The Forest of Nisene Marks
Loma Prieta Epicenter Trail
📍This hike takes us from the Monterey Peninsula area to the Santa Cruz mountains. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, located in Aptos CA, is about an hours drive from our normal trails but so worth the trip. The easy drive up the coast offers a retreat from our coastal hills and trails to a rejuvenating redwood forest. There’s magic in the forest!
For centuries, the rough terrain of the nearly 10,000 acre park saved the original trees from loggers and settlers. Today the second- and third-growth forest canopy in earthquake country shades a recreational oasis with 30 miles of maintained trails and roads for hiking, biking, and running. We especially enjoy this park for is grand Coastal Redwoods, deep rivers, creeks and seasonal waterfalls, its ecological brilliance as well as the peace and serenity of the mountain.
The parks entrance is along Aptos Creek Road. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. An $8 vehicle day use fee is charged at the entrance kiosk. Parking is limited and the park fills quickly, so getting there earlier is better. Mountain biking is allowed but only on specific trails. Dogs and horses are allowed in the bottom half of the park, from the kiosk to the “Steel Bridge” ONLY, and on specific trails. Learn more about The Forest of Nisene Marks by visiting the parks website.
⛰ The Loma Prieta Epicenter is not the easiest to find. Using an App like Alltrails.com, or something similar, is very helpful in the Forest of Nisene Marks. I recommend downloading the trail before you enter the park. You can find a .GPX file below. The trail starts along Aptos Creek Fire Road at one of the various parking areas. If you’d like a longer hike, about 8-9 miles, you can start near the kiosk. If you’d like something a little shorter, about 6.5 - 7 miles, start at George’s Picnic area, just before the Steel Bridge or even shorter, about 4 miles, start at the Porter Family Picnic Area.. An out and back hike starting on a very well travelled, popular dirt road into Nisene Marks. The trail will take a turn off Aptos Creek Fire Road, across a river and onto a single track trail through the forest. Overall, you’ll climb about 300’ in elevation so its a leisurely hike through the “woods”. I’d rate this hike as “Greenish-Blue” due to the distance (depending where you start) and a few obstacles. It’ll take about 2.5 hours to complete for the 7 mile route, but don’t be in a rush. There’s a lot to see along this trail. Take it all in!
🥾The trail to the Loma Prieta Epicenter has several stating points, all off of Aptos Creek Fire Road. You can start at the Kiosk for a 8-9 mile hike, Porters Family Picnic area for about a 7 mile hike or George’s Picnic Area for about a 4 mile hike. Regardless of your starting point, follow the main fire road up the canyon. The road will veer right, across Margaret’s Bridge, a great spot to take in the Aptos Creek as it flows downstream under the bridge. Just up the trail from Margaret’s Bridge is the Loma Prieta Mill site. During the logging era the small town of Loma Prieta was constructed in this area to support the logging industry. Loma Prieta included a sawmill, railroad station, post office, saloon, company store, hotel and other facilities to support the booming logging industry. It’s hard to believe this location was a bustling town. All that remains are a few foundations and memories.
Just up the road from the Mill site is “the bottom of the incline”, a turn in the road that begins the climb up the mountain to ‘the top of the incline'“. Here you’ll notice a trail head to the right, down an embankment towards the river. You’ll cross the river on the rocky steps and continue on the single track trail. It may look like this trail isn’t a trail. Keep going as it winds uphill. You may notice wooden planks in the ground, likely remnants of the logging operation. Continue on this trail. You’ll quickly come upon a view point above the river. A very calm, quiet, peaceful view awaits you at the top of the hill. It may appear you’ve just entered the “Ewok Village” from the Star Wars movie The Return of the Jedi. Continue along this path. Watch your step! Native salamanders and Banana Slugs are often seen in these woods. The path will bring you upon a fallen grove of trees crossing the river. Gather your best footing and stay balanced as you make your way across this tree bridge. Follow the trail to the left and uphill. Continue through the Ewok Village. You’ll start to notice some land slides across the trail. You’re getting closer. Soon you’ll reach the sign at the end of the trail, “EPICENTER LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE”! You’ve made it! You are standing at the center of the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake that shook the entire region on October 17, 1989. Take a moment to take it all in, take a few pictures and a short break…but don’t wait too long. You never know when the ground could shake again. Enjoy the hike back to your starting point. It’s as beautiful head back as it is going in.
🍔🍺Two of our favorite stops for post hike food and drinks are nearby. If you’re a fan of BBQ check out nearby Aptos St. BBQ. It’s located at 8059 Aptos St. about a mile away from the parks entrance. You’ll find a very good BBQ menu with all the fixin’s, a great beer menu and food for the kids. Order online, eat in or take out. You can’t go wrong…unless you get there after the rush where they’ll often sell out of their best items.
Our other favorite, and our “go-to” choice since we no longer eat meat is Beer Thirty Bottle Shop & Pour House. With 30 taps and an excellent assortment of craft beers, seltzers, hard kombucha, a beer garden, games, music and a family friendly atmosphere it’s easy to have a good time. Oh! What about food? Fortunately Carpo’s Restaurant has a food window in the beer garden! Enjoy burgers, sandwiches, salads, fries and other fixin’s as you sip a cold one of your choice and talk about the trail. I can’t not mention Sunnyside Produce, just next door, sources the freshest produce from local farms to bring you the best and freshest produce around. Check them out too!
It’s easy to make a day of the short trip to Aptos for a great hike in the “Ewok Forest” and great post hike options to enjoy the sun and fun! Give The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park a try. You won’t be disappointed.
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