Soquel Demonstration Loop 5
11.6 miles     2300 ft
22 Oct 2011
Summary

Nice, shaded hike through redwoods and rugged trails.

Location: Soquel Demonstration State Forest

Elevation Profile
Trip Planning

Trail Maps

» Official Map: Good map showing various trails and contours. Trail segment lengths are missing.

» Trail Map by MountainBikeBill: Good map showing various trails including contours and trail lengths.

» PeasePress Map: Trails of Santa Cruz: Excellent quality map showing various parks in the Santa Cruz area.

» Official Brochure: Official Trail Map with details of both Forest of Nisene Marks and Soquel Demonstration Forest. The area close to Entrance Station in Forest of Nisene Marks is shown enlarged. Trail lengths are missing in this map.

Route

Route in brief: From the parking lot, follow Hihn's Mill Road (2.5 miles) to junction with Sulphur Springs Road. Continue along Hihn's Mill Road (0.6 miles) to junction with Braille Trail. Continue along Hihn's Mill Road (0.6 miles) to junction with Tractor Trail. Continue along Hihn's Mill Road (0.7 miles) to junction with Sawpit Trail. Turn left on Sawpit Trail (1.2 miles) → left on Ridge Trail (0.9 miles) to junction with Tractor Trail. Continue along Ridge Trail (0.5 miles) to junction with Braille Trail. Turn left on Braille Trail (1.5 miles) to junction with Hihn's Mill Trail. Turn right on Hihn's Mill Road (0.6 miles) to junction with Sulphur Springs Road. Continue along Hihn's Mill Road (2.5 miles) to parking lot.

Notes: Soquel Demonstration Forest is very popular with bikers. So expect groups of bikers whizzing pas you on any day, especially weekends.

Trailhead

Location: on Highlands Way, about 10 miles from Hwy 17 and Summit Road exit . No street address. Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From Hwy 17 South, take Summit Road exit, turn right on Summit Road. After 4.1 miles, continue along Highlands Way. In 5.4 miles, there is roadside parking for a few cars next to a small sign saying "Soquel Demonstration Forest". A larger parking lot is present inside the forest.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: October 2011)

Capacity: A few cars may be parked by the roadside. A larger parking lot inside the forest.

Latitude: 37.082109     Longitude: -121.850781

Photos

Full photo album — 22 October 2011

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Soquel Demonstration Loop 11.
Nature

Full photo album — 22 October 2011

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Soquel Demonstration Loop 11.
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