Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Reinforced security
We got you covered
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Uterque enim summo bono fruitur, id est voluptate.
Enhanced cleaning
Daily cleaning
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Uterque enim summo bono fruitur, id est voluptate.
Conciergerie
We take care of you
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Uterque enim summo bono fruitur, id est voluptate.
Comments (199)
Beautiful park with magnificent redwoods and a nice stream. Unfortunately, many trails are not marked well and the provided maps are abysmal (black and white only with super blurry text). Take a picture of a map or download the region before going in to the park!Also, its important to note that dogs are not allowed on any trails past the Winter Gate (the sign is a bit misleading as it claims dogs are allowed in the area. They are actually only allowed to walk on the road, not the trails).
Pretty breathtaking forest with lots of trails, well maintained. Brought our 3 year old and we were able to find some areas that were easy to access.
Great place to visit, not a lot of people and plenty of trails. The only problem i have is lack of signs. You might get lost following the trail because it keeps branching out. Also, for the historical sites, one for Loma prieta townsite and the bridge creek historic site. Lastly, there is currently no trail to the loma prieta epicenter. It was destroyed by a landslide
Beautiful place. Meadow falls is the Trail I took and it was gorgeous. 6 mile hike to and from. Challenging and you will have to climb over fallen trees and other obstacles on the trail. Highly recommend hiking shoes. Lots of shade and can get a bit cold.
Serene forest with marked walkable trails to enjoy the diversity of plants and trees among the Redwoods. Make sure to visit the unusual Twisted Grove where a handful of Redwoods have their barks growing a twisted way instead of straight up.
Many trails that are dog friendly! i definitely recommend for a leisurely stroll with some great views. parking is limited so make sure to get there a bit earlier in the day. i recommend bringing some snacks and water and have a picnic next to the creek. i had a wonderful time and felt refreshed and energized after taking a hike there.
Pretty, with lots of shade and cool weather. A large road runs through it, with parking all along the way, to the back of the park. Its very enjoyable once you get off the road, and onto the narrower trails.
Always a beautiful hike in Nisene Marks! Tried new trails that took us closer to the Loma Prieta earthquake epicenter.
Lush Serene and peaceful Redwood forest. Well marked trails. Must visit the Twisted Grove to witness the bizarre unique twisted trunks of a small Grove of Redwood trees.
Very nice trails to hike. A bit crowded and I wasn’t able to get parking, but very beautiful trails.
Lovely shaded trails through the woods. Small creeks. Great place for hikes with the dog. Lots of people bike on the main road. Parking can get crowded.
One of my favorite parks, and it (nearly) right next door. Beautiful redwood groves and a nice river to play in. Great long mountain bike rides on the fire road (ya better like inclines though).
The original hike to Five Finger falls was closed, I had to take a longer path. Took about 8 hours roundtrip. One of the longest hikes of my life. Altough it was a Sunday, I only saw 4 people from half way to the falls. Loved the quietness and the birds chirps. Lovely weather with a lottle drizzle at the falls. You could see a fossil and washed-up rails at the falls from 200 years ago. Cool scenery.
Beautiful place to hike and see large redwood trees. Can also ride on some of the trails and also a long stretch of the dirt road closed to vehicles and is a very scenic ride.
Very beautiful redwood state park near Santa Cruz ! The trees are so tall, there is hardly any directly sunlight in the park. The hike to the maple creek falls is very scenic. I would say journey is better than the destination. There is little scrambling needed at the end if you need to view maple falls. Totally recommend this hike !Pro tip: Arrive early if visiting in weekends, the parking spots are limited
WOW! This is a real forest. Serene and tranquil and they have tried to leave the trails as natural as possible. Hiking up to the waterfall was an adventure and has something for everyone (walking through tall redwoods, wading in the stream, climbing over tree trunks and even some rock climbing).We got there around 8 AM for a 9 mile out and back hike. The parking lots inside the park are small, but you can park in many different areas as long as its marked otherwise.Some of the trails are very narrow (especially away from the main park) and I imagine slippery, muddy conditions in the winter.
We had a great time here hiking with family. We did a round trip of around 8 miles. Trails are really scenic with giant redwood trees and creeks. The park is multi use, we saw quite a few mountain bikers as well. There are several parking lots in the park. Try to park in the last parking lot, that way you dont have to walk on the road a lot. Definitely visit this park again, there is lot to explore here.
Incredible trails! We felt as if we were hiking through a fairy garden. Recommended for all nature-lovers. Wonderful place to ride your bike, run, hike with friends/family and to just get in touch with beautiful Mother Earth.
Wow! This place was beautiful! Once u get on one of the further out trails there arent many people. Foot traffic on the road is annoying. The map seemed off scale/not clear. Thought we picked a 5 mile trail and ended up being 10 miles. I wasnt complaining tho I was in heaven.
Wonderful park for hiking. Nearly every trail is nestled below towering trees which provide continuous canopy cover. There are a large number of hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty some of which lead to gorgeous vistas or waterfalls etc. During the winter months you cannot drive into the deeper parts of the park although you can still walk to those places if you want. However there are many great trails that start from the other parking spots so this is a great park year-round. There is camping but it was washed out the last time I went so you should check first if you intend to go camping.
Despite the COVID craziness out there, we had a great time. Parking lot often fills up quickly and you cant park on the side of the road leading in, at least you shouldnt. We parked behind the bike shop before we walked it in. Dog friendly only in some spots, but if youre good and pick up after your animal and its not aggressive, you should be fine. We took the picnic trail loop, I think its called the split something, for a little over a mile, doubled back to the old growth loop and out onto a residential street across from Safeway and trekked back to the truck. There seemed to be more garbage laying around, we picked up candy wrappers and starbucks cups...its sad that park users cant respect a place like this and throw their stuff away. There was lots of poison oak protruding into some of the trails, so be careful. Recommend lots of water; the elevation gains are short but plentiful. We saw a banana slug, various birds and a bunch of lush ferns and other forest floor fauna. Its a real escape from the concrete world we live in. One of my favorite places to go 😍
Absolutely beautiful place!!! Various trails depending how long of a hike you would like to do. Definitely recommend! Be sure to bring proper footwear if youre thinking of crossing the creeks, theres a few trails you have to do so.
Lovely canopy of redwood trees, crystal clear Aptos Creek, and interesting Twisted Tree grove on paths easy to walk or stop and listen to the birds .
This place is amazing! Many place and trails to hike or walk, or bike. It is a great place to go explore and enjoy the forest!
A great State Park with multiple trails, historical sites, interesting scenery and natural wonder. A great place to go with the family or friends for the day to hike and enjoy the amazing Redwood forest and trees that this park offers.
Beautiful forest to hike. The river crossing is fun if you dare hop on rocks to cross it. You can always find a fallen branch before hopping on the rocks to keep your balance. Trails can be a little confusing but its the best way to discover other trails.
OMG this place is amazing with enough natural tails and variety of trails to choose from. You will definately feel being in true jungle if u hike on bridge creek trail. Carry enough water and little sandwiches , early mornings and evening u can get bothered by few bugs, so bug spray can be a good idea. Trail can be a bit wet or muddy at times so wear proper hiking shoes. Over all an amazing time and moderate workout with friends hiked 9 miles round trip.
This park offers many hiking trails and bike routes. It’s pet friendly too! The entrance charge is $8. You will enjoy the beautiful view and plenty of shade.
We went on the something great basin fire road. Great intermediate hike! There are 4 stream crossing in the first 10 minutes of the hike and for sure will get your shoes wet.. at least the first crossing! The hike is dog friendly and uphillly. Very fun!
Nice hidden gem, the road to the park is very narrow and winding . Plenty of redwoods around make sure you see the twisted grove
This place is a hidden gem that I never wouldve discovered, sadly, because some of the more well-known parks were closed because of the fires. Ended up hiking about 15 miles that day and Ill never forget how beautiful this park is.
Such a gorgeous place with well-maintained paths. Cant go wrong with a hike at Nisene Marks!
Dear Mountain Bikers, With all kindness and sincerity I request that you slow down for hikers when riding the fireroad downhill. Warm Regards, a friendly hiker :)Park Review:Not old growth redwoods like Big Basin, but this park offers a lot of small to medium sized growth with the high canopy and spacious (no undergrowth) feeling. Many miles of trails.Tip - Ignore the parking lot full, locals only sign. At least I did and found that, although the lot next to the toll booth was full, there was plenty of parking further inside for the fire road and epicenter. $8 Is well worth driving 2 miles closer.I hiked the fireroad and found it to be a very comfortable and smooth trail without the concern of wading through grass and picking up ticks. The only problem with the fireroad is the concern is the relatively high ratio of bikes to hikers. Im not anti bike, I mountain bike myself including 24 hour races. So with my message above I hope that the relationship between mountain bikers and hikers can safely improve to be healthy and mutually beneficial for everyone.
Very quiet. Kids and dogs love it.
This is a beautiful forest. We had a great time weaving the trails, finding banana slugs, listening to birds, and walking the creek.
Very serene and piecefull. Great for family/kids. Parking can be challenging. Need several day trips to explore it fully.
Great place to find some nature. Great hiking and biking trails. Kids enjoyed it and parking wasnt hard to find.
Miles of beautiful trails, but watch out for crazy mountain bikers, electric or not.
Spent the afternoon here with my 6 year old daughter. We parked at the entrance station and did a short hike down the Old Growth trail to Aptos Creek, lucky for us we discovered and amazing creek beach with a rope swing. Four stars because the bathrooms were from the dark ages, flytraps hanging from the ceiling and no windows, I’ve never seen my daughter turn around so fast! Don’t let that ruin an amazing experience in the redwoods!
The hike to the maple waterfall is one of the most beautiful hikes. Its about 4 hours
I felt in love with this place we took a car ride through the tall trees and later we hiked this beautiful place it’s just breathtaking
Epic hike, saw a fraction of the place, logged 10 miles at that. Get here early for best parking
Wonderful woodland, beautiful paths, well maintained, friendly staff, lovely creek.
Beautiful place.. very peaceful..Roads into the park could be better maintained, but once youre on foot, you quickly forget about that .Maple falls was amazing..
One of my favorite parks to Hike in Santa Cruz County! It has miles and miles of hiking and mountain biking trails its truly a special park. If your like me and love history and nature its a awesome park to visit. There are the ruins of old logging towns, camps and the railroads they used to haul the giant Redwoods out to the Santa Cruz wharf. Its mostly dominant second growth Redwoods but there are quite a few Old growth Redwoods if you know where to look. My favorite hike is the hike to Maple Falls but the hike to Five Finger Falls is pretty cool also. Also of note is that the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is in the park, if you lived through it like I did its pretty cool to visit the site. I was at the old Pacific Garden Mall the day before the quake at the very same time it struck so I feel fortunate it was not one day sooner or I could of been in the ruble of those old brick buildings like so many unfortunate people were that day. October 17th 1989@5:04.p.m. is a day I will never forget.
We had a great time at The Forest of Nisene Marks! The park guide at the gate was very friendly and helpful. There are plenty of easy and medium hikes and the park is clean and beautiful. Definitely would recommend!
Super cool State Park. Gorgeous mossy forest with adventurous trail full of fun and variety to Maple Falls. Fun to bike half of it and hike half of it.
Just wow. A new favorite hiking spot. SO MANY TRAILS to choose from. Cant wait to go back. Parking a little tricky but still worth it.
Took us 6 hours to complete the trails. It was difficult getting to the waterfall
Banana slugs? Fungal fun? Best moss youve ever seen? Yup! Has it all. Love this place. If you find yourself in Santa Cruz and have some time, stop on through. Such an incredible place especially for the ease of access from town.
Went there as a child and was thrilled to see it again through the eyes of an adult in October 2019. Refreshing AM chill and sunny skies made for a beautiful couple of hours. If your from a different part of the country like me (Cape Coral FL) its a breathtaking contrast to my usual topography.
I love that you can escape the buzz of reality into a perfect hideaway like the Forest - with its old growth redwoods and variety of trails, waterfalls and bike paths - its also a short car ride from the coast - really embodies some of the best California has to offer in terms of the great outdoors.
Great place to go for a small hike with my kids and spot some mushrooms and banana slugs.
This place is beautiful. The hike to the falls is great and well worth the effort.
Nisene-Marks is an undeveloped park; one road, very few restrooms and picnic tables. Extensive trail system with some quite steep sections.
Its very scenic, but parking is absolutely difficult. There really are few places for the amount of people that were there when I went. Also, the outhouse almost made me throw up, so I recommend going on an empty stomach. Steel Bridge looks great from on the stream below.
Nisene Marks, or home of the epicenter for the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that rocked Northern California when I was 7 years old, is one of my favorite CA state parks. I trained for years as a trail racer here, as it is nearly always cool with forgiving, soft surface on which to run and plenty of shade for sun protection. The sights are breathtaking and while I dont live in Santa Cruz County anymore, I still try to visit pnce a month. Parking in 2019 is currently $8 but you can wall in and park outside in Aptos on the street. Mind the signs.
Loops through redwood forest. Saw one banana slug. Ten degrees cooler when you get on the trail. We went to see the Twisted Grove. It is as stand of redwoods that have twisted as they grew. Some think it is due to earthquakes shifting the ground.
A more wild feeling compared to a place like Miur Woods. Beautiful ppace to hike. But be mindful of the terrible signs, and the lack thereof, within the area. I was walking in circles totally lost for two hours until a local hiker helped me out. If it werent for her I mightve had to stay in the woods overnight. I was keeping a look out for any source of water.
Beautiful redwood trees, we loved it. The Bridge Creek trail was nice, moderate in difficulty, and ended with a cute waterfall. It wasn’t crowded at all, on a Saturday afternoon.
Lots of great hiking. Fairly busy for a Thursday but it is new years week.
One of the most beautiful places around and great place to take the family
A nice place for day hikes and MTB. The main road goes well into the forest and offers ample parking, you just need to pay a (preferably cash) entrance fee.We hiked to Maple Falls, which follows a creek through its canyon filled with pine and maple trees. There is quite a bit of poison oak, so familiarize yourself with what it looks like and wear pants. The winter storms wreaked havoc on the trail in some sections, making this hike more technical than I suspect it used to be. Our active 65y.o. parents were able to complete it without much difficulty, though! The falls are a fun place to rest, hydrate, eat a snack, and snap some pics.
Amazing trails good for family time or training!
Hawaii rainforest experience in bay area! Stunning views and amazing hikes!
I love this beautiful park! Apparently a lot of people do, because parking is hard to come by. The trails are beautiful and diverse to suit all abilities.Warning: I was there in late July and encountered many many many yellow jackets (I think). We had to leave because we were stung dozens of times. I found out a few other people have had a similar experience at that time of year; if you have allergies, be cautious.
Beautiful hikes in the forest with green cover throughout
On an otherwise very hot day we enjoyed the coolness and serenity of the hike to Maples Falls. The hike is relatively easy (no great elevation) until about a half mile from the Falls where there are creek crossings and some challenging climbing - but do-able and well worth it.
Definitely very beautiful. Not what I expected as a state park... enjoyed and loved the hikes.
Awesome place to get away for a nice walk or hike
This is a beautiful park with ton of second and third growth redwoods. Its a lovely place to walk and see the beauty of things around you. There are several historic sites here that are interesting to learn about.
Great place to hike, even has a waterfall at the end. This is especially kid friendly, lots of sticks to build with and easy accessible spots ti get down to the creek. Lots of beautiful trees, fresh air and one of my favorite places to go and clear my head. I miss it being my backyard, and look forward to my next adventure out there!
Nice place to visit. Its gets crowded, so go early.
A great area to hike in the Aptos area. Good for the kiddos with lots to see and explore, including banana slugs!
One of Californias best yet probably least known state parks. Ive been in California for 30 years and visited the Santa Cruz area dozens of times. And somehow Ive never been to this place.Hiking is fantastic. Youre hiking in a densely wooded redwood forest. The geology is amazing. This is the location of the 1989 Loma prieta earthquake epicenter. The terrain is torn to pieces. Here you will find the Bridge Creek Trail to Maple falls. Theres a small swimming hole at the foot of the falls.dont be put off by the sign saying the parking lots are full. I drove past the sign, paid my admission fee, and found plenty of parking in every one of the parking lots.
Beautiful scenery, a large system of trails for everyone. Multi purpose trails for bikes, and horses.I have visited Nisene dozens of times and always discover something new. I highly recommend
Its a pretty forest to go hiking. However, one of the biggest problems here is that SO MANY OF THE TRAILS ARE NOT LABELED. At many of the forks, theres just simply no signage. Its really an easy way to get lost and end up having to do a lot of backtracking.I would suggest you bring a dedicated GPS unit if youre coming hiking here for the first time. Otherwise, advocate yourself a generous amount of time to try and find your way back to your car.It wasnt just me as well that was having a hard time, I met a group of people who were really close to the parking lot but couldnt find out which direction it was. After I got lost, thank God I bumped into some locals that could give me detailed instructions on how to get back.
The forest and the road from Aptos Creek both are very beautiful. Couple of trails I covered in damp, rainy weather but did not regret the lack of sunlight in this park, even a bit, because of the extra-bright greenery. Everything is either wood or made of wood, Let is be the mini-bridges, campsite or the boardwalks. Personally liked Bug trail, one of the Creek trails and the iron bridge on the one side of this true wild.
This place always seems to be the last part of the Santa Cruz mountains to turn brown during the summer. Youre almost guaranteed to find tons of lush ferns, waterfalls, plenty of trails, multiple waterfalls, and lots of mountain biking opportunities. Definitely worth visiting regularly!
The forest smells wonderful! Always a great place for a hike or just to wander. A lovely shaded gem. 😍
Awesome statepark with beautiful hikes and trails ...
Beautiful place to run. Very peaceful, great forest w waterfalls, 100% recommend
So much natural beauty. Found the Twisted Grove while on the Old Growth Loop on this hike.
Great location for a long hike or mtn bike ride
This place is a gem among Bay area forests and trail system. It is dense and comparatively less crowded. It has its raw appeal when walking on unmarked trails.. getting lost in forest and exploring the way out is fantastic.. be sure to carry all provisions
The Nisene Marks Park is notorious for glorious views of Majestic Redwoods and for a year around Creek. It has wonderful walking trails and at the far end of the park past the steel bridge through the narrow drive out amongst open space of Redwood trees and other trees and some picnic tables that are scattered about, youll find a large dusty parking lot that also has some picnic tables hidden below near the Creek, to of which you might like to have a picnic with your family. In addition or simply by itself, you can park your car and hike along the Creek or scale the mountains for an adventurous walk.
Great place for a family hike and for intense hiking. You can bring strollers on the main trail but for the real hikes, best to leave the strollers at home.
Beautiful park! A variety of difficulty in potential loops. Good for a short jaunt or an all day hike.
Meh! Not the best park for seeing Redwoods anymore but let’s preserve our open space in Santa Cruz mountains - great for biking and hiking
We did a 2 mile hike and didnt feel tired. Great place if youre a nature lover like us.
Nice patch of second growth redwoods. Bikes and crowds near the entry and @ picnic areas but trail traffic was fairly light.
Best state park to hike around in and explore endlessly!
Well maintained trails, excellent for cycling or hikes.
Used to be a well kept secret but now is relatively crowded. Theres a fee to enter with a motor vehicle. Great mountain biking and its free for bicyclists to enter. Beautiful old Redwoods populate this park and the walking trails are well manicured. Several over looks plunge 50 down to a creek running through the park which stretches from the park entrance to Old San Jose at Olive Springs Road. Many picnic spots and rest rooms at the Kiosk entrance.
Maple falls is such a charming place to be. The trail there feels like a mini Lord of the Rings experience to me lol . Lots of shade, wild berries if you look for them
Great park for hiking and biking the trails.
Beautiful place, glad to see the second growth forest making a come back.
This park was very nice and well maintained. The guy at the entrance was especially helpful and recommended a great hike we could take the baby on (in a baby backpack). We ate lunch at a nice picnic area as well. Its so beautiful with streams, giant redwoods, and some even quirky features like an old car with plants growing out of it!
We took a small hike down to the creek.
This forest is a primeval gem!
Beautiful Park! Would love to live here! The old growth trail was beautiful. There are lots of meandering trails. We also did Oak Ridge Trail which had more hillsand connects with Old Growth Trail. Would be easy to get lost here without GPS and a map. We downloaded the map to our phone before we went in, which helped immensely! We knew within 30 seconds if we were going the wrong way, which happened a few times. :)
Spectacular views! Well maintained main path and lots of little side trails too! Absolutely loved this trip! So much left uncharted that we MUST go back!!
Beautiful park. I walked for hours here and could have walked for more easily. The trails run everywhere, many different areas to explore. From redwood forests with a small creek running through to sunny oak forests near the top of the canyon. There was different greenery everywhere and bathrooms were present. I wish there were more frequent trash areas, many people leave their dog bags on the trails.
This place is fantastic. Beautiful forest. Great trails. Best place to get out and enjoy the fresh air. Bring your family. Tell your friends.
So beautiful and lots of awesome trails to hike!
We had a wonderful walk here. The beautiful redwood trees start right at the front parking lot and are everywhere. The hiking trails are well laid out and very enjoyable. The only suggestion I have is that the maps could be a bit better, there were some very slight inaccuracies.
Sick of the beach? Go to the woods. The great thing about Santa Cruz is youre never more than a few minutes from either. Nisene Marks has many miles of hiking and biking trails, much of them covered with an extensive redwood canopy that provides a nice bit of shade on the hot days.
In summer time, this is one of the best hiking places.Thick redwood forest, so GPS on and off...
Its a magical place. Highly recommend spending a whole day here!
Beautiful relaxing peaceful place. Good trails short or long. Creek access in several different places. Entrance where you pay has bathroom further down is port o smelly I mean potty.
Always a nice peaceful hike to Maple Falls.
Passed through on the Land of Medicine Buddhas 6 mile trail. Very beautiful and serene.
Absolutely loved it! Such dense vivid green forest.Absolutely would recommend taking a trail and just keep going on.For a trail we took had to cross a stream over water - there wasnt any bridge. The trail was so thin and covered with long grass in some parts that it made the jungle a lot more real. A moderate 1 hour hike. There are multiple choices for more strenuous and longer hikes as well.
Very nice area, but on our visit the poison oak was EVERYWHERE!! Having our 2 daughters with us, it didnt seem safe for a hike. We quickly turned around and headed back for the car within 5 minutes of walking.
Beautiful place for a hike or just a picnic right in Santa Cruz. LOVE this place!
Very y green at the time I went. Make sure to pick up map. $8 parking day use
Lots of trails to hike in a very beautiful and dense forest. Main trail is very vell maintained, with camp sites, and restrooms. Great mountain biking location, lots of bikers on the main trail only, which is really satisfying enough. Dogs allowed on the main trail, only for a very short distance, so wouldnt suggest bringing dogs if you are hiking. Its 8 dollars entrance fee for day parkers, plenty of parking on maintained ground. Worth multiple trips, very kid friendly place.
Dogs loved it. Not overcrowded very easy trails.
Hiked a little more than a mile in on the trail to the creek. The trail goes downhill, so you hike out uphill; however the slope isnt too intense, and children should be fine. The trail provides decent shade. The scenery is beautiful, especially as you get further in. We found a spot along the creek that looked like something out of a dream.
Awesome trail and waterfalls. And mostly under tree shade!!
Lush Coastal Redwood Forest. Over 10,000 acres of trails, streams, and Redwoods. This place is THE GEM of Aptos. Run here, ride here, walk here. Whatever you do, this forest is well worth it. Parking is free along the curb and in the dirt lot before entering the park. Its $8 once you reach the ranger kiosk. If there was a 6-star option, this place would get it.
Beautiful. We loved hanging out by Aptos Creek and checking out the fossil rocks. Dont take them home, state park nature is protected! Leave them there for others to enjoy and explore. Gloriously cool on a hot day. Incredible redwoods.
A beautiful dense forest with tons of easy to reach sights. Very natural, meaning no paved roads. Has easy hikes and very challenging ones, plus campgrounds and picnic areas. Parking can be a tad bit challenging, but its well worth it!
Beautiful park with second growth redwoods along creeks and canyons. Be aware - lots of poison oak along the trails which can be narrow at times. Lots of open areas to explore the groves of trees. Most hiking trails are shared with bicyclists, and dogs are allowed on certain trails.
Beautiful park with redwoods, and tons of trails!
A great place to visit and walk amongst redwoods that isnt to far from Capitola. There are almost 40 miles of trails in among the redwoods. The paths are all well marked & mapped. A humbling hike in nature.
Serenity and beauty abound. Lush green ferns, towering redwoods, the gentle babble of the creek and the occasional Banana Slug sighting. Truly a gift from nature. Leashed dogs are allowed in several areas and there are a couple of picnic areas along the way. Didnt make it out to the Epicenter due to having our doggie with us but we were not disappointed.
Beautiful redwood hiking. We saw lots of banana slugs and a newt. Not very steep and easy for little ones to walk. No structures are left at the old mill site, but maybe farther down the trail. Lots of shade along the trail.
A cathedral of trees nature at its best great for hiking, running, mnt bikinglove the sound of the river water, and the redwood forest all around you.people are friendly always a smile or a hello.I come from San Jose once a month minimum give me the variety of traildepending if I want to do a long hike or a steep run or both. you must pay a fee if your coming in the main entrance the fine is steep if you decide not to. Have Fun
Another great hiking spot. Beautiful redwoods all around. Picnicking or just gping for a nature run. This spot offers many different trails and terrain. Weather you are a beginner or an experienced hiker this place is worth checking out
Nice sized park with well defined trails. Dog friendly & lots of mountain bikes. The only down sides are the maps that dont give distances & parking areas that are well behind the locked gates. Was $8 to park then the attendant left after we entered.
Very beautiful place but very confusing and the map they give you is horrible. Wanted to see maple falls and couldnt find it 😪 theres barely any signs to help navigate you.We might try again.
Ferns, clover, huge beautiful trees.
Enjoyed the pleasant surroundings and peaceful walks
Awesome beautiful place. Peaceful and quiet, the trails are beautiful to hike and you can bike there also. The creaks are cold and clear running nice to walk in. Beautiful waterfall in the park.
I had a bike tour with epicenter bike rental. The flow trail is amazing and the forest superb. The full trip is very long, 50km, and the last neverending fire road nothing special. Maybe staying at the upper ring where the trails are. Good experience!
A beautiful place to hike in second growth redwoods. Multiuse trails are wide and well traveled. These trails have pretty views of the creek and places to access the water to play. Some hiking-only trails are a bit overgrown, so wear pants to avoid poison oak. Not all trails are well marked, and there are lots of side trails. Be sure to get a map at the station.
This place has such an amazing feel. The trails are beautiful
Great hiking trails if your near the Santa Cruz area. I also love the fact that they allow dogs here as well. The only thing I wasnt crazy about was the ambiguity around parking. I was unaware that it was a paid area, which is fine, but they were cash only with the nearest ATM many miles away. We ended up parking in a turn out a ways from the entrance and had to walk in. So moral of the story, bring cash for parking. The views/trails are worth it.
Wife and I only walked on the main road (we forgot her inhaler) however, that was just as beautiful. We will return and do more of the trails. Seems pretty easy to get lost here, in a good way of course. Recommended for sure. There are many skill leveled trails to walk or run. Cant wait to get back. Oh, there is a one car bridge and then a narrow road which does not look like you should drive through it, but you can.
Great walking but. too much dust as cars race through the forest is covered with dust from the roadway and the trails have many questionable steps, no maintenance evident and the dirt dust really is bad. Bikes danger always. I suppose when the rain start the forest will return in favor of the Walker, and there is a wonderful oxygen air potential. Even better now that the rain has started in walking in the rain is a delight. The out houses are terrible badly illuminated or not illuminated at all you cant do your business
Amazing place to hike. Gorgeous lush forest with amazing mushrooms, clear clean water and different paced hikes. I never get bored. But be careful about parking, it gets really muddy.
Great hiking nice park
Awesome views, great hiking, running, and biking. Get here after 4 and you can skip a $10 fee or park outside of the park and walk in. Staff are generally friendly. Great dog walking.
It always impresses me with how many really great trail options Nisene Marks offers! Saturday we opted to start our trek from the Safeway parking lot and entered the park via Aptos Rancho Road. The Aptos Rancho Road Trail immediately puts you in a beautiful redwood forest and follows the Aptos Creek. Our intent was to do a couple hours on the trails in this Southwest corner of the park but with the recent rains having made everything so clean and fresh, we ended up extending our hike to include the always wortwhile Maple Falls. We were a little disappointed at the falls as there has been a land slide there some time in the past year since I was last there and that combined with the deciduous trees being bare dramatically reduced the beauty of this spot. All told, we did 17 miles and 7 hours of wandering, all the while never tiring of the beauty of this place!
Very nice place to hike. In less than a few blocks from where you park you are in a mature 2nd growth forest. The hike to the epicenter was great, but the trail could have been better marked. You cant really go wrong, but there is no way to really tell youre not lost until you reach the epicenter marker.
AMAZING trails. Absolutely loved every minute of our day here 🖤 use the bathrooms at the front entrance though, the rest of them are pretty gross
The trails are very pretty, but only the trails near the entrance have clear trail markers. If you farther into the park there are no markers and its easy to get lost. Hike with caution. $6 to park.
Weird and occasionally overwhelming chlorine smell (and other bad, unidentified aromas) all through the park, especially near the water (Aptos Creek). We were on the trails at 6-7am. We filled our lungs with what we anticipated to be clean fresh air and... started coughing immediately.I really recommend trails that go high up and dont follow the creek (we took the Aptos Creek trail to get to Sand Point Overlook). The area close to the water is also full of flies and mosquitos (you can hear a constant buzz around you). Once we got higher up (close to Sand Point) the bad smell was almost unnoticeable.It could be from some residences close to the park entrance or they may be spraying next to the water to kill bugs... or theres something even more toxic happening.It may be better to hike here during the cold months - fewer bugs, less decomposing wood, less need for toxic substances.I agree with the other reviews: $8 entry fee (faith system) yet the signs are minimal. We managed not not get lost; I had a previously downloaded very detailed pdf map of the park - which was more helpful than what you can get at the entrance. I had no cellphone signal here of course. I used the pdf on parks dot gov website.Yes, its bike friendly and occasionally hiker unfriendly: a few bikers speeds were fairly unsafe for the sometimes narrow and winding trails.The view from Sand Point Overlook was great. We had fairly clear skies, enough for a very nice view/photo op.Theres a fairly long car ride to get to the head of the trail - on a pretty rough, one lane fire road. Come early or dont come at all. At 1pm, getting out, the traffic (both cars and hikers/bikers) was already pretty bad and the road became annoying to navigate with plenty of opportunities to end up in the ditch beside it. I guess we could have walked the narrow fire road but thats an extra 2 mile stretch thats occasionally shaded and not very scenic.
Beautiful place with lots of good trails, very kid friendly! Just be warned parking fills up very quickly on the weekends by around 10
Majestic place with lots of trails. Pet friendly.
I want to move here. It is absolutely beautiful here. So peaceful, fresh air and humbling. We will visit here again.
Quite a variety of least and challenging hikes with ever flowing creek. Dont miss Twisted Grove, fallen advocate, July tiger lillies, and winter fetid adders tongue.
Great place for a bit of trail running/hiking. definitely check out Marble Falls. choose trails that dont allow bikes, those will be the more interesting terrain
Beautiful and can be a quick visit. We had about an hour and a half to kill before heading to the airport. We were able to get to the park, and spend about 30 minutes hiking through the forest and creek. Beautiful!
This park is magical mystical and every entrance has a different experience. I love that its dog friendly too ♥️
Amazing trails! Did 11 miles with my daughter. Wonderful redwood forest trails. Some trails are a little tough, but most easy, and the firewood goes quite a way.
As little as I saw its beautiful and the trails are great. Not to mention everyone is nice and welcoming
Great hangout place.. park just outside entrance to avoid fees.. terrific hiking place.for all levels. summer carry a bug repellent
Beautiful! My wife and I came here on a bike ride while we were staying in Santa Cruz. Very relaxing, and the elevation is not too extreme, particularly if you go in a ways to park once the trail flattens out.
This is a wonderful spot to see redwoods and waterfalls. You can do a very easy and short hike, a long and strenuous hike and anything in between.
If you have the chance, devote a day to hiking through this beautiful, quiet, coastal redwood forest. The trail is easy and well maintained, the forest uncrowded, and the experience a high point in any trip to the the Central Coast of California.
Great hike In a beautiful forest. This was my second hike here. First time I hiked here in the morning and went whale watching in the afternoon!
We love our hikes at this beautiful forest! The kids enjoyed the creek today too. Fun trails with our Wild Explorer group!
There is seemingly endless hiking in this beautiful state park. Even at peak season, there never seems to be too many people here. Aptos creek fire road is bike-legal, gorgeous, and goes all the way up to the summit.Bring layers! Everything is covered by thick forest so it tends to be colder than you think.
Beautiful park, well shaded. Saw banana slugs.Lots of fast bicyclist be on the lookout especially if you listen to music while exercising. Stay safe
An amazing forest of mostly second and third generation redwoods. Maples Waterfalls is a nice cool place to hike to despite the fact that the segment through the canyon has many obstacles. To reach the Five Fingers Falls one has to hike further north along the Optos Fire Road as the original trail through the 1989 Lona Prieta Earthquake Epicenter was damaged in the 2016/17 winter storms.Lots of great hiking and biking trails in this magnificent forest, with lots of elevation climbs.
Good trails under shade. Not much traffic.
Redwood trees, a plethora of trails, hiking, picnics, mountain biking, quiet, and tranquility; whats not to love? Nisene Marks is a wonderful little Aptos gem.
I love this park. Sometimes the trail/road will be closed to cars because of wet conditions, but dont be discouraged. Its easy hike from the parking lot in.
Beautiful, but minus a star for the ranger telling me i cant park the HausCar in the main lot after i got there before dawn, spent a looong time parking HC so as to only take up a couple spots, and was just waiting for Official Opening Time with 2 Very Excited dogs.......while waiting (at dawn) i did a HC smudging while playing local native Ohione chants, and was beset by luminescent fog, etaletc... good times!
Nisene Marks has great trails from easy to difficult, including a dry backpacking campground and extensive bike trails. Its the kind of place where you can take Grandma on a short, ADA accessible loop, take the kids down to the river, or do an intense uphill hike or bike ride to the point.
Great place to take young bike riders. Open fire road with a few bumps to add a bit of fun. Plus a nice Creek to wade into while stopping to picnic.
I worked on the trails here and other than all the FUDGEBUCKETING POISON OAK THAT WE GOT RID OF the park really is nice. Trails are up and down and interesting, its cool to see all the redwoods.I also took a poop here.
Beautiful start park with tons of great trails, huge redwoods, babbling streams, fresh wild black berries, deep Ravines and trails of varying difficulty. Great for any level of hiker
Lots of trails for running and hiking through redwoods, ferns, and oaks. The river is really pretty.
Its a very beautiful park with plenty of trails and things to see. On the way to the waterfall you get to traverse the creek and downed trees frequently, that made for a great adventure.
Great park with lots of hiking and biking trails. We enjoyed visiting the Loma Prieta Epicenter and the history that was previously there. Great relaxing park with lots of varied views for everyone.
This is a beautiful park with some ancient redwood trees and a picturesque meandering river. Hiking trails range from a gentle stroll to hardcore workout trails. Worth the trip.
Beautiful, easy hikes, and extremely accessible.
Great shady place for a hike. Trails are well marked, maintained and mostly easy. Some trails have alot of poison oak so make sure you know how to recognize and avoid.
Best hiking place!
Magical. One of my favorite places in the world to trail run. You can easily connect anything from a 2 mile to a 30 mile run without retracing your steps. Wide fire road makes it good for friends and families.
Such a great place to meander in the woods!!!
Nisene is a very accessible trip through redwood trees and creeks. Any day you arrive at the park you will see hikers, runners, bikers and picnic parties.You can start single track trails within half a mile of the streets and shops of Aptos town.
A very large park and redwood forest with lovely trails
I managed to get out, even though I lost one hand and 8 fingers
The path to Maple falls is an adventure that you wouldnt want to miss. Wear hiking shoes as you would go through small streams of water, walk across tree trunks and scale medium sized boulders.
Gorgeous 2nd and 3rd growth redwoods with more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and walking paths. Absolutely beautiful and a great place to get away from noise and traffic.
4.8 (199 comments)
Review №1
2022-02-23Awesome place for a nice hike or bike ride (on road and dirt roads only). Lots of trails ranging from easy to expert, with beauty in every direction. Not to mention two different waterfalls (both are quite a hike with one being a much longer hike than the other), and a couple of small areas where you and/or your kids can get wet. Dogs are only allowed on the trails near the entrance of the park and they must be on leashes. Still, this place is a must visit (at least five different times if you want to do all the trails and waterfalls). Oh, and there is a fee of $8.00 to get in. The best hikes are at the end of the road, so I recommend driving in to where the road stops (I think its called the Porter picnic area).
Review №2
2022-01-23Wow…just wow. I have spent half of my life hanging out having fun in Santa Cruz, and I never knew this was just down the freeway about 15 minutes away. I arrived early in the morning around 8 AM to do the 4 mile hike to the epicenter of the 1989 earthquake. It was eight bucks to park and I am damn glad I got there is early as I did. Most people were parked at the main lot which was basically full, I got the last spot further up the road by where the trails start. I spend a ton of time in our National Parks and this State Park is a little slice of heaven closer to home. Early in the morning there is a good amount of people either doing their morning run, riding bikes or hiking. For the most part all the early morning people are friendly as heck and everyone respects each other’s right of away. As for the people who get to the park at noon or after, that’s a little different story. But if you go hiking or outdoors on a regular basis that fact shouldn’t surprise you. It’s not like people are rude at that point of the day they just aren’t the ultra friendly hikers and bike riders that you might be used to. I am totally glad I found the park, I will be back whenever possible.
Review №3
2022-01-19Beautiful place to hike. Very green and luscious environment. The trail travels only 50-100 feet from a paved road where u can hop on the trail from many different locations. Pretty popular place so parking fills up pretty quick! Many different routes to take from 1 mile to 11 miles
Review №4
2021-11-20This is a popular park for mountain biking and hiking. Its mostly thick woods with a lot of redwoods. There are scenic spots like Sand Point. Maple Falls is lovely but the last half mile is rough terrain along the stream. The Aptos Creek Trail is closed and I lost the trail on the Big Slide Trail, so I didnt make it to the Five Fingers Falls.
Review №5
2022-02-13Outstanding Hike !! Following & crossing the stream several times on the trail on the way to Maple Falls. Beautiful scenery, loved the Redwoods and all the trails were clearly marked. Cant wait to get back !
Review №6
2022-01-19I love coming here and exploring. Great trails for hiking, running, and biking. Truly a gem.
Review №7
2021-08-03This is one of the best places to hike. Very easy hike, fully covered by trees, pretty dense and great weather throughout. There’s a chance to get lost in this forest. Please have your map handy. Dog friendly. You folks must try this.
Review №8
2021-11-11Love to hike and bike here. Beautiful and wonderful for taking pictures of native plants. Get here early if you want to find parking.
Review №9
2022-01-04Great location with lots of mountain biking and off-road trails.
Review №10
2022-03-15Gorgeous park in the middle of Aptos. Costs $8 for a day pass and the map is a must. Great for dogs, bikes, picnics and hikes. Busy on the weekends but it’s possible to find some quiet, peaceful spots. Bathrooms aren’t great and we didn’t find any access to water, so bring plenty of your own as well as layers since the temperature changes depending on the tree cover.