Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a recreation area nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, centered around the 175-acre Loch Lomond Reservoir. This area features a 3-mile long lake set within a deep canyon, surrounded by lush evergreen forests of redwoods, Douglas firs, tanoak, and madrone trees. The terrain varies from relatively flat shoreline paths to steeper routes ascending to forested ridges, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, jogging, mountain biking, road cycling, and more.
127
Routes
4.6
(252)
Average rating
3180
People visited

4.8
(27)
183
hikers
7.71km
02:24
190m
190m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(3)
96
hikers
2.26km
00:35
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(8)
72
hikers
11.3km
03:48
470m
390m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(4)
27
hikers
13.4km
04:12
510m
530m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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5.0
(19)
39
riders
34.8km
03:24
800m
800m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(10)
125
riders
31.3km
02:56
660m
660m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.6
(9)
113
riders
43.5km
03:35
740m
740m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(41)
76
riders
25.8km
02:30
600m
600m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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22
runners
15.2km
01:54
420m
420m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
8.55km
01:11
310m
310m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11.4km
01:34
400m
400m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12.6km
01:25
300m
300m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6
riders
11.9km
00:47
170m
170m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
riders
50.2km
03:31
920m
920m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
18
riders
17.8km
01:13
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
58.8km
04:38
1,310m
1,310m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(3)
51
riders
48.7km
02:24
700m
700m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

21
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

15
riders
46.1km
02:27
910m
910m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
47
riders
72.1km
03:57
1,460m
1,460m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4
riders
83.3km
06:32
1,520m
1,520m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
16.4km
01:11
290m
290m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
38.3km
02:48
550m
550m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
57.9km
04:29
1,140m
1,140m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Loch Lomond Recreation Area offers various outdoor activities, including hiking, jogging, mountain biking, road cycling, touring cycling, and gravel biking. The area is centered around the 175-acre Loch Lomond Reservoir, providing a serene natural setting for these pursuits. It is particularly renowned for its hiking and jogging opportunities.
Loch Lomond Recreation Area features about 10 to 12 miles (16 to 19 km) of trails, with loops varying from 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to 5 miles (8 km). Popular options include the Loch Trail, a mostly flat 2.5-mile (4 km) path along the shoreline, and the Highland Service Road, which offers ridgetop views. The Big Trees Nature Trail allows visitors to experience redwood groves. More details can be found in the Hiking in Loch Lomond Recreation Area guide.
Yes, Loch Lomond Recreation Area offers easy hiking trails suitable for various fitness levels. The Loch Trail is a mostly flat 2.5-mile (4 km) path along the reservoir shoreline, providing accessible views. For more options, consult the Easy hikes in Loch Lomond Recreation Area guide.
Loch Lomond Recreation Area provides trails suitable for families. Paths like the Loch Trail offer relatively flat terrain along the reservoir, making them accessible for different age groups. Specific family-friendly options are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes in Loch Lomond Recreation Area guide.
Information regarding dog access within Loch Lomond Recreation Area can vary. It is advisable to check the official park regulations before visiting. Komoot offers a guide for Dog-friendly hikes in Loch Lomond Recreation Area, which may provide further insights.
Cycling is permitted on designated paths within Loch Lomond Recreation Area, including mountain biking, road cycling, touring cycling, and gravel biking. While some sources indicate restrictions on mountain bikes within the recreation area itself, komoot provides guides for various cycling activities. These include MTB Trails, Road Cycling Routes, and Cycling in Loch Lomond Recreation Area.
The recreation area is centered around the 175-acre Loch Lomond Reservoir, a 3-mile (4.8 km) long lake set within a deep canyon. It is encircled by lush evergreen forests of redwoods, Douglas firs, tanoak, and madrone trees. Visitors can also observe delicate wildflowers in spring and early summer, and various wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, deer, and foxes.
Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 18,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in this recreation area have an average rating of 4.61 out of 5 stars, based on over 1,300 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for Loch Lomond Recreation Area to help plan outdoor adventures. These include guides for Hiking, Running Trails, MTB Trails, and Road Cycling Routes. Additional guides cover easy, family-friendly, waterfall, and dog-friendly hikes, as well as general cycling and traffic-free bike rides.
The official website for Loch Lomond Recreation Area is provided by the City of Santa Cruz. Information can be found at cityofsantacruz.com/government/water/loch-lomond-recreation-area. For direct inquiries, the phone number is +1-831-420-5320.
Loch Lomond Recreation Area is known for its tranquil environment, as gasoline-powered engines are prohibited on the lake. Komoot offers a guide specifically for Traffic-free bike rides in Loch Lomond Recreation Area, suggesting options for a peaceful cycling experience.
The recreation area is surrounded by lush evergreen forests. These forests are primarily composed of redwoods, Douglas firs, tanoak, and madrone trees. Some old-growth redwoods can still be observed on trails like the Big Trees Nature Trail.

