Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1008482
SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 LIVE IT UP! 5 W ith more than 600 acres of meadows, woodlands, and creeks, and several miles of trails open to hikers, Pogonip is definitely worth exploring. And lucky for those wanting to explore, as of 30 years ago Pogonip's status became permanent. The park is protected as one of the City's Greenbelt properties, purchased in 1988 with funding from the CALPAW State Bond Act. You can learn much more about Pogonip's history at the web site listed at the end of this article. Note that you can bring your dog (on leash) on designated trails. Just make sure you and any two- or four-legged companions are careful and watch out for poison oak, because this pesky plant is plentiful at Pogonip. To begin planning your visit, keep in mind that there is no on-site parking. There are several walk-in entrances in different locations, including one for those who wish to explore trails in the upper UC Santa Cruz area. You can park on Golf Club Drive just west of Highway 9 and walk to a main entrance; many bicyclists use this entrance to access the 2.1-mile Emma McCrary multi-use trail. On the weekend, parking is available for this trail at River St. and Golf Club Drive. Emma McCrary Trail, open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs on leash and equestrians, provides a connection between Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Pogonip, and the upper UCSC campus. For those who want to visit Pogonip utilizing the Harvey West Park entrance, it's possible to park your car nearby, and then walk to the entrance at the end of Harvey West Blvd. For the Spring Street entrance, it can be hard to find parking; it's a residential neighborhood. If you do find spots, they're limited to two hours. It takes many staff and volunteers to maintain parks, especially ones with vast expanses like Pogonip. Meta Rhodeos is one of the folks who work hard to ensure that Pogonip is up to par. As Parks Field Supervisor for the "Central BY TARA FATEMI WALKER PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA CRUZ PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT POGONIP Exploring CONTINUES ON 6