Gazos Creek: A Historic Road in Need of Timely Care
July 17, 2020
If you’ve ever explored the Santa Cruz area on two wheels, you’ve probably either experienced or heard about the grueling climbs, beautiful redwood descents and gorgeous wildflowers offered by a journey along Gazos Creek Road. The 8 miles of Gazos Creek Road lies within Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and during Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz’s (MBOSC) annual Old Growth Classic gravel race, challenges racers with steep sections of climbing that can reach a 20% grade. While the 2020 Old Growth Classic was recently canceled, you can still support MBOSC’s fundraiser to repair this popular cycling and hiking destination that’s in need of some major care (and win some awesome gravel gear at the same time!). Check out the fundraiser page here, and read on to learn more about the history and destruction that Gazos Creek Road has seen.
[caption id="attachment_12669" align="alignnone" width="462"]
Racers take on the notorious Gazos Creek Road climb during the 2019 Old Growth Classic.[/caption]
Gazos Creek Road, as expected, follows Gazos Creek, a waterway that dates back to maps of the Santa Cruz Mountains created in 1851. The name is rumored to have been adapted from “arroyo de las Garzas”, or “Heron Creek”, because of the many cranes that would gather to feed off the rainbow trout, silver salmon and steelhead trout trapped in the stream’s shallow lagoons throughout the summer.
The Gazos Creek territory was originally home to the indigenous communities of the Amah Mutsun, more specifically the Awaswas people. Following Spanish colonization, industrialization took hold in the Gazos Creek area. The lumber mills of the day were said to have been “up in the Gazos”, and there is evidence of Gazos Creek Road serving as an important logging site as early as the 1860s. Pacific Lumber and Mill Company, one of many major mills at that time, would float Redwood timber down a flume to the intersection of Gazos Creek Road and Cloverdale Road, and then transport it to Pigeon Point, a popular shipping destination. In an edition of “Chicago Lumberman” from 1912, there is a record of the land around Gazos Creek being bought by C.H. Widemann and E.A. Eaton, who at the time planned to build 8 miles of logging railroad along Gazos Creek. This logging railroad is presumed to be the beginnings of the modern Gazos Creek Road that outdoor enthusiasts enjoy today.
[caption id="attachment_12668" align="alignnone" width="462"]
A racer climbing up Gazos Creek Road during the 2019 Old Growth Classic.[/caption]
For cyclists and hikers who’ve travelled along Gazos Creek Road recently, it’s clear that something devastating lies in the road’s rich history. In 2017, heavy winter storms caused road failures along Gazos Creek Road that are still visible today. The destruction includes numerous down trees, damaged culverts, a failing gabion basket retaining wall, and erosion of the road surface from excessive water runoff. The storms experienced during that time were so intense that they were declared a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) federal disaster event in Santa Cruz County!
[caption id="attachment_12689" align="alignnone" width="588"]
Photo from the 2017 FEMA event. Storm events caused flooding that overwhelmed the culvert and blew out into the stream side of Gazos Creek Road. Photo courtesy of CA State Parks[/caption]
Since the damage caused three years ago, Gazos Creek Road has seen a lot of visitors, but not nearly enough maintenance. Staff from CA State Parks, the land manager of the region, were able to clear down trees, slide debris, construct a rock-armored swale and reattach a metal culvert to separate water from the slumping Gazos Creek Road, however, two sites - a failed retaining wall and damaged culvert - are still in need of repairs and held up by federal funding.
Due to the popularity and importance of Gazos Creek Road for recreation, management, and emergency services, MBOSC is currently raising funds to set this road right and deliver some much-needed upgrades to Gazos visitors.
[caption id="attachment_12688" align="alignnone" width="588"]
Photo from the 2017 FEMA event. Storm events caused flooding that overwhelmed the culvert and blew out into the stream side of Gazos Creek Road. Photo courtesy of CA State Parks[/caption]
The new culvert will be double the size of its predecessor to prevent clogging and overflowing (what happened back in 2017) and keep the road clear of water. Additional rock armoring and the installation of a cofferdam to divert water during construction will also be needed to improve Gazos for the long-term. When this work is complete, Gazos Creek Road will be ready for a 100-year storm event, a fancy term for a rainfall event that’s so unique it’s usually only expected once in every 100 years!
Will you join us in helping repair Gazos Creek Road for future generations of recreationalists? If you’d like to support our campaign to repair this historic road, please consider donating here.
Racers take on the notorious Gazos Creek Road climb during the 2019 Old Growth Classic.[/caption]
Gazos Creek Road, as expected, follows Gazos Creek, a waterway that dates back to maps of the Santa Cruz Mountains created in 1851. The name is rumored to have been adapted from “arroyo de las Garzas”, or “Heron Creek”, because of the many cranes that would gather to feed off the rainbow trout, silver salmon and steelhead trout trapped in the stream’s shallow lagoons throughout the summer.
The Gazos Creek territory was originally home to the indigenous communities of the Amah Mutsun, more specifically the Awaswas people. Following Spanish colonization, industrialization took hold in the Gazos Creek area. The lumber mills of the day were said to have been “up in the Gazos”, and there is evidence of Gazos Creek Road serving as an important logging site as early as the 1860s. Pacific Lumber and Mill Company, one of many major mills at that time, would float Redwood timber down a flume to the intersection of Gazos Creek Road and Cloverdale Road, and then transport it to Pigeon Point, a popular shipping destination. In an edition of “Chicago Lumberman” from 1912, there is a record of the land around Gazos Creek being bought by C.H. Widemann and E.A. Eaton, who at the time planned to build 8 miles of logging railroad along Gazos Creek. This logging railroad is presumed to be the beginnings of the modern Gazos Creek Road that outdoor enthusiasts enjoy today.
[caption id="attachment_12668" align="alignnone" width="462"] A racer climbing up Gazos Creek Road during the 2019 Old Growth Classic.[/caption]
For cyclists and hikers who’ve travelled along Gazos Creek Road recently, it’s clear that something devastating lies in the road’s rich history. In 2017, heavy winter storms caused road failures along Gazos Creek Road that are still visible today. The destruction includes numerous down trees, damaged culverts, a failing gabion basket retaining wall, and erosion of the road surface from excessive water runoff. The storms experienced during that time were so intense that they were declared a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) federal disaster event in Santa Cruz County!
[caption id="attachment_12689" align="alignnone" width="588"] Photo from the 2017 FEMA event. Storm events caused flooding that overwhelmed the culvert and blew out into the stream side of Gazos Creek Road. Photo courtesy of CA State Parks[/caption]
Since the damage caused three years ago, Gazos Creek Road has seen a lot of visitors, but not nearly enough maintenance. Staff from CA State Parks, the land manager of the region, were able to clear down trees, slide debris, construct a rock-armored swale and reattach a metal culvert to separate water from the slumping Gazos Creek Road, however, two sites - a failed retaining wall and damaged culvert - are still in need of repairs and held up by federal funding.
Due to the popularity and importance of Gazos Creek Road for recreation, management, and emergency services, MBOSC is currently raising funds to set this road right and deliver some much-needed upgrades to Gazos visitors.
[caption id="attachment_12688" align="alignnone" width="588"] Photo from the 2017 FEMA event. Storm events caused flooding that overwhelmed the culvert and blew out into the stream side of Gazos Creek Road. Photo courtesy of CA State Parks[/caption]
The new culvert will be double the size of its predecessor to prevent clogging and overflowing (what happened back in 2017) and keep the road clear of water. Additional rock armoring and the installation of a cofferdam to divert water during construction will also be needed to improve Gazos for the long-term. When this work is complete, Gazos Creek Road will be ready for a 100-year storm event, a fancy term for a rainfall event that’s so unique it’s usually only expected once in every 100 years!
Will you join us in helping repair Gazos Creek Road for future generations of recreationalists? If you’d like to support our campaign to repair this historic road, please consider donating here.
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