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SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 LIVE IT UP! 21 H ow about turning the old New Year's resolution tradition on its head, and making a resolution today for the rest of 2017? If you look at several studies on resolutions, "Exercise more" is usually at the top of the list. "Lose weight" oen follows, along with other health and wellbe- ing related resolutions such as "Take a more active approach to health" or "Develop a new hobby." What about combining some of these and discover- ing new places to be active? With 10,000 acres, lots of redwoods, 30 miles of maintained trails, and a nearby Aptos location, e Forest of Nisene Marks State Park deserves a spot on this list. Just ask a volunteer organization affiliated with Nisene, the nonprofit Advocates for the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (actually you don't have to—I did, and I'm happy to share what I discovered). e park is popular for many ac- tivities, from strolling or picnicking to hiking, bicycling and jogging. Advocate (and board treasurer) Jeff omson shares an interesting juxtaposition about Nisene: "It's always easy to find solitude within a few minutes of enter- ing the park, and if you're looking for a workout, it's a dream spot for hikers, bikers and runners." Advocate / board president Allison Livingston echoes the sentiment. One of her favorite things about Nisene is how a person can "be in the forest alone pretty easily for a busy state park." She also loves the changing of the seasons in the fall, see- ing the flora and fauna and the big leaf maples dropping their leaves. Advocate Melanie Dominguez loves all the water, and that this creates different ecosys- tems and different trees and plants that grow. Wondering where Nisene got its name? In 1963, the Marks Family in Salinas deeded more than 9,000 acres to the State for use as a public park. Named for matriarch Nisene (a Danish name) Marks, the gi deed specified that the "natural preserve" be used for camping, hiking, and nature study. Over the years, the park has received other donations, increasing the acreage to nearly 10,000. e park's most well loved trail, says omson, is probably the Old Growth Loop. Located near the entrance sta- tion, it's an easy, 1.1-mile-long hike, and includes a picnic area and a twisted redwood forest. Also, "you can see 1,000-year-old trees that are inspiring," says omson. Other options for easy hikes include the Aptos Rancho Trail that parallels the creek. It's three miles round-trip, and mostly level. Start at the trailhead near the en- trance station parking lot. Take the Split Stuff Trail, .2 (mostly flat) miles to Ap- tos Rancho Trail. From the junction of these two trails, you can explore areas along Aptos Creek and connect with many other trails in the lower park. "Generally, the trails in the lower park are easy, with the upper park trails be- ing moderate to strenuous" says om- son. If you head up to George's Picnic Area, you'll have the opportunity to view redwoods, willows, red alders, and maples. From George's Picnic Area, you can also find the trailhead for Buggy Trail. is one-mile-round-trip hike includes an elevation gain of 100 feet and the chance to see more redwoods plus oak forest. For a moderate hike, Advocate John Fuchs recommends the Bridge Creek Loop. "If you feel extra energetic, you can take the side trail up to Maple Falls. Be forewarned, it's not much of a trail to the Falls...it's more a of a creek-walk, but worth it," says Fuchs. e official park web site also mentions Maple Falls under the "moderate hike" category. It's a seven-mile-round-trip hike, with an elevation gain of 300 feet. Find the trailhead in the Porter Picnic Area and take the Loma Prieta and Bridge Creek trails. It's recommended during drier months, because heavy rains make access challenging (not to mention potentially dangerous). When it comes to more difficult hikes, West Ridge Loop is one of three hikes listed on the site. Livingston sug- gests this 7.5-mile-roundtrip one—as well as Hoffman's Loop, and Big Slide (when open again)—for those seek- ing strenuous hikes. e trailhead is in the Mary Easton Picnic Area. Take the Porter Trail to Aptos Creek Fire Road. Follow the Loma Prieta Grade trail to Hoffman's Historic site, the remains of an old logging camp. To return, take the Ridge Connection Trail to the West BY TARA FATEMI WALKER EXPLORING NISENE MARKS CONTINUES ON 22 Courtesy of Nisene Advocates

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