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Daniel Carpenter · CC BY 3.0
Lighthouse Field State Beach

Natural Bridges Rock Arch–West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint, 5 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 37 min

Natural Bridges Rock Arch–West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Lighthouse Field State Beach near Santa Cruz, CA. The route passes Point Santa Cruz, 2222 Beach and West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint before reaching Natural Bridges Rock Arch at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi23 – 52 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway 36.96119, -122.02550
Nearest town Santa Cruz, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Natural Bridges Rock Arch–West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint, 5 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 37 min

Elevation 22–54 ft

Out & Back · Lighthouse Field State Beach

Trailhead: West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway · 36.96119, -122.02550

Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 66°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:14 PM

Transit-accessible: Bay Street & West Cliff Drive stop 41 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway, heading S.
  2. 0.7 miBear right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftPass Point Santa Cruz.
  4. 1.8 miPass 2222 Beach.
  5. 50 ftPass West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint.
  6. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftReach Natural Bridges Rock Arch, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 2.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/natural-bridges-rock-arch-west-cliff-multipurpose-cycleway-viewpoint-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

100% paved

Weather

FogTemperature 66°F55°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity97%
Hourly temperature
70°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:14 PM
Tue 62°55°
Wed 69°55°
Thu 73°59°
Fri 75°62°
Sat 71°62°
Sun 73°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 7:02 PM for the 8:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Bay Street & West Cliff Drive stop 41 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Trailhead

Hikes near Santa Cruz, California