Gorgeous hike in Nisene Marks to Maple Falls and Sand Point Overlook.

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 Sand Point Overlook (6.9 miles)>: Follow Aptos Creek Fire Road all the way to Sand Point Overlook. Sequence of junctions: (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 → (1.0 miles) Sand Point Overlook. A short section of Aptos Creek Fire Road may be replaced by Porter Trail (see trail map).

To Maple Falls (5.1 miles): From Sand Point Overlook, continue along Hinckley Basin Fire Road (0.5 miles) → left on West Ridge Trail (1.6 miles) → left on Big Stump Gap Trail (0.4 miles) → left on Ridge Connection Trail (0.5 miles) → left on Loma Prieta Grade (1.4 miles) to junction with Bridge Creek Trail at Bridge Creek Historic Site. Turn left and follow an unnamed trail (0.7 miles) to reach Maple Falls.

To George's Picnic Area (3.9 miles): From Maple Falls, retrace your steps back along the unnamed trail that meanders all along Bridge Creek (0.7 miles) to reach Bridge Creek Historic Site. Continue along Bridge Creek Trail (1.3 miles) to reach a junction with Loma Prieta Grade. Continue along Loma Prieta Grade (0.6 miles) to reach a junction with Aptos Creek Fire Road. Continue along Aptos Creek Fire Road (1.3 miles) to return to George's Picnic Area.

Notes:

• Porter Trail requires a couple of creek crossings without bridges. Going north, the first crossing is very close to Aptos Creek Fire Road. If it looks challenging, you may retrace your steps back to Aptos Creek Fire Road and walk along the fire road, bypassing Porter Trail (see trail map for details).
• Aptos Creek Fire Road is wide fire road, shaded throughout. Even though this is a fire road, the abundance of tall trees all along make it no less pleasant than single track trails.
• Bridge Creek Trail is absolutely gorgeous in winters, after rains. It is lush green with vegetation.
• The trail that meanders along Bridge Creek to reach Maple Falls has no bridges. It switches banks about 10 to 12 times, making it a fun hike when the creek is flowing with water! You are bound to get wet. At some of the crossings, we had to use our hands to cross the creek. The water level was never over 12 inches in January 2011.

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