Wilder Ranch State Park
Also known as Wilder Ranch
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(831) 423-9703
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Trail crews will be beginning work on the Ohlone Bluff Trail starting Wednesday, October 14 and 15. Work will continue through the month, please expect trail closures for visitor safety.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In Santa Cruz County, about 3 miles west of Santa Cruz, Wilder Ranch State Park covers about 7,735 acres.
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Park | Interpretive Center and Park Store: Due to widespread flooding, the Wilder Ranch Park Store is closed until further notice. | ||
| Visitor center | PARK EVENTS – Free Public Ranch Tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. No reservation required. Meet inside Visitor Center. To view a complete list of upcoming events and activities, please click here. | ||
Official wording
Park Hours: 8am - Sunset
Interpretive Center and Park Store: Due to widespread flooding, the Wilder Ranch Park Store is closed until further notice.
PARK EVENTS – Free Public Ranch Tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. No reservation required. Meet inside Visitor Center. To view a complete list of upcoming events and activities, please click here.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
Six equestrian-only campsites are available first-come, first-served year round.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: wilder ranch.
Are dogs allowed? DOGS are not allowed at Wilder Ranch (except for service animals). For a list of locations that you can take your dog to in Santa Cruz County, view Where Can I Take My Dog?
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Crumb Clean Campaign
This park is Crumb Clean! Watch this short video to learn about the marbled murrelet, an endangered bird that nests in the park, and how you can protect it. Vea el video en español aquí.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHikingBikingHorseback riding
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
Water
- Swimming beach
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Wilder Ranch State Park includes acres of coastal terraces and valleys along with the site of several structures from the historic Wilder Family Ranch. Once the main rancho supplying the Santa Cruz Mission, the property later became a successful and innovative dairy ranch. The park is located at 1401 Old Coast Road in Santa Cruz. Phone (831) 423-9703 for more information.
Exhibits/Programs
The historic ranch and outbuildings are located some distance away from the parking lot, but visitors may arrange to be dropped off in the historic area. Several barns and other historic structures are open and generally accessible via short ramped entries that may require some assistance. Some structures are viewed from the exterior only; exhibit panels provide general information. Parking and restroom in the main lot are accessible. An accessible portable toilet is available in the ranch area.
The Visitor Center is generally accessible via a rear ramp; staff will open gate to get to the ramp.
The Victorian House and Meder House have a lift and are generally accessible, but are only open on an occasional basis.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 3400 Highway 1
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 - Nearest town
- Santa Cruz — about 3 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.9602, -122.0830
- Phone
- (831) 423-9703
- SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is north of Santa Cruz, immediately west of Highway One, just a mile or so past the Western Drive stoplight.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology