Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Completes Seven Miles of Phase One Multi-Use Trails at San Vicente Redwoods
The trail stewardship constructed this brand new trail network for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to increase public access within the Santa Cruz Mountains.
San Vicente Redwoods is now open for cyclists, hikers, equestrians, and on-leash dogs to enjoy. Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit trail stewardship organization, designed and built the trail network for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, and completed the construction of 7.3 miles of Phase One trails in just eight months. The professional SCMTS Trail Crew and hundreds of community volunteers came together to carefully construct these trails so they not only create fantastic new recreation experiences but also respect the conservation-first approach to opening the San Vicente property.
Trail map courtesy of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
“The San Vicente Redwoods trail network is one of the most technical construction projects we’ve ever accomplished,” said Matt De Young, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship. “The trails are narrow, natural, and fun–and are built to last generations. We used techniques like rock armoring and stone pitching to keep the trails in great shape and ensure they stay enjoyable for cyclists, hikers, and equestrians year-round.”
San Vicente Redwoods is privately owned and managed by four local land trusts–Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Sempervirens Fund, Save the Redwoods League, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC). Trail networks on the property were thoughtfully designed to minimize impacts on sensitive wildlife, and it is imperative that the public stay on-trail and respect the flora and fauna throughout the area. San Vicente Redwoods will remain a conservation property first and foremost, and in the years ahead, active restoration(?) practices will take place to encourage mature forest development.
“The San Vicente Redwoods property is precious, and we’re proud to steward the future of this amazing landscape,” said Sarah Newkirk, executive director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. “The hard work of the SCMTS staff really shows in the final trail experience, and is a gift for our community to enjoy. We’re lucky to have such beauty in our backyard, and are proud to open a brand new area for public recreation and appreciation.”
Eventually the trail system at San Vicente Redwoods is envisioned as connecting to other trails in the area, including those being established this year at the adjacent Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coastal National Monument. Interested parties may support SCMTS’ work building Cotoni-Coast Dairies trails via its Timeless Trails campaign here.
Trails at San Vicente Redwoods are now open from 9 a.m - 5 p.m (October-March) and 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. (April through September) every day. Visitors may park at the lot along Empire Grade, and must register for a pass ahead of their visit. Register for your San Vicente visitor pass here, then head to our project page for all the information on how to best visit this new open space.
