Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is located off of Hwy 1 in Aptos (south of Santa Cruz). The park offers dense tree-covered trails (fire road and singletrack) as well as a few grand vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Because of the dense tree cover and proximity to the ocean, the weather in the park is very mild, and it's a great place to escape the scorching summer heat inland. One word of warning: the park can be very busy on weekends, especially near the entrance and along the lower portion of the Aptos Creek Fire Road. However, the crowds disappear as you climb to higher elevations.
All of the runs on this page start from the parking lot at George's Picnic Area, which is just before the Steel Bridge and the "Winter Gate" (this gate is locked during the winter), about 1.1 miles past the entrance station. To access this parking lot, you have to pay a fee at the Entrance Station. For a longer run and to avoid the fee, you can park in the lot at the corner of Soquel Dr and Aptos Creek Road. This will add an additional 1.9 miles each way to the run.
Update 1/14/10: The Aptos Creek Trail seems to be washed out and is currently closed. (You can still do the run below, though.)
Update 10/29/11: The Aptos Creek Trail is officially closed, but it is still passable if you are the adventurous type!! In order to get around the landslide section, someone has installed climbing ropes that allow you to climb up and around the slide, on a quite steep hillside. Not for the faint of heart!!
The Dirt:
All of the runs on this page start from the parking lot at George's Picnic Area, which is just before the Steel Bridge and the "Winter Gate" (this gate is locked during the winter), about 1.1 miles past the entrance station. To access this parking lot, you have to pay a fee at the Entrance Station. For a longer run and to avoid the fee, you can park in the lot at the corner of Soquel Dr and Aptos Creek Road. This will add an additional 1.9 miles each way to the run.
Update 1/14/10: The Aptos Creek Trail seems to be washed out and is currently closed. (You can still do the run below, though.)
Update 10/29/11: The Aptos Creek Trail is officially closed, but it is still passable if you are the adventurous type!! In order to get around the landslide section, someone has installed climbing ropes that allow you to climb up and around the slide, on a quite steep hillside. Not for the faint of heart!!
The Dirt:
- For the official web site click here.
- For a great (and free) trail map from Virtualparks click here. (Note: This map already has 6 loops nicely indicated, from 1.5 to 11 miles round trip. So print out the map and start exploring!)
- For driving directions via Google Maps to George's Picnic Area click here.
- Please note that there is NO drinking water available in the park, even at the campsite.
Favorite Run #1: Sand Point big loop (12.8 mi, ~1600 feet elevation gain)
This loop covers a significant portion of the park. On the climb up the fire road, you'll pass the Bottom of the Incline/Top of the Incline which mark the site of a narrow-gauge railway once used to transport timber. At 1600' you'll reach the high point of the run, Sand Point, which provides great ocean views on a clear day. This is followed by a narrow, rolling singletrack downhill. Start the run by heading up the Aptos Creek Fire Road from George's Picnic Area, about 1.1 miles past the entrance station.
A few words of caution about the West Ridge Trail. When running down the trail, you will encounter a few unmarked trail junctions. However, you will be fine as long as you follow what appears to be the most used trail. Also, even though bikes aren't officially allowed, you may run into bikers on the West Ridge Trail.
A few words of caution about the West Ridge Trail. When running down the trail, you will encounter a few unmarked trail junctions. However, you will be fine as long as you follow what appears to be the most used trail. Also, even though bikes aren't officially allowed, you may run into bikers on the West Ridge Trail.
- 0.0 mi: Start heading up the Aptos Creek Fire Road. You will stay on the Fire Road for the next 6.9 miles.
- 1.3 mi: Cross Margaret's Bridge.
- 2.7 mi: Bottom of the Incline. The climb gets steeper.
- 3.9 mi: Top of the Incline. The rest of the climb is very gradual.
- 6.9 mi: Sand Point Overlook. Stop and admire the view, then veer left onto Hinckley Basin Fire Road.
- 7.3 mi: Just before the West Ridge Trail Camp, turn left onto West Ridge Trail (Update 1/14/10: The trail sign is missing! But West Ridge Trail is the first singletrack you come to, and it's marked with a "no bikes" picture sign, you can't miss it). You will stay on West Ridge Trail all of the way back down to the Aptos Creek Fire Road. The West Ridge Trail first climbs a bit, then is mostly downhill with a few brief uphill sections.
- 8.5 mi: Pass the Big Stump Gap Trail on your left. Continue on the West Ridge Trail.
- 9.0 mi: Pass the Ridge Connection Trail on your left. Continue on the West Ridge Trail.
- 12.4 mi: Trail ends. Turn right onto Aptos Creek Fire Road.
- 12.8 mi: Back at the car!
