New Trails Coming To Santa Cruz County After Two Years Of Delays

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Trailblazers, unite. Two years in the making, work on a new trail system in Santa Cruz County is finally set to begin.

Construction on the first phase of a 38-mile multi-use trail, done by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, will start in April.

A lot has gone into planning the new trails. Ideas started with public input and environmental studies. Then, when it was time to move forward, the CZU Lightning Complex wildfire broke out. Extending the delays, the pandemic also stalled the process.

Finally, hikers and trailblazers can prepare for the first set of trails to open in the fall.

The first phase is 8.5 miles of mixed-use trails. They can be used by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.

San Vicente Redwoods has 8,852 acres of property. Conserving that land and managing it has always been part of the vision.

"Studies show that bringing people out into wild spaces fosters a close connection to nature and strong desire to take care of the land. Our goal is to do this in a way that does not conflict with the conservation goals of San Vicente Redwoods,” Sarah Newkirk, LTSCC's executive director, said.

Nearly 1,000 burned trees that cause hazards are being removed from the trail areas. Future phases of building will span into the next three to five years. Ultimately, the trail could include connections to other trail systems in the area.

“Sustainable forest management, research, and wildfire resilience are all critical. When combined with the launch of a multi-use trail system that balances needs of nature and the people of our area, it’s a genuinely exciting step forward for everyone.” Walter T. Moore, president of Peninsula Open Space Trust, said.

Sign up for trail updates or volunteer here.