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The Santa Cruz Mountains surround our quaint small cabin on our large wooded property. This cabin is the perfect location to explore Santa Cruz beaches, mountains and culture or just to get away from it all and relax.
This quintessential California beach town is a mecca for surfers and sun-worshippers, but also has something for everyone. Families love visiting the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, while nature lovers appreciate the area's many unspoiled beaches.
Santa Cruz is a popular place for summertime recreation, from volleyball to boating and hiking. The breathtaking scenery and refreshing sea breezes make this stretch of California's Central Coast especially appealing.
HIKING
There’s a lot to love about Santa Cruz but perhaps one of the biggest draws to this coastal town is just how much nature there is to explore within the county.
The great thing about the hiking trails in Santa Cruz is how different they are from each other. You could be hiking along a windswept coastal trail one minute and then be in the midst of a redwood forest in just a 20-minute drive.
Since Santa Cruz County takes up a relatively small area, it's amazing how diverse it is and how many different types of hikes you can find within its county lines.
You can expect to find old-growth redwoods, enchanted forests, waterfalls, and some breathtaking scenic views on the California Coast.
Coast redwood trees are the tallest trees on the planet. They can grow to 300 feet high or more, as compared to the tallest pine tree at 268 feet or the tallest tanoak at 162 feet.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
While surfing may have first put Santa Cruz on the map, there’s a landlocked sport that’s been gaining traction and attracting international attention over the last couple decades. The epicenter of mountain biking sits right here in “Surf City” with year-round riding conditions and world-class trails just minutes from the property.
Our area has phenomenal Mountain biking. Head up Old San Jose and turn right on Summit. About a mile down on the right you with find the Demo.
The Soquel Demonstration Forest, also known as "Demo," is home to a series of mountain biking trails. Many of the singletrack trails course down ridges, largely on old logging road cuts created when the forest was first logged beginning in the 1930s. These routes were adopted as part of the recreational trail network when Cal Fire acquired the property in the early 1990s. Additional singletrack trails were established through Cal Fire's collaborations with local mountain biking clubs in 2000 (Braille Trail) and 2015 (Flow Trail). The trails have grown into some of the most popular in the California Bay Area and attract bikers from around the world.
Haven't had enough at the Demo then head down the hill from our place and hop on the 1 Highway south a few exits to Nisene Marks.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a state park of California protecting a secondary forest in the watershed of Aptos Creek and Soquel Creek within the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is located outside Aptos, California and contains over 40 miles of hiking trails and fire roads through 10,223 acres of variable terrain.
The park is a popular spot for running, hiking, and horseback riding. Additionally, it is a common location for mountain biking, which can be done on several trails including the Aptos Rancho Trail, Split Stuff Trail, Terrace Trail, and Vienna Woods Trail
SURFING
Santa Cruz is one of the top surfing destinations in California. Situated 85 minutes drive out of San Fransisco, the city of Santa Cruz boasts some beautiful coastline that is well worthy of a visit, especially if you are a surfer.
The area is known for its moderate climate and beach going, alternative lifestyles. Nicknamed Surf City, Santa Cruz has 11 world-class surf breaks that are really worth checking out including point breaks over Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, which it could be argued are some of the best surfing waves in the world.
With waves that are suited to all levels of surfer, Santa Cruz has something for everyone, from those that have never stepped foot on a surfboard to those who have devoted their entire lives to riding waves. Of course, with some of the biggest waves, visitors who are not familiar with some of the more fierce swells should take some time to familiarize themselves with the more dangerous spots before they start surfing Santa Cruz.
Surfing Steamer Lane
Starting off with one of the most famous surfing destinations in Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane should definitely be on your itinerary. The quintessential North Californian wave can be ridden at Steamer Lane. With right-handed, cold water point break with several very notable waves that are very consistent due to the right exposure to the swell and the protection from the wind in the northwest.
This popular spot is often very crowded with surfers. You will find that Steamer Lane can vary between being playful and heavy. This is one of the reasons that Steamer Lane has been one of the best-loved surfing beaches in the world.
Home to the Cold Water Classic Surf Contest, Steamer Lane attracts onlookers at all times of the year. When the swell is good, you will see lots of people watching from outside the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum just off the beach.
You’ll find three main waves at Steamer Lane. The Slot, Middle Peak, and Indicators. During the winter, you can often find all three waves will break.
The slot offers up fast rights. This wave hugs the rocks breaking right in front of a cliff face. Takeoffs on this wave are probably best left to the more seasoned surfer, as they can be a bit dicey.
Breaking further out than The Slot, you’ll find both lefts and rights at Middle Peak. The right-hand is broader and longer, with the left being quite steep towards a bowl section that can be very exciting.
Breaking inside Middle peak, Indicators is a long right-hand wall that can go for about 200 yards before it fattens out as it approaches Cowells. This wave only works on large swells and southbound currents will push against surfers who are trying to stay up on the peak. This wave is hard work and you will need to paddle.
Surfing Cowells Beach
To the north of Steamer Lane, you will find a beach that offers waves that are suitable for everyone surfing Santa Cruz. Many surf schools operate from Cowell’s Beach, and you’ll see a whole range of different skill levels here. Whether you are a beginner or not, you can enjoy this stretch of beach.
The beach has a wave that is good at any swell that goes higher than the knee. Ideally, low tide is the best time or waves just wash to shore without breaking.The beach is often frequented by some highly-skilled longboarders who will love to ride the rights at Cowell’s.
For beginners, The local surf school at Cowell’s Beach offers a three-hour beginner lesson from $105, to help you get to grips with the basics.
Surfing Pleasure Point
Pleasure Point is one of the best-known and most loved surf spots in Santa Cruz. It has some amazing spots within it, including ‘The Hook’, ‘Sharks Cove’ ‘The Drain Pipe’ ‘Pirates and Trees’ ‘30th Ave’. The beach offers plenty of decent waves and has spots that are suitable for surfers of all abilities. You’ll find newer surfers and old guys here, with locals and visitors alike.
If you are a novice surfer, maybe just sit back and watch as the aggressive swells at 30th and East Cliff take more experienced surfers into areas that let them perform the best aerial tricks and show off with some of the best rides you’ll see. Don’t worry if you are not up to scratch when it comes to surfing these waves, you probably won’t be alone. The shore is often lined with surfers who want to learn from those in the know.
Surfing Pleasure Point
Just a bit further on to the south at Pleasure Point, you will find a stretch known as The Hook. You’ll need to go down a flight of steps at the end of Pleasure Point in order to get to The Hook, but once you are there you will see why it hooks so many surfers in.
The swell in The Hook is just right and that’s why it is such a big draw to surfers from all over the world. Of course, it is going to be packed full of local surfers who will know the right sweet spot to catch that wave.
Surfing Mavericks
Head up about an hour north of Santa Cruz and you will get to Mavericks. This really is the place to find the biggest waves in California. The waves are so big here that there is an Invitational Surfing Contest that runs every year given the right conditions.
The waves can routinely reach over 25 feet and top out at around 60 feet.These big waves can be very dangerous and should not be undertaken lightly. Even if you don’t ride these giants yourself, it may be worth taking a trip up to see them as they can be spectacular.
Surfing Four Mile
As the name suggests, this beach is situated four miles out of Santa Cruz, this beach is a good all-rounder which offers bluff-protection and is not affected much by the summer winds that are common in the afternoons around the area.
This is a frequent breaking wave but is not 100% consistent. The swells can vary dramatically from just being moderate to radical.
Surfing Private Beach
If you are a longboard fan, then Private Beach is worth a visit. With a right-facing wave that makes for a great ride that takes you over to a break called Trees.
These gentle waves are long and you can ride them all day long.
Surfing Scott Creek
Situated about twenty miles to the north of Santa Cruz, this is a mix of beach and reef break. With strong currents, long paddles, and unpredictable peaks this can be a hard surf and is not for the uninitiated. The area is also pretty notoriously windy. When everything comes together as it should, this is a joy to surf.
Other Santa Cruz Surf Spots
If you take a short drive up on Highway 1, you’ll come across lots of hidden surfing gems that are often breaking such as Ano Neubo or Waddle Creek State Beach. These more secluded spots are a bit off the beaten path and as such you’ll find them to be less crowded than the major beaches closer to the city. If you want a more chilled out feel to your days surfing Santa Cruz, this route may be the way to go.
Surfboard Hire in Santa Cruz
Westside Surf & Skate is the best place in Santa Cruz to fulfil all your surf-related needs.
Cowells Surf Shop Santa Cruz
also offers a good selection of board rentals. A full day hire will set you back $30. They have a wide selection of beginner boards from 5 ft.-11 ft. foam logs to NSP epoxy’s to fiberglass boards. There are also some higher performance boards available to rent for an extra $5 a day.
The Forest Cabins have 2 foam logs (boards) and 4 boogie boards that our guests are invited to borrow. Also available to borrow are beach chairs, beach towels, sunscreen and beach umbrellas.
SEALIFE
As part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, sea life is abundant in and around Santa Cruz County. Throughout the year it is possible to see sightings of common porpoises, humpback whales, sea lions, seals, and the ever-present sea otters. Seen from the deck of a sailboat, in the seat of a kayak, on a sixty-foot catamaran, or by land, there are a multitude of ways to watch marine life play in this watery world. Welcome aboard.
Sealife Viewing
December-April: Gray Whales. Peak viewing is from mid-January through mid-March.
Summer and Fall: Blue Whales, Humpbacks (although in the past few years, Humpbacks are proving to be year-round in the Monterey Bay)
Year-Round: Orcas. The best time to view is April as they follow the migration pattern of Gray Whales.
Other marine animals you may spot: Blue Shark, Great White Sharks, Sun Fish, Common and Risso’s Dolphins, Sea Otters.

You will need a vehicle to get to town or the beach or the abundant hiking and biking trails in the Soquel Demonstration Forest or the Forest of Nisene Marks. We have a private gated parking lot on our property with a parking space designated for your cabin.
We request that you come through the front gate mindfully to watch for the resident kids, our and guests' dogs, 4 resident cats and guests enjoying outdoors on our property. Please abide.
The unit is located in a rural forested area with redwood trees and a private flowing creek. We will do our best, but there will be some dirt, sand and bugs that we can’t prevent, however the trade-off are spectacular hawks, owls with their baby owlets, incredible native birds, the sounds of frogs and many a night sky filled with visible stars.
- the bed is queen-sized
- fast, secure Wi-Fi
- ample parking for 1 car
- property is safe and gated.
- only 10 minutes to the beautiful beachside town of Capitola. Enjoy the local shops, art galleries and delicious food on the water. Grab your sunscreen for a fun day at Capitola beach. Please ask to borrow our beach
umbrellas, beach chairs, sunscreen, beach towels and fast boogie boards.
Your Hosts- The Artist & the Naturalist
Formerly of San Francisco, Lara is a painter and kiln formed glass artist. Before retiring, she ran a glass art design company for 22 years Lara's creative curiosity stimulates her to always be exploring and making the world around her more beautiful. “Everything beautiful is Art, but nature is the ultimate Artist”. If you are interested in the local arts community and offerings Lara would love to share with you.
Emkay is happiest in Nature. As a child he was always playing in the dirt, climbing trees and getting lost in nature. Emkay worked as a nature camp counselor and later camp director for underserved NYC kids. He loved being in nature for the summer, but flourished teaching urban kids about nature.
Emkay and Lara met at a San Francisco cafe in 1994. Emkay was on a weekend leave from his job in Yosemite and Lara was selling her art in San Francisco. Fast forward 29 years of marriage and we’ve left busy San Francisco, started a family and ultimately moved to this gorgeous property to raise our 4 children in nature.
We love having guests from up the road and around the world visit this beautiful land we tend.. We can't get enough of sharing what we know about the natural beauty that surrounds us.
Welcome! We're so happy to have you.
Lara and Emkay
4 children
6 cats
4 dogs
And lots of love.