Gorgeous hike in Nisene Marks to Five Finger Falls.
Location: Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
» 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.
» PeasePress Map: Trails of Santa Cruz: Excellent quality map showing various parks in the Santa Cruz area.
To Five Finger Falls (9.0 miles): Follow Aptos Creek Fire Road all the way to the junction with White's Lagoon Road / Big Slide Trail. Sequence of junctions along Aptos Creek Fire Road: (0.6 miles) Porter Trail → (0.5 miles) Porter Trail again → (0.2 miles) Loma Prieta Trail → (0.3 miles) Loma Prieta Mill Site → (0.2 miles) Mill Pond Trail → (0.8 miles) Bottom Of Incline → (3.3 miles) Big Slide Trail. Turn right on White's Lagoon Road / Big Slide Trail (2.2 miles, including the detour to White's Lagoon). Turn left on Aptos Creek Trail (0.9 miles) to Five Finger Falls.
Note: A short section of Aptos Creek Fire Road may be replaced by Porter Trail (see trail map).
To George's Picnic Area (6.5 miles): From Five Finger Falls, retrace your steps along Aptos Creek Trail (0.9 miles) to junction with Big Slide Trail. Continue along Aptos Creek Trail (3.0 miles) to 'Bottom of the Incline'. Turn left on Aptos Creek Fire Road and follow the road all the way to George's Picnic Area. Sequence of junctions along Aptos Creek Fire Road: (0.8 miles) Mill Pond Trail → (0.2 miles) Loma Prieta Mill Site → (0.3 miles) Loma Prieta Trail → (0.2 miles) Porter Trail on left → (0.5 miles) Porter Trail on left → George's Picnic Area (0.6 miles).
Notes:
Location: Along Aptos Creek Road, about one mile north of intersection of Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA. Near 'Steel Bridge' and 'Winter Gate' in the official map. . No street address. Parking area is not visible in Google Maps.
Directions: From Highway 17 going south, go along CA-1 South. After about six miles, take Exit 435 for State Park Drive towards Aptos. Soon after the exit, turn left onto State Park Drive. After 0.3 miles, take the second right onto Soquel Drive. In half a mile, you will reach the intersection of Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road in Aptos, CA. Turn left onto Aptos Creek Road and drive about a mile to reach the Park Entrance kiosk where you would have to pay entrance fees. Drive another mile to reach George's Picnic Area, which is near 'Steel Bridge' and 'Winter Gate' in the official map.
Google Maps:
Parking Fees: $8 per vehicle (last visited: March 2014)
Capacity: About 15 cars
Latitude: 36.997309 Longitude: -121.906507