It is also the home of historic aptos village, and the gateway to the forest of nisene marks state park. Jun 24, 20 the epicenter was in nisene marks state park, just three miles up from aptos village. Event made possible by the advocates of nisene marks and the nisene marks trail crew. As the park does not offer any camping options other than backpacking, we camped at the nearby henry cowell redwoods state park. The venue is 4 miles away from ramsay park and 5 miles from pajaro valley historical association. The parks name honors nisene marks, the natureloving mother of the salinas farm family that bought the land in the 1950s.
The augmentation also included the area now known as nisene marks state. The forest of nisene marks state park is a state park of california, usa, protecting a secondary forest in the santa cruz mountains. Hiking to maple falls at the forest of nisene marks frog mom. Plans of mangels ranch area and the lower are of the forest of nisene marks state park. Her children donated approximately 9,700 acres to the state in 1963 with the provision that. California state parks has limited resources for monitoring and maintaining the quality of these trails. Sandy lydon, known around santa cruz county as the history dude, sits on the back of his white pickup truck in the forest of nisene marks visitor parking lot, a map of the state park spread out beside him. Book your next the forest of nisene marks state park, santa cruz vacation today. Race shirt and race number pick up is friday, june 1st at santa crtuz running company 1664 spquel drive, santa cruz, ca 95065 from 26pm. A dramatic history the peaceful redwood groves of the forest of nisene marks state park conceal a history of cataclysmic forces that shaped and reshaped the landscape. Explore the forest of nisene marks state park by jeff. For centuries, the jagged terrain of these 10,000 acres saved the original trees from loggers and settlers. He has coached the aptos high school girls golf team.
An additional map is needed, to place the forest of nisene marks state park in the sequoia sempervirenss coastal range. Explore the forest of nisene marks state park by jeff thomson. Her children donated almost 9,700 acres to the state in 1963 with the provision that the land never be developed. The forest of nisene marks state park amended general planfeir july 2005 1 introduction a quiet forest close to the city first time visitors to the forest of nisene marks state park are often surprised to find this island of seclusion and serenity so close to the urban canyons of the san francisco bay area.
It is the site of the loma prieta mill and other historic sites, and is the location of the epicenter of the 1989 loma prieta earthquake. The forest of nisene marks state park has over 30 miles of trails. Save on popular hotels near the forest of nisene marks state park, santa cruz. It was established after the marks, a family of salinasbased ranchers, transferred 9,700 acres to the state of california in 1962. Find hotels near the forest of nisene marks state park, santa. Jul 31, 2012 a hike through nisene marks with the history dude.
The forest of nisene marks is a beautiful redwoods forest, with only a few bike riders and even less hikers, so you can here yourself think, the birds singing, and the ocean breeze running through the forest canopy. See more ideas about park, state parks and local parks. However, the grounds were later given to the state so it could become a preserved area. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected.
This park is on land that was clearcut during a fortyyear logging frenzy 18831923. Although the distance was something less than eight miles, the ups and downs were steep, long, and many. The epicenter was in nisene marks state park, just three miles up from aptos village. The forest of nisene marks state park is a wonderful place to go for those looking for some time in the great outdoors. Volunteer advocates for the forest of nisene marks. The quaint town of aptos is in an unincorporated area of santa cruz county that includes the rio del mar, seacliff, and seascape areas. The forest of nisene marks is a monument to forest regeneration and the futureit is a forest in a perpetual state of becoming. Top 25 the forest of nisene marks state park rv rentals and. The earthquake interrupted game 3 of the world series between the san francisco giants and the oakland as.
The transfer of 9,700 acres of mostly second growth redwood forest land by the family to the state of california in 1962 with the aid of the nature conservancy allowed the establishment of the forest of nisene marks state park in 1963. The forest of nisene marks state park reception venues. Unofficial trails are also shown and are greyed out to distinguish them from official hiking trails. A strenuous hike in the forest of nisene marks neil wiley.
Book a hotel near the forest of nisene marks state park. The highway 1 bridge over harkins slough in watsonville collapsed due to that particular earthquake. Day trip to the forest of nisene marks state park, california on may 30, 2014. The most up to date topographical map of the forest of nisene marks state park illustrates multiuse and designated trails, points of interest, picnic areas, etc. From highway 1, take the state parks exit, turn east towards aptos and then left on aptos creek road that you follow until you hit the parks main road. These were the first high altitude aircraft flights in history. Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. It was named after the conservation group, advocates for the forest of nisene marks, who are responsible for the maintenance and improvements of the park. Camping near the forest of nisene marks state park is easy with hipcamp, where private landowners offer.
Best camping in and near the forest of nisene marks state park. Jun 01, 2014 day trip to the forest of nisene marks state park, california on may 30, 2014. When sandy lydon, our hiking class leader, warned us that this allday hike was strenuous, he wasnt kidding. This trail map shows the forest of nisene marks state park and soquel demonstration state forest. Learn about park history, plants and animals, earthquake activity, camping, picnic areas. The loma prieta earthquake of october 17, 1989, a ucsc. Rising all the way from sea level to 2,600 feet, visitors find lush forests covering steep coastal mountains. Explore the forest of nisene marks state park jeff thomson on. Situated just east of santa cruz, centered around the aptos creek canyon, the forest of nisene marks state park is a semiwilderness with miles of trails for hiking, biking, and nature viewing. Youll want to browse the exhibits at aptos history museum and capitola historical museum. A strenuous hike in the forest of nisene marks surfnet. The forest of nisene marks state park was named after nisene marks, who bought the land in hopes of finding oil. The forest of nisene marks state park home facebook.
The augmentation also included the area now known as nisene marks state park. It is located outside aptos, california and contains over 40 miles 64 km of hiking trails and fire roads through 10,223 acres 4,7 ha of variable terrain. Aerial photo flights for nisene marks state park university. Beloved forest of nisene marks state park is getting more and more crowded. Top 10 hotels closest to the forest of nisene marks state park in. It is the site of the loma prieta mill and other historic sites, and is the location of the epicenter of. Explore the forest of nisene marks state park thomson, jeff on. When the loggers left the aptos canyon, the forest began to heal itself and now the scars grow fainter with each passing year. Pajaro dunes resort shorebird condo pajaro dunes resort shorebird condo is a 3star property offering beachfront accommodation steps away from the forest of nisene marks state park. The park was named after nisene marks, a passionate nature lover and the mother of a salinas farming family that purchased the land from lumber companies and others in the hopes of finding oil. Hikers, runners and mountain bikers enjoy the 30 miles of trails. Jan 19, 2017 the forest of nisene marks state park has over 30 miles of trails.
The trails suffer from the natural erosion of wind and rain and from use by park visitors. The forest of nisene marks state park is a reception venue in aptos, ca. The forest of nisene marks state park north of aptos, in the santa cruz mountains ote ratings. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Logged since 1884, it is filled with stumps, fallen logs, broken branches and debris. Jan 30, 2017 explore castateparkss board the forest of nisene marks state.
Explore the forest of nisene marks state park book. Maloney cut loose and maneuvered over an area of two miles in the air, banking, rising, turning at ease and landing safely on successful flights of march 16th, 17th, and 20th, at leonards ranch, aptos, california, now seascape. May 01, 2020 the forest of nisene marks is a monument to forest regeneration and the futureit is a forest in a perpetual state of becoming. The forest of nisene marks is a monument to forest regeneration and the future it is a forest in the state of becoming. Very pleasurable hike but i still have more trails to explore in this forest. Aptos, roughly 110 miles 177 kilometers from the state capital, sacramento, is where youll find it. Forest of nisene marks state park aptos 2020 all you need to. Forest of nisene marks state park aptos 2020 all you need. We went to the dirt road area of the forest of nicene marks state par. Also includes the adjacent soquel demonstration forest. After drilling efforts failed to find any oil, marks children donated the original 9,700 acres 3,900 ha of land in her memory to the state of california with the help of the nature. The forest of nisene marks state park is in santa cruz county, california, usa.
The santa cruz mountains redwood area provides the lover of nature with a diverse, forested, hikingandcamping terrain, and includes one of the states leastused parks, forest of nisene marks, now recovered from logging scars to a lush, secondgrowth forest. Apr 8, 2016 over 10,000 acres of rugged semiwilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet and the site of logging operations until the 1920s visitors can still find evidence of logging operations, mill sites and trestles in the park. Best trails in the forest of nisene marks state park. Californias other redwood country, especially big basin. Once they were giants in the forest of nisene marks state. Forest of nisene marks state park foster travel publishing. The epicenter of the quake lay near loma prieta peak in the santa cruz mountains, about ten miles northeast of the city of santa cruz, deep in the redwoods of forest. The advocates discovered the tree shortly after the land was donated to the state park system in 1996. Find the best deals on the forest of nisene marks state park vacation packages, backed by our daily hot rate deals. The forest of nisene marks has many miles of trails used by thousands of hikers and bikers each year.
Friends of santa cruz state parks 1543 pacific ave. Browse expedias selection of 414 hotels and places to stay closest to the forest of nisene marks state park. Race morning pick up at the startfinish is available, but we highly recommend you pick up on friday. Together, these two adjoining state properties occupy 40% of the total soquel augmentationover 14,000 acres. The forest of nisene marks state park is a state park of california, usa, protecting a secondary. Nice marks was the nature loving mother of the salinas farm family that bought the land in the 1950s. All official hiking trails were drawn from newlyacquired gps data. Nisene marks was the natureloving mother of a salinas area rancher family. The 34th annual forest of nisene marks marathon, half marathon and 5k, presented by the santa cruz host lions will be held on saturday, june 6, 2015.