The Art & Wine Festival closes Highway 9
so we had to take a detour through the hills above town.
Highway 9 just south of downtown
Starting from the
Santa Cruz County Horsemans Assoc Showgrounds
in Santa Cruz, we took the Graham Hill Trail
to the Powder Mill Trail through the woods.
Santa Cruz County Horsemans Assoc Showgrounds
in Santa Cruz, we took the Graham Hill Trail
to the Powder Mill Trail through the woods.
Redwoods on the Powder Mill Trail
Creek Crossing on Powder Mill Trail
Creek bed
Powder Mill Trail rises to road
Rainforest-type winters give forest a tropical feel
Hollow-bottom redwood - Faeries live here
Afternoon light is so beautiful through the trees
Old burn area on Pine Trail
Bella & sticky monkey flowers
Sticky monkey flower bushes line the trail
Trail goes up to the highest point in the park where there is an observation deck.
South view - that's Monterey Bay out there, and you can make out the outline of the Monterey Hills beyond.
Telephoto of Monterey Bay - it's a little too hazy to make out clearly
Pine Trail going south (we came up this way)
Park Trail Map at the Observation Deck
Went down the Ridge Road to the Rincon Trail. This is looking up-hill from the trail at the debris of a fallen redwood
Looking downhill at debris of a fallen redwood
Went down the Big Hole Rock Trail to the San Lorenzo River
San Lorenzo River
This is where the Big Hole Rock Trail crosses the river to the Buckeye Trail which then follows the river on the other side, but then there's another river crossing which should take you back up the hill (still Buckeye Trail) to the Powder Mill Trail.
Bella steps carefully on the river rocks while crossing to the other side
Foxglove grows in the river canyon
San Lorenzo River and "beach"
Looped around and here we are again back at the creek crossing on the Powder Mill Trail
Small creek cascade
Bella back at the trail at the showgrounds.