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Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Aptos, CA
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Ranked #1 of 4 attractions in Aptos
Type: State Parks
Activities: Backpacking, Hiking
Description: The location of 1989's devastating earthquake.
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23 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    16
    4
    1
    2
    0
Date Rating
Sausalito
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 17, 2013 NEW

Beautiful - so beautiful! The parking area is about 5 minutes off the freeway and just minutes from the spectacular Rio Del Mar beach. It was a perfect place for my late afternoon run, good wide paths (no poison oak invading the path!) that meander up and down alongside the creek - a great dive into the redwoods! I grumbled... More

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San Jose, California
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
12 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

They have organzied races there from 10k to marathon; but it's a great place to go for a quiet run by yourself or with a friend or two. You can actually get to a point directly above the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Places to picnic, as well.

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Santa Cruz, California
Senior Contributor
46 reviews 46 reviews
19 attraction reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 17, 2013

Great trails, some short, some longer for distance runners. You can take a long trail that ends at the origin of the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 that devastated Santa Cruz and damaged parts of San Francisco.Best to jog with a friend since some stretches are remote.

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Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 6, 2013

This park is fabulous- whether you're looking for a peaceful stroll through the redwoods, a short bike ride with kids, or a grueling climb to the "top of the Incline" with fabulous views of the entire Monterey Bay. Hiking, biking, creek splashing...this park has it all, and is a great place to cool down on hot summer days. There's nothing... More

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Bay Area, CA
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 23, 2013

This park is HUGE and filled with tall redwood trees, creeks, and challenging trails that you can't find anywhere else but in California. It's a dirt road to get in, but it's still pretty easy to get there.

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See 2 more reviews by deanichiban for Aptos
Campbell, California, United States
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
9 attraction reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 27, 2012

Just a great place to hike. Nice trails and few people. Lots of trees and quiet. Great place to commune with nature.

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Watsonville, California
Senior Contributor
48 reviews 48 reviews
22 attraction reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 20, 2012

Beautiful, dense foilage with great trails to cover while biking or hiking. Just minutes away from local townships and shops but you can feel like you are a world away in those few minutes.

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Aptos, California
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed December 11, 2012

Like most State Parks, you have to pay to park here (it is $10.00/day now). This park does not offer camping or any other organized activities (like Ranger programs or wildlife hikes), but has pretty extensive trails for walking/hiking or mountain bike riding. I'd say the bike riders love this place, and if that is what you want to do... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 2
See 8 more reviews by Cynthia C for Aptos
Monterey Bay
Top Contributor
66 reviews 66 reviews
18 attraction reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed December 2, 2012

Access and ambiguous directions led to a destination that had very little to see or do. At one time it was possible to see what was considered the "epicenter of the Loma Prieta Earthquake", if we were there, we didn't know it. And the roads were not in very good condition. Maybe a result of gov't budget cuts, but still... More

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See 9 more reviews by ReelAction18 for Aptos
Northern California
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed October 17, 2012

First off, it's difficult to find. There are no signs pointing to the park until you're already on the road to the entrance. My Nav system led me miles away to a closed road that may at one time have gone into the park. The only way I found it was to put the name of the road it was... More

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See 2 more reviews by PhantomPhlyer for Aptos

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