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Expert Review of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

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Parks and Outdoors Review of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Away Travel Expert: Ann Marie Brown

ParksExpert Rating Recommended for:
Birding,Day Hiking

Parks and OutdoorsExpert Tips & Helpful Hints

• The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park boasts a couple of winsome waterfalls. Maple Falls can be visited via an 8-mile loop on Loma Prieta Grade and Bridge Creek Trail. Reaching the 30-foot waterfall requires a final half-mile scramble up Bridge Creek. Aptos Creek Falls presents a challenge; it is 1.5 miles beyond the junction of Aptos Creek Trail and Big Slide Trail, a 12-mile round-trip.
• Mountain bikers ride the wide Aptos Creek Road, an old railroad grade, under a canopy of redwoods to Sand Point, overlooking Monterey Bay, the city of Santa Cruz, and the forested ridges of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. This is a good intermediate level ride with lots of aerobic work but little or no technical challenges over its 8.8-mile distance.