®
San Jose, California
Forest of Nisene Marks
San Mateo County
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®
|
San Jose, California |
Forest of Nisene Marks San Mateo County |
Nisene Marks is a wilderness like none other on the Central Coast.
The forest of Nisene Marks is a 10000 acre undeveloped state park. It has over 40 miles of hiking trails with unparalleled beauty and unusual calm and quiet under the canopy of redwoods. It was home to a large scale lumber operation from 1880 until 1940 when the last of the old growth redwoods were cut. The forest has healed itself and it is hard to believe this forest was so heavily logged less than 100 years ago.
We will be hiking the historic loop via the Loma Prieta Grade.
We will meet at the Porter family Picnic area parking lot approx 2.1 miles from the ranger
station. From there we will head up Aptos Creek Rd through the locked gate. We will head up
Loma Prieta Grade and proceed aprrox 2.2 miles on Bridge Creek Trail, which is said to be
the most beautiful in the park. We will turn left on the trail when we arrive at the fork
to Maple Falls, they will be dry this time of year. We will contine up to the ridge where
there is an arching tree marking our meeting spot on the right. We will go right after the
meeting as we begin our descent about 3.7 miles on the West Ridge Trail. At the trail
marker we will take the right fork heading towards the Bridge Creek Historical Site.
Bring bug spray and something to sit on at the meeting.
Drive time:From San Jose about 45 minutes - Fee $6 -
NO DOGS
Directions: From San Jose take Hwy 17 South to Hwy 1 South. Get off the
freeway in Aptos at the State Park Exit. Go left off the exit away from the beach. Turn
right at Soquel. You will go under a train trestle and see The Brittania Arms on your left.
Right away you will see Aptos Creek Road just before the shopping center. Turn left on
Aptos Creek Rd and follow the signs to the park.
If you get to the Stop sign at Trout Gulch you just missed your turn go back.