Wilder Ranch is a California state park, located along the coast north (actually, west) of Santa Cruz. The park reaches from the coastline to the mountain ridge at Empire Grade Road, meeting the "upper campus" of UCSC at what is known as the twin gates.
The park is open for cycling, and features dirt and gravel fire roads, as well as a number of trails. The big dog cyclists start from Highway 1 and bike up; not being one of them, I cycle down. Other downhill cyclists should note that it is difficult to turn and stop on gravel, so it is wise to keep speed low.
View from hillside in Wilder Ranch, overlooking Monterey Bay
At the bottom, you can cycle from the west end of Santa Cruz out to the park, on a paved off-road bike path. This path starts at the intersection of Shaffer Road and Highway 1, at the western (you may think of it as northern) end of Santa Cruz. The path is just on the ocean side of the highway. If you are arriving by car, I don't know where you might park nearby; but since you have a bike, you can always park closer to town and bike to the bike path. You can also drive directly to the state park entrance. It costs money to park your car inside, but many visitors park alongside the highway without charge.
When you reach the park, a left turn takes you to the old ranch buildings (where the tourists go) or to the bluffs overlooking the coast. Or, take a right through the tunnel underneath Highway 1, leading to the main uphill section of the park. If you follow that fire road, you will eventually arrive at Empire Grade Road. From there, you can turn right to Santa Cruz, passing the UCSC west entrance on the way down. Or, you can go left to Bonny Doon. Or, you can cross the road and enter the UCSC upper campus, and follow the fire roads to the main part of campus. There are also some obscure paths through the woods, eventually leading to Highway 9 between Santa Cruz and Felton. However, I am informed that some of these obscure paths are hazardous due to the possibility of slipping off the path on hillsides.
You can do what I do, and start at the top. It is possible to park near the twin gates (pay attention to where parking is prohibited). Although you can take public bus 41 to there, the capacity to carry bikes is very limited, and residents going home with their bikes will not appreciate your presence. A better method is to take your bike on a bus going to the UCSC campus, and get off at Science Hill or Kresge College. From there, you can bike out the back way, through the woods, and arrive at the twin gates without too much uphill climb. Going downhill from the twin gates, you will soon meet with forks in the fire road. If you wish to get to the bottom by the most direct path, choose the left fork in each case (not trails, though). Much farther down, you will cross other fire roads, but in these cases continue forward. If you have more time and energy, you can take other routes through the park.
Most of the route is open grassland and woodland, with a long view unless there is fog. You might find yourself in a forested area if you take the minor paths. Deer are all over the place, but you probably won't notice many in mid-day. Yes, there may be a mountain lion.
If, instead of being a cyclist or a hiker, you are a tourist traveling along Highway 1, then you will see the lower portion of the ranch. It contains the functional remnants of the working farm, and is frequently visited by school groups and the like. There are no refreshment services other than rest rooms; but you are not far from Santa Cruz.
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