Plan a Visit to the San Lorenzo River
Have you visited the San Lorenzo River in downtown Santa Cruz? The 2.5-mile Santa Cruz Riverwalk provides a beautiful natural setting for you to recreate and relax and connects you to Santa Cruz’s most beloved destinations in a beautiful setting along the San Lorenzo River. From the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to downtown Santa Cruz to the Tannery Arts Center, the Santa Cruz Riverwalk connects you to all of your favorite places. Along your route you might spot wildlife such as the river’s 122 species of birds, or even spot steelhead trout migrating upstream by viewing the river over one of its bridges. Along the way, you’ll find the Riverwalk’s unique destinations including the playground, pump track, disc golf course and lawn bowling green at San Lorenzo Park, exercise areas, artistic mosaic installations and native plant gardens. So, what are you waiting for? Visit the San Lorenzo River and Santa Cruz Riverwalk, today!
Getting There
Parking
- River and Front Garage (24 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), hourly parking, 2 hour minimum, 8 am – 8 pm
- Soquel and Front Garage (601 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), hourly parking, 2 hour minimum, 8 am – 8 pm
- Front and Cathcart Parking Lot (505 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), hourly parking, $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate Monday-Saturday 8 am – 8 pm, free on Sundays
- Upper Front Street Parking Lot (440 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), public parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays, A 3-hour time limit is enforced on Saturday from 8 pm – 6 pm
- Front Street South Parking Lot (328 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), free and open 24 hours a day, 3-hour time limit, Monday-Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm
- Front/Laurel East Parking Lot (310 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), 3-hour time limit Monday-Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm, unlimited all day Sundays
- Front/Laurel West Parking Lot (100 Laurel Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), 3-hour time limit Monday-Saturday, 8am to 6 pm, unlimited all day Sundays
Bike Parking
- 299 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, bike rack at Mike Fox Skate Park.
- 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, behind the Santa Cruz County Building
Public Riverwalk Access Points
Access to the Santa Cruz Riverwalk is possible via any of the access points listed below. The Riverwalk is fully wheelchair accessible.
- At any bridge (Water Street, Soquel Ave, Laurel/Broadway, Riverside Ave, Trestle Bridge)
- 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, behind the Lofts at the Tannery Arts Center
- Felker Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, at the end of Felker Street by Denny’s
- 470 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, at the back of the Gateway Plaza parking lot between PetSmart and Ross
- Pyrce Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, at the end of the end of Pryce Street
- Josephine Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, at the end of the end of Josephine Street
- 149 River Street South, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, across the street from Trader Joe’s
- 119 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, behind the Mimi de Marta Dog Park
- Laurel Street Extension, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, behind the Kaiser Permanente Arena
- 931 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, across the street from Ocean View Park
Public Transportation
Ride any local bus to the downtown Santa Cruz Metro Station 920 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. From the Santa Cruz Metro Station,
- Walk east, away from Pacific Ave., towards Front St. Cross Front St. at the crosswalk.
- Head either left or right along Front St. and access the Riverwalk via a paved ramp at the rear of Front St. parking lots, or at the Laurel St. or Soquel Ave. bridges.
Riverwalk Attractions and Things to Do
Play Fetch with Fido
at the Mimi De Marta Dog Park, 119 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This dog park is a secured enclosure filled with open grass for dogs to run and play alongside other dogs. While in this dog park, dogs do not have to be on leashes and are free to run around.
Santa Cruz’s Central Park
at San Lorenzo Park
137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
San Lorenzo Park is a meeting spot for many Santa Cruz residents for festivals and farmers markets, and features various ponds, playgrounds, and recreation areas.
Try the Pump Track
at the San Lorenzo Park Pump Track
137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This track inside the park features mounds and hills for bikers to ride and practice.
Experience The Lost Boys Bridge
at the San Lorenzo River Trestle Bridge
Santa Cruz Riverwalk, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
If you’re a fan of the film, The Lost Boys, you may recognize this bridge! This railroad bridge is no longer in operation and now serves as a historical landmark to the Santa Cruz community.
Send It, Shred It and Skate
at Mike Fox Skate Park
299 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This skate park is along the San Lorenzo River and features a full pipe, two bowls, hubba ledges, wall rides and metal rails. Adjacent to this skatepark is a multi-use court where visitors can play basketball or pickle-ball.
Is It A Bird? Birdwatch along the River!
at the San Lorenzo Park Duck Pond
137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Inside the park, there is a pond that is home to various birds where visitors can bird watch and experience nature within the San Lorenzo Park.
Fly Discs at the Park
at the San Lorenzo Park Disc Golf Course
137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
A designed field area for visitors to play disc golf next to the San Lorenzo River.
Pick Fruit and Make Jam
at the Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project Public Garden
225 San Lorenzo Blvd., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This project is a part of an organization to do community harvests and stage events including cider pressing and jam and wine making.
Work Out
at Gateway Plaza Exercise Area
470 River St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This designated workout station is near Gateway Plaza, a retail and shopping center, and features exercise equipment.
Swing and Slide by the River
at the San Lorenzo Park Playground
137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
A playground within the San Lorenzo Park with playlets and recreation activities for children.
Strikes on the Lawn Bowling
at the Santa Cruz Lawn Bowling Club
137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
The designated meeting place for the Santa Cruz Lawn Bowling Club with world class green artificial turf.
Where the River Meets the Sea
San Lorenzo River Mouth
The river mouth is where the San Lorenzo River meets the Monterey Bay, and is just past the Boardwalk and the Trestle Bridge.
Safety and Emergency Numbers
Call 911 for any emergency situations
Police department……………………………………….(831) 471-1131
Fire department…………………………………………..(831) 420-5280
Poison control…………………………………………….(800) 222-1222
Native Animal Rescue………………………………….(831) 462-0726
Closest urgent care: Doctors on Duty……………..(831) 425-7991