The Forest of Nisene Marks - Aptos, CA - State/Provincial Parks on Waymarking.com

The Forest of Nisene Marks is on land that was clear-cut during a forty-year logging frenzy fom 1883 to 1923. When the loggers left the Aptos Canyon, the forest began to heal itself and now the scars grow fainter with each passing year.

The park has over 40 miles of hiking trails and fire roads for public use. It is a place of peace and quiet for those who visit, and a place of refuge for the plants and animals that live within.

To access the park, turn onto Aptos Creek Road from Soquel Drive in Aptos, California. The paved road turns into the Aptos Creek Fire Road, a dirt road, and passes a few private residences. About a mile from the intersection, is the ranger station and Emmet Reed Picnic area. Coordinates are near the ranger station.

In the rainy, winter months, the park can be closed to car traffic at the ranger station by a gate. In the summer months the fire road is open to further car traffic, allowing driving access to George's Picnic Area, the Mary Easten Picnic Area and the Porter Family Picnic Area, each with a parking area. The park is open from dusk to dawn every day.

There are still areas of privately owned land within the park boundaries, which must be respected.

NOTE: There is no cell phone service within the park and the steep canyons and ravines make GPS readings hard to obtain. Geocaching can be challenging.

Park Type: Day Use, with one overnight camp site by reservation Activities: Picnicking Hiking Running Mountain Biking (limited areas) Geocaching Park Fees: Not listed Background: The park was the site of logging operations until the 1920's. There are remains of logging operations, mill sites and trestles in the park. The land was donated to the state by the Marks family in 1963. The park is now a monument to forest regeneration. The park features steep canyons, ravines, creeks, trails and majestic redwood trees. The epicenter of the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 (magnitude 6.9) is located within the park. Date Established?: 1963 Link to Park: [Web Link] Additional Entrance Points: Not Listed

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Date Logged Log   08/27/2017 atc visited it