ridge Trail Cruz. Enjoy the trail you've helped build, and raise funds to complete the vision of a 550+ mile trail along the ridglines around the Bay Area.

The Cruz has a variety of hiking & riding options, some new in 2010, including a special family hike, and all offer scenic trails with gorgeous scenery.

Help Raise Funds to Complete the Ridge Trail
Participants can join the "Cruz-a-thon" and support the Ridge Trail. Ask your friends & colleagues to sponsor you at $1, $5, or $10 per mile. Top fundraisers will win prizes donated by REI.

Volunteer
It takes many people to make this event run smoothly. Contact volunteer@ridgetrail.org for more informaiton on how you can help

Registration
The Cruz is a supported event with light breakfast, rest stops with snacks, full buffet lunch, route leaders, and maps provided.  Hikers & cyclists are transported by bus to start their day on the trail. 

Advance registraion is required and attendance is limited.

Early bird registration of $40 runs until July 31.  Registration is $50 beginning August 1. Start times, detailed below, vary depending on which event you choose.

Confirmed payment is your official confirmation. Detailed information and directions will be emailed to you around September 1.

For more information, please contact the Council at events@ridgetrail.org, or call 415-561-2595, ask for Dena or Joel.

View Ridge Trail Cruz (and get directions) in a larger map.

Hikes
Both longer hikes are challenging with at least 1500 feet of elevation gain with many ups and downs. Please choose your hike based on your conditioning and skill level.

26-mile: Arrive 7:00 a.m  Hike from Sunnyvale Mt to Rapley Ranch Road, then loop back to staging area.
19-mile: Arrive 7:00 a.m. Hike from Sunnyvale Mt to Rapley Ranch Road, with shuttle back to staging area.
13-mile: Arrive 8:00 a.m. Hike from Saratoga Gap to Rapley Ranch Road, with shuttle back to staging area.
8-mile: Arrive 8:00 a.m. Hike from Saratoga Gap to lunch/staging area.
5-mile: New in 2010! Arrive 9:00 a.m. Hike from Rapley Ranch Road to lunch/staging area.

(* - 26m hikers must start loop back by 3pm, or take shuttle back to staging area)

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Family Hike: New in 2010! Family hike includes short bus ride to Daniels Nature Center.  After a tour with a trained docent, familes will have a choice of hiking ~1.8 miles from the Center to lunch, or taking bus back for a short hike (~.5 m) around Horseshoe Lake to lunch.

$25 fee for entire family. Arrive 9:45 a.m.

Horseback Rides
Equestrians will have a choice of rides, from ~10 miles to ~ 23 miles, with varying amounts of climbing. All routes have a mix of fire roads and singletrack riding. event. Arrive 9:45 a.m.

Please note, horses not provided, rides are for equestrians bringing their horses.

Mountain Bike Rides -- New Route options in 2010!

Cyclists will enjoy a unique opportunity to "preview" the  Ridge Trail in Sanborn County Park as part of this one-day special event before the park’s official opening to mountain bikes. Riders MUST be registered for this event to ride in the park. Thanks to Council partner, Santa Clara County Parks, for supporting the Cruz with permission for this special opportunity. To view a video from last year's ride,  click here.

All 4 rides arrive 9:00 am for shuttle to start and are challenging, with a mix of fire roads & singletrack, plenty of climbing and a short bit of riding on Skyline Boulevard. Please choose your ride based on your conditioning, experience, & skill level.

35-miles: ~4800' of climbing. Ride the full length of the Ridge Trail between Sunnyvale Mt. and Rapley Ranch Road, with two additional loops, including a long 1300 foot climb and challenging technical sections.

25-miles: ~3500' of climbing. Ride the full length of the Ridge Trail between Sunnyvale Mt. and Rapley Ranch Road, with one additional loop back to the staging/lunch location (same route as 35-mile ride, but bypasses the loop with the 1300 foot climb and more challenging technical sections).

19-miles: ~2500' of climbing. Ride the full length of the Ridge Trail between Sunnyvale Mt. and Rapley Ranch Road. Riders are shuttled from end of the ride to the staging/lunch location.

13-miles: ~1000' of climbing. Ride the Ridge Trail between Sunnyvale Mt. and the staging/lunch location.

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council thanks Ridge Trail Cruz partners Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Santa Clara County Parks, California State Parks, Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers, Equestrian Trail Riders' Action Committee and sponsors REI, Black Sheep Adventures,  Plus 3 Network,  Clif Bar and Peet's Coffee & Tea.

View Ridge Trail Cruz in a larger map