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A branch of oak leaves changing from greenish-yellow to rusty orange hangs above a view a green canyon to the forested slopes of the Santa Cruz mountains beyond from Castle Rock State Park

Fall and Winter Hikes

As thermometers and leaves drop, crisp air and leaves beckon us outside to appreciate a different side of the Santa Cruz mountains’ wild beauty – colorful leaves, sparkling creeks, migrating birds, curious mushrooms, and of course banana slugs and elephant seals. If you’re looking for trails and places to enjoy the change of seasons this fall and winter, you’re in luck! Our staff are revealing their favorite places to go in the Santa Cruz mountains now.

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Looking from yellow lupine blooms along one of Año Nuevo Vista’s ridges to forested slopes of redwoods recovering post-fire, and down to the glittering Pacific Ocean beneath a clear blue sky, by Orenda Randuch

Protect Año Nuevo Vista

From glittering white ridges to the glittering Pacific Ocean, Año Nuevo’s breathtaking views boast much of what makes the Santa Cruz mountains special. Its shady redwood forest and sunny chaparral interspersed with rare white sands known as “the chalks” support endangered plants and animals. Together, we can protect Año Nuevo Vista’s forest and watershed from development and help connect the largest protected lands and wildlife habitat.

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The shady, flat dirt Redwood Grove Loop trail edged by a low fence and sun dappled redwoods leads into the old-growth grove of trees at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, by Verónica Silva-Miranda

Healing Under Redwood Groves

“I’ve known for years that I struggled with high blood pressure, I would feel a pressure in my arm or my hands would start to throb or go numb. I learned to step away from what I was doing at that time and sit in a quiet space, close my eyes and think about what brings me peace; the redwood forest.” Hit the trail with Verónica Silva-Miranda, Latino Outdoors volunteer, to learn how the forest helps her navigate health challenges in her photo essay.

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A person stands on a sun-dappled trail looking up at the redwood trees towering above, by Canopy Dynamics

Introduction to Forest Bathing

Forest bathing, or “Shinrin-yoku” as it’s called in Japan where the practice was founded, is a way of immersing your senses in nature that has proven benefits for our physical and mental well being. Time in nature can boost our immune systems and creativity, settle our minds, and lower our stress levels. But how do you forest bathe? While an actual bath in the forest is not required, here’s an introduction to get started improving your connection with nature and your health.

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A sandy single-track trail disappears into low flowering plants with the tops of pines peeking up in the distance, by Orenda Randuch

Santa Cruz Sandhills

Among redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains you can find a habitat so rare it doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world: the Santa Cruz sandhills. Species uniquely adapted to its soil cling to their disappearing habitat long interwoven with redwoods. And you could be their best hope for survival. Explore the ancient rarities of sandhills and redwoods through the lens of photographer Orenda Randuch and learn more about the species and how you can help.

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Silhouetted forest descends to glittering sea out to mountains against a hazy sky tinted by sunset, by Orenda Randuch

Help Rebuild State Parks

Help California State Parks rebuild Big Basin, Butano, and Año Nuevo State Parks and protect the region’s incredible biodiversity devastated by the 2020 CZU Fire. Stay tuned for the next step to ask state leadership to rebuild State Parks and protect priority lands in the Santa Cruz mountains.

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The profile of a girl looking up with an out of focus redwood forest behind her, by Orenda Randuch

Living with Trees: A Historian’s Perspective for the Future

Like history, science is record keeping. By looking at trees through both human perspectives of science and culture, across time and the globe, Dr. Daniel Lewis, author, historian, and curator at one of the world’s most renowned research libraries, looks for how we might save trees to save ourselves.

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burned nearly bare mountains in the Gazos watershed after the CZU Fire by Ian Bornarth

Save Climate Funding in State Budget

With increasingly severe fires, floods, and sea level rise affecting the state each year, California should be rapidly investing to deploy climate mitigation measures and strengthen its resiliency as soon as possible. Ask your legislators to act on a climate bond in 2024.

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burned nearly bare mountains in the Gazos watershed after the CZU Fire by Ian Bornarth

California Climate Bond

With increasingly severe fires, floods, and sea level rise affecting the state each year, California should be rapidly investing to deploy climate mitigation measures and strengthen its resiliency as soon as possible. Ask your legislators to act on a climate bond in 2024.

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