The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Redwood trees in the Forest of Nisene Marks
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 The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Location in California
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Santa Cruz, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Aptos, California |
| Area | 10,223 acres (41.37 km2) |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a special nature park in California, USA. It protects a beautiful forest that has grown back after being cut down a long time ago. This park is found near Aptos, California, in the amazing Santa Cruz Mountains. It has more than 40 miles (64 km) of trails for hiking and fire roads. The park covers a huge area of over 10,223 acres (4,137 hectares) with different kinds of land.
Contents
Park History: How it Began
Who Was Nisene Marks?
This park is named after a wonderful person called Nisene Marks. She loved nature very much. Nisene was the mother of a farming family from Salinas, California. Her family bought this land from logging companies. They hoped to find oil there.
From Oil Search to Park Land
The family tried to drill for oil, but they did not find any. After that, Nisene Marks' children decided to do something special. In 1963, they gave the first 9,700 acres (3,925 hectares) of land to the state of California. They did this to honor their mother's memory. The Nature Conservancy also helped make this donation happen.
Growing the Park's Size
Later, the California State Parks department helped the park grow even bigger. With help from the Save the Redwoods League, the park expanded to 10,036 acres (4,061 hectares). This made the park even more impressive.
A Forest's Comeback Story
The land where the park now stands was once a busy logging area. From 1883 to 1923, a company called Loma Prieta Lumber Company cut down almost all the trees. This is called clearcutting. Even today, you can still see signs of the old logging operations. You might spot old mill sites or parts of trestles (wooden bridges).
Fun Activities at the Park
The park offers a rugged, wild experience. It goes from sea level all the way up to steep coastal mountains. Some parts are more than 2,600 feet (792 meters) high! It's a very popular place for people who love to run, hike, or ride horses. Mountain biking is allowed only on the fire roads. This rule has been in place since 2004.
The Famous Earthquake Epicenter
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is also famous for something else. The center of the big 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was right here in the park. This earthquake happened on October 17, 1989. The earthquake's epicenter and a spot called Five Finger Falls are two of the most visited places in the park.
Nature and Wildlife in the Park
Trees of the Forest
Most of the park, about four-fifths of it, is covered in thick redwood forest. These giant trees are amazing to see. You can also find Douglas fir trees growing among the redwoods in many areas.
Other Plant Life
In some hotter, steeper parts of the park, you might see chaparral. This is a type of shrubland. Near the creeks, you'll find other trees like alders, maples, and cottonwoods. Underneath the redwoods, there are tanoaks. You can also spot Pacific madrone, California bay, and several kinds of oak trees.
