Top 6 Long Bike Rides (30-80 miles) From Scotts Valley / Santa Cruz

1. Swanton Road

The recently repaved Swanton Road is worth the Hwy 1 anxiety. You could loop back on Hwy 1 but you'd miss out on the tranquility of just turning around and doing it the other way.

2. Hazel Dell via Watsonville

   Takes on a large section of the infamous Saturday World Championships if you want to do it as a group. If you want to shorten it continue along Soquel on the way back and skip the Laurel Glen section.

3. Up Zayante, Down Charlie

A shorter ride from Scotts Valley but you'd hit 50 mi if coming from Santa Cruz. You can also extend by turning left at the bottom of Charlie and going up the top of Glenwood.

4. Elkhorn Slough Return (from Santa Cruz)

   As flat as you'll get in this county. The Superette is a superb half-way reward.

5. Eureka!

   The road surface isn't always the best here but most of it you're going slow anyways. Soquel-San Jose Road is a speedy downhill

6. Lockheed Martin Return

   Ride to the dead end. For variety and a little extension come back down Boony Doon and back along the coast.