The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a California state park protecting redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the town of Aptos. It preserves largely second-growth redwoods and watershed lands covering roughly 10,000 acres.

The park offers a network of multiuse fire roads and foot trails through redwood groves, ravines and sandstone ridgelines; routes range from short forest walks to longer ridge-and-canyon itineraries used by hikers and mountain bikers. Vegetation is dominated by coast redwood with mixed conifer and riparian communities along creeks.

The landscape was heavily logged in the 19th and early 20th centuries and was later set aside for conservation; the park is named for Nisene Marks, a local landowner and donor whose family land formed part of the protected area. Management focuses on habitat protection, erosion control and public recreation.

Located on the northern side of Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County, the park lies near the town of Aptos and is accessed from trailheads off local roads; it occupies steep terrain of the Santa Cruz Mountains above the coast.

• Park size and habitat: The park preserves second-growth redwood forest and roughly 10,000 acres of watershed land in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• Trail conditions: Trails range from multiuse fire roads to singletrack footpaths that traverse steep gullies and ridgelines; conditions can be muddy in winter so sturdy footwear is recommended.