Mountain Ear
by MaryBeth
*written pre fire
Are you craving the outdoors more than ever during the coronavirus lockdown? The long-awaited warm weather is finally here. These days, with social distancing rules still in place, it can be difficult to get outdoors, and to know whether or not to.
Hikes, picnics or bike rides along a tree-lined path feel a long way off when you’re quarantined in a low-light basement apartment or a condo without a balcony, and you’re screen-saturated from work, school and social gatherings.
This sense of disconnection from the natural world is not surprising. Even prior to coronavirus lockdowns, most of us were spending 90 percent of our time indoors.
Prior to the coronavirus, many of us commuted to workplaces on foot or bike, enjoyed outdoor excursions and had our sights set on summertime camping and cottaging. Now, COVID cabin fever might be setting in.
For those who cannot get out, studies also make clear that views of nature, caring for plants and even digital images of nature can have positive impacts on stress.
So where is your next adventure? Here are a few spots that people love about the Santa Cruz area. Santa Cruz County has lots of hidden gems when it comes to the great outdoors.
The Forest of Nisene Marks is a refreshing retreat from the busy towns and beaches along Hwy 1 near Santa Cruz. Most visitors come to picnic near Aptos Creek or to hike, jog, or bike on 30 miles of trails in semi-wilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is most famous for its 40-acre grove of towering old-growth, redwood trees. Its historical significance and spectacular scenery draw travelers from around the world. Explore and enjoy hiking and camping on more than 4,650 acres of forested and open land.
The Lime Kilns at Fall Creek in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is the site of one of the many abandoned lime kilns and quarries in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Santa Cruz was a major source for lime in the late 1800s. Lime kilns were made to heat marble or limestone to extract the lime, which was used in making mortar and later Portland cement and concrete. The lime was shipped to San Francisco in wooden barrels to fuel the rapid building of the city. Lime operations in the area stopped between the 1920s and 1940s.
Berry Creek Falls Loop – Boulder Creek. Numerous redwood groves and breathtaking waterfalls grace this long trek. The length may be too difficult for some people to complete, but the overall difficulty of this trail is moderate as it is well-traveled and gently graded. “This loop is regarded as one the most beautiful hikes in the Bay Area.”
Santa Cruz is an expensive place to live. The cost makes protecting nature expensive. Farmland is $60,000+ an acre. California’s strong environmental rules make it expensive to plan, obtain permits and build anything.
