Santa Cruz eBike Tour: Coastline, Wharf & Boardwalk

Ride the whole Santa Cruz coast in two hours without leaving your legs exhausted.

A two-hour guided electric bike tour of Santa Cruz covers the coastline, historic downtown, Santa Cruz Wharf, and the Beach Boardwalk on pedal-assist bikes with a live English-speaking guide. The route includes Natural Bridges State Park for wildlife viewing, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at Lighthouse Point, and Steamer Lane's famous surf break, ending at the Boardwalk. Helmet and bike use are included. Minimum age is 14.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santa Cruz guided e-bike tour highlights

• Bike to Natural Bridges State Park
• Visit Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
• See surfing at Steamer Lane
• Stop at Cowell Beach for views
• Bike along Santa Cruz Wharf
• Explore Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
• Walk Walnut Avenue Victorian homes
• Visit Lost Boys Bridge
• Ride through Santa Cruz Harbor
• Explore downtown Santa Cruz

The experience

The pedal-assist electric bikes do the work your legs would normally do, so you cover eight distinct stops (from Natural Bridges State Park to downtown's Victorian homes to the Wharf) without arriving winded. A guide leads the route and narrates what you're seeing: the migrating monarch butterflies in fall, the sea lions barking from the pier, the 1967 Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse that houses the world's first surfing museum. You'll roll past Steamer Lane, where surfers tackle some of California's most famous waves, and coast along West Cliff Drive with views of the harbor and Monterey Bay.

The Santa Cruz Wharf is the longest public drive-on wharf on the West Coast, and you'll bike to the end to watch sailboats and hear sea lions. The Beach Boardwalk, California's oldest surviving amusement park from 1907, anchors the final stop: the Giant Dipper roller coaster and Looff Carousel are both National Historic Landmarks. The route also passes the San Lorenzo River Railroad Bridge, a 332-foot trestle built in the 1800s with a pedestrian walkway, and downtown's tree-lined Walnut Avenue, where Victorian Queen Annes and Italianates stand labeled with their construction dates.

You'll need to be at least 14 years old to join. The tour works for all fitness levels because the electric assist handles the hills. The bikes come with helmets, and a live guide in English stays with the group the whole way. Two hours is enough time to see the major sights without rushing through any single stop.

What’s included

• Helmet and electric bike use.
• two-hour guided tour with a live English-speaking guide.
• stops at Natural Bridges State Park, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, Steamer Lane, Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz Wharf, the Beach Boardwalk, downtown Victorian homes, and the San Lorenzo River Railroad Bridge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (14 to 80 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ride California

Is this one for you?The electric assist means you cover the whole town without arriving exhausted, so it suits anyone who wants to see Santa Cruz's major sights in one morning or afternoon without a car or multiple stops. If you prefer a slower pace or want to linger at any single spot, a self-guided bike rental might work better. This tour moves through eight stops in two hours.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the actual riding like on an electric bike if I haven't used one before?

The pedal-assist bikes do most of the work. You pedal, but the motor helps you up hills and along flat stretches, so you're not fighting the terrain. Two hours of riding at a casual pace covers the whole tour without exhausting you, even if you're not a regular cyclist.

Can I actually see sea lions and wildlife from the bike route?

Yes. Natural Bridges State Park is a stop where you can spot migrating whales, seals, and otters offshore, and in fall it's a habitat for monarch butterfly migration. At the Wharf, you'll hear and see sea lions in the water as sailboats move through the harbor.

Does the tour go inside the Surfing Museum or just past it?

The tour stops at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, located in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. The itinerary includes it as a viewing stop on the route. Entry to the museum itself is not part of the tour.

Is there time to actually ride the Boardwalk or just see it?

The Beach Boardwalk is the final stop on the tour, so you'll bike through it and have time to take in the rides, the Giant Dipper roller coaster, and the beach setting. The tour ends there, so you can stay longer if you want to explore on your own.

What if I'm not comfortable on a bike or haven't ridden in years?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and the electric assist means you're not fighting gravity or distance. The minimum age is 14, and the guide leads at a pace the group can handle. If you have concerns about cardiovascular health, check with the operator before booking.