The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park is a state park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Aptos, California. This extensive natural area spans approximately 10,000 acres, characterized by its dense second- and third-growth redwood forests, fern-lined canyons, and the flowing Aptos Creek. The park's rugged terrain rises from near sea level to over 2,600 feet, offering a diverse landscape for outdoor pursuits. It provides an environment suitable for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, gravel biking,…
99
Routes
4.6
(97)
Average rating
2263
People visited

5.0
(27)
438
riders
30.7km
03:26
990m
990m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.9
(15)
280
riders
18.4km
01:55
490m
490m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.8
(12)
204
riders
18.7km
02:03
540m
540m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.2
(6)
37
riders
61.3km
06:21
1,550m
1,550m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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15
hikers
11.5km
04:06
660m
660m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
hikers
20.6km
06:00
820m
110m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
10.5km
02:53
230m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
23.7km
07:20
590m
600m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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30
riders
50.5km
04:32
1,070m
1,070m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(4)
77
riders
34.0km
02:07
210m
210m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
14
riders
54.9km
04:26
640m
640m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
16
riders
57.4km
06:24
1,350m
1,350m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
16.6km
01:51
420m
430m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

36.7km
03:44
740m
740m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
19
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
12
riders
66.9km
02:58
520m
520m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(1)
5
riders
17.6km
00:49
190m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

1.0
(2)
59
riders
67.2km
03:11
850m
850m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

69
riders
84.9km
04:53
1,290m
1,290m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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5.71km
00:58
400m
400m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

50
runners
12.4km
01:29
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

43
runners
19.4km
02:26
340m
340m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

32
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park offers a range of outdoor activities including Hiking, Mountain biking, Road cycling, and Gravel biking. The park features over 30 miles of trails and fire roads, catering to various skill levels. It is known for its dense redwood forests and diverse terrain.
Popular hiking trails include the Old Growth Loop, which features ancient redwoods and fern-covered canyons. The Aptos Creek Trail leads to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake epicenter. For more options, explore the Hiking in The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park guide.
Yes, the park offers easy hikes like the Buggy Trail, which provides views of redwood and oak forests. The Aptos Rancho Trail offers a mostly level walk through open areas and the Aptos Creek Canyon. Additional family-friendly options are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes in The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park guide.
Mountain biking is permitted on the Aptos Creek Fire Road and four single-track trails: Aptos Rancho Trail, Split Stuff Trail, Terrace Trail, and Vienna Woods Trail. The Aptos Creek Fire Road also provides access to trails in the adjacent Soquel Demonstration State Forest. More information is available in the MTB Trails in The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park guide.
The park is well-suited for gravel biking, featuring an extensive network of gravel fire roads and some hike-and-bike single-track options. Routes often wind through redwood forests and along Aptos Creek. The Gravel biking in The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park guide provides specific routes.
The park features dense second- and third-growth redwood forests, fern-lined canyons, and the flowing Aptos Creek. Notable landmarks include the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake epicenter and 'The Advocate,' the largest redwood in the park, standing 250 feet (76 meters) tall. Panoramic views of Monterey Bay are available from higher elevations like the Sand Point Overlook.
Information regarding dog policies, including specific trail access, is typically detailed on the official park website or at park entrances. Visitors should check current regulations before bringing pets to ensure compliance.
The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 13,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The park's 41 routes have an average rating of 4.61 out of 5 stars, reflecting positive user experiences.
Komoot offers several guides for the park, including Hiking in The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park, Family-friendly hikes, and Gravel biking. Guides are also available for easy hikes, MTB trails, road cycling, waterfall hikes, and running trails.
The official website for information about the park is parks.ca.gov. For direct inquiries, the general contact phone number for The Forest Of Nisene Marks State Park is +1-831-763-7063.
The park's terrain is rugged semi-wilderness, rising from near sea level to over 2,600 feet (792 meters) in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It features dense redwood forests, fern-lined canyons, and varied trails and fire roads.

