Sunset Hike: Moore Creek Loop + Pub [Westside Workouts]

Weekly Wednesday Workouts, with a side of sunset!

This week we enjoy a bite sized peri-urban hike into the Moore Creek Open Space — right here in Santa Cruz’s very own west side.

Schedule:
Arrival time is posted, hike departs 10 minutes after that — our departure time will adjust through the season based on sunset. Our goal this year is to complete all 77 Sunset Trips — check photos from last year, including bobcat!

Where to meet:
Arrive early enough to find a parking spot and walk over to meet right in front of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing’s front door.h

Route:
This hike is ~4 miles and ~500' elevation. There is some single track trail, but the incline is mostly gentle. If we maintain a quick pace, you will easily work off one beer*.
We depart from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery 10 minutes after meeting time, cross Mission Street, scale dog walk hill, visit the lemon stand, diverge down Mountain Lion Vista trail, head to to the forest loop, and then settle into cattle country for the sunset. Picnic basket optional. Return through Moore Creek Open Space, either from whence we came, or perhaps the neighboring Humble Sea Brewery.

* Although the international beer equivalency rating for this hike (how many beers can you claim it burns off) is closer to a single beer, it is given the ‘+’ sign and an asterisk because it is a sunset walk, we may add the Antonelli Pond loop, and who’s counting anyway?

Hazards: Watch for cows. In descending likelihood — poison oak, rattle snakes and cougars.

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. Outdoor activities are inherently hazardous. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with vigorous outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge “Connect Outdoors”, the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.