Revised October 2016

FOREST RULES

Forest Rules are designed to protect the resources and visitors of SDSF. Please help by adhering to these rules:

Day use recreation only (dawn to dusk). No camping is permitted. No nighttime use is allowed.

Firearms of any kind are not allowed.

Motorcycles or any other motorized vehicles are not permitted.

Park smart. Don’t impede emergency access by blocking fire roads or gates.

Respect private property by not trespassing onto adjacent private lands.

Smoking or fires of any kind are not allowed in the forest due to the associated fire risks.

Horses and mountain bikes must stay on designated trails and roads.

Please do not litter- pack out what you pack in.

Practice Trail Etiquette. Be courteous to other forest users. Mountain bikers yield to horse riders and hikers, hikers yield to horse riders.

Keep trails in good condition by not riding when it is raining or when soils are saturated.

California Fish and Wildlife regulations prohibit fishing in the East Branch of Soquel Creek.

SOQUEL DEMONSTRATION STATE FOREST

Public Entrance: 29400 Highland Way Los Gatos, California

Office Location: 4750 Soquel-San Jose Road

Soquel, California 95073 (831) 475-8643

State of California

The Natural Resources Agency Department of Forestry and

Fire Protection

www.fire.ca.gov

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DEMONSTRATION STATE FORESTS

Demonstration State Forests are parcels of timberlands purchased by the State of California and administered by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). These eight forests cover 71,000 acres in California and are used primarily for the demonstration of sustained-yield timber management, education, research and recreation.

The State Forests grow approximately 75 million board feet of timber annually and harvest an average of 30 million board feet of timber each year, enough to build 3,000 single-family homes. Revenue from these harvests funds the management of the State Forests. The forests also provide research and demonstration opportunities, public recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and watershed protection.

Soquel Demonstration State Forest (SDSF), dedicated in 1990, is the first state forest to be added to the system since 1949. The Forest is located along the East Branch of Soquel Creek and includes portions of Amaya Creek and Fern Gulch Creek. It contains nearly 2,700 acres of redwood, mixed hardwoods, riparian and chaparral ecosystems.

The State Forest is geologically active. The San Andreas and Zayante Faults pass through the property. The epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is approximately 2 miles south of the Forest, in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.

The close proximity to large metropolitan centers provides excellent opportunities for hands on forestry education, experimental timber harvesting techniques, watershed restoration, cone collection for redwood seed, a variety of university research projects, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and demonstration of a working forest for the public.

SDSF GOALS

Restore and enhance the natural resources within the Forest, including watershed protection.

Provide public recreational uses that are consistent with protection of SDSF.

Develop a forestry education program for the public, schools and interested organizations.

Demonstrate sustained-yield timber harvesting sufficient to cover forest operations and management costs.

Protect old-growth redwood trees.

Provide research opportunities in forestry and natural resource management.

SAFETY

SDSF covers rugged terrain and many areas with difficult access. Emergency response can take an extended period of time in some areas and cell phone reception is not consistent. Please be safety-conscious at all times. Travel with others whenever possible and let someone know of your plans. There is no developed water source in the Forest and poison oak and ticks are common.

Bring plenty of drinking water.

Advanced terrain exists on mountain biking trails. Ride within your limits.

Practice trail etiquette. Ride at a safe speed.

Braille Trail, Flow Trail and Sawpit Trail are recommended for downhill traffic only. Watch for and expect two-way traffic on all other trails and roads.

Check signboards for any current closure areas.

Stay off trails during wet weather.

Report problems and hazards to SDSF staff. Please call 911 in an emergency.

Watch for and expect forest management traffic on forest roads.

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The Forest of NiseneMarks State Park

Heste

r Crk Rd

Radonich Rd

area closedto public

Mill

private propertystay on road

Soquel

-San Jos

e Rd

Ri d g eTra

i l

Trail

Lakewo od Rd

Corral Rd

Hihn's

Rd

private propertynot an exit

private propertynot an exit

private propertynot an exit

Sulpher

Springs Rd

Creek

Hinkley

Hester

Amaya

Branch

East

FernGulch Soquel

Creek

Creek

Hinckley Basin Rd

Aptos

C reek

Fire

Rd

Buz zar d Lagoon Rd

Highland Way

Creek

Creek

Highland Way

Eureka Canyon R d

Amaya Cree k Rd

AmayaBasin

Long R

idge Rd

Ridge Trail

1,000'

1,200'

1,400'

1,600'1,800'

2,000'

2,200' 2,400'

1,000'

800'

TractorRd

Tractor

Trail

Flow Trail

Flow

Rd

Ridge Trail

Sawpit Trail

Corral Trail

Cusacks Trail

B raille Trail

-121°50'-121°50.5'-121°51'-121°51.5'-121°52'-121°52.5'-121°53'-121°53.5'-121°54'-121°54.5'-121°55'-121°55.5'-121°56'-121°56.5'

37°6'

37°5.

5'37

°5'37

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37°4'

1.5 miles to State Forest Headquarters

0 0.5 10.25 Miles

see vicinity reference inset map

Soquel Demonstration State ForestCalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

1:30,000 1 inch = 2,500 feet

All visitors are responsible for knowingState Forest regulations and fees.

Contact office for information.

FNMSP

To Los Gatos

SDSF Headquarters4750 Soquel-San Jose RdSoquel, CA 95073(831) 475-8643

To Watsonville

S A N TA C R U ZC O U N T Y

S A N TA C L A R A C O U N T Y

Highland Way

Corra

litos R

dFreedom Blvd

Porter

St

Summit Rd

Highland Way

17

1

Soqu

e l-SanJos

e Rd

Burrell CAL FIRE Station25050 Highland Way

AptosSoquel

Santa Cruz

ScottsValley

Capitola

Main Entrance

1

E u reka CanyonRd

SDSF

Main Public Entranceto the State Forest

29400 Highland WayLos Gatos, CA

VicinityReference

to Summit Road and Highway 17

ACCESS: The State Forest entrance is located on Highland Way6 miles east of Soquel-San Jose Road (Old San Jose Road)and 10 miles east of Highway 17

9.5 miles to Aptos

GateSignboardParkingPicnic table

Nisene Marks State ParkMajor Streams

Paved RoadSoquel Demonstration State ForestHelipad Disclaimer: This map and any data within shall be used for

reference only. The State of California and CAL FIRE make norepresentations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data ormaps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable underany circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, orconsequential damages with respect to any claim by any user orthird party on account of or arising from the use of data or maps.Mileage Markercontour interval = 40'

Print Date: May 2015 - Headley

Unpaved Road

Trail

#Spur Road