Registered Trail. Dogs on leash are allowed ONLY on Aptos Creek Fire Road and the following multi-use trails: Aptos Rancho Trail, Split Stuff Trail, Terrace Trail, and Vienna Woods Trail. An offshoot trail near the Bridge Creek Historic Site takes hikers an additional mile up to Maple Falls. Roughly a mile in from the entrance station up Aptos Creek Fire Road is Steel Bridge. Many park in the paid parking area adjacent to Steel Bridge to gain the distance in from the entrance station and set off on hiking excursions located deeper within the core of the park. •

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The earthquake occured during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series in which two local teams, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, were playing one another. During winter this is as far as visitors can drive within the park, though during summer it is possible to drive a half-mile further to a family picnic area.

It’s about more than standing on the mountain top. Click here to learn about preventing and treating poison oak rashes. Tucked into the hills behind the village of Aptos and reaching up the Santa Cruz Mountains to an elevation of 2,500 feet, Forest of Nisene Marks offers perhaps the closest wilderness experience in the backyard of Santa Cruz. • Intermediate.

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Multi-day passes can also be purchased. 282.99 m Up
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Hikers can continue up Aptos Creek past the Loma Prieta epicenter site to Five-finger Falls or cut back to the Fire Road by way of the Big Slide Trail. 7.3 km Trails in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park - 23. 928' Down Redwood trees, ferns, and other lush vegetation.

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park: Rugged trails for hiking - See 162 traveler reviews, 42 candid photos, and great deals for Aptos, CA, at Tripadvisor. 50.78 m Down, 5.6 mi
Most of the land falling within the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is quite rugged with steep slopes and ravines fanning out from the main artery of Aptos Creek.

These are best visited in Feb-March time frame, a few days after a downpour. Redwoods.

Shortly beyond Steel Bridge, hikers will find a singeltrack for West Ridge Trail, which climbs 6 miles to multiple overlooks and a backcountry trail camp. 1,141' Up Multi-day passes can also be purchased.

Drop into Nisene Marks State Park from here. Trail, California State Parks - Santa Cruz District. 672' Down Note that both dogs and mountain bikes are allowed on Aptos Creek Fire Road as well as the "hike and bike" trails near Steel Bridge: Aptos Rancho Trail, Split Stuff Trail, Terrace Trail and Vienna Woods Trail. 33.57 m Up Terrace Trail - Forest of Nisene Marks SP - Located 2.8 miles away, on the Soquel Topo Map: Cusacks Trail - Forest of Nisene Marks SP - Located 4.3 miles away, on the Loma Prieta Topo Map: Graham Hill Trail - Henry Cowell Redwoods SP - Located 6.9 miles away, on the Felton Topo Map Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. This is about an injury or accident

But thanks to a diverse network of trails ranging from open dirt fire roads to creekside and slope-climbing singletrack, the park remains relatively accessible to hikers. • We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Use trail reports to comment on trail conditions. It’s about nourishment and learning.