The Forest of Nisene Marks is a State Park located in Aptos, California (37|03|N|121|90|W) and contains over 40 miles (64 km) of hiking trails and fire roads through approximately 10,000 acres (40 km) of variable terrain. The park was named for Nisene Marks, a passionate nature lover and the mother of a Salinas farming family that purchased the land from lumber companies (and others), in the hopes of finding oil. Nisene's children donated the 9,7...
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The Forest of Nisene Marks is a State Park located in Aptos, California (37|03|N|121|90|W) and contains over 40 miles (64 km) of hiking trails and fire roads through approximately 10,000 acres (40 km) of variable terrain. The park was named for Nisene Marks, a passionate nature lover and the mother of a Salinas farming family that purchased the land from lumber companies (and others), in the hopes of finding oil. Nisene's children donated the 9,700 acres (39 km) of land in her memory, to the State of California (with the help of the Nature Conservancy) in 1963 after drilling efforts had failed to find any oil. The California State Parks department, with additional help from the Save-the-Redwoods League, expanded the park to 10,036 acres (40.61 km). The park is on land that was clear-cut during a forty-year period of logging (1883-1923) by the Loma Prieta Lumber Company. Visitors can still find evidence of logging operations, mill sites and trestles in the park. The park offers rugged...
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