The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Host: Johanna J.

The park’s name honors Nisene Marks, the nature-loving mother of the Salinas farm family that bought the land in the 1950s. Her children donated approximately 9,700 acres to the state in 1963 with the provision that the land never be developed. Today, the park showcases a forest in recovery, with rugged canyons and remnants of its once-bustling railroad and logging industry. A grove of ancient old-growth redwood trees near the Pourroy picnic area was preserved under private ownership and added to the park in recent years. We will park at George’s Picnic Area and head up the fire trail to West Ridge, take West Ridge up to Ridge Connector, turn right on Ridge Connector to Loma Prieta Grade, and turn right on Loma Prieta Grade back down to the fire road. We will stop for the meeting just past the halfway point of the loop in a deep grove of redwoods with plenty of protection from potential rain. Bring a tarp to sit on if it’s a wet day.

The Hike

Level: 3 (Challenging) | Miles: 9 | Elevation Gain: 1,430’

Getting There(click to directions)

Directions: Take CA-17 S to Santa Cruz, take exit 1B for CA-1 S toward Watsonville/Monterey, take exit 435 for State Park Drive, turn left onto State Park Drive, turn right onto Soquel Drive, turn left onto Aptos Creek Road. Drive 0.8 miles to the Entrance Station, pay for parking and drive another 1.0 mile to George’s Picnic Area where we will begin the hike.

Drive Time from San Jose: 45 minutes – Parking is $8 – Dogs not allowed.