Mid-October 2015

Celebrate fall at Wilder Ranch State Park's Heritage Harvest Festival.

Wilder Ranch State Park invites you to experience old-time activities from its rancho, dairy farm, and cowboy rodeo days during the Heritage Harvest Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. There will be hands-on activities and living history presentations including baking on a wood-burning stove and apple cider press. There also will be square dancing, crafts, games, hand cranked pumpkin ice cream, apple tasting and wagon rides.

Wilder Ranch State Park covers approximately 7,000 acres, with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. Major wetland restoration projects have attracted some of the original flora and fauna back to the area. In the cultural complex, visitors can explore Victorian homes, barns, shops, gardens, the historic Bolcoff adobe, and discover the history of early ranchers and farmers through tours and living history demonstrations.

Wilder Ranch State Park is located two miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. Parking is $10 and supports the park. Learn more on our website.

Trail crews make an impact.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, young military veterans who are part of the special California Conservation Corps (CCC) began a trail project in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other partners at Coast Dairies, public lands just north of Wilder Ranch State Park on Highway 1. The 12-member conservation corps was joined by Candlestick Point Ecostewards Literacy for Environmental Justice youth volunteers, Pacific Gas and Electric Company employees, and local volunteers for a special field trip and workday in conjunction with National Public Lands Day.

The work day was organized by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. The partnership was made possible by a grant to Friends from the Conservation Lands Foundation with the generous support of PG&E. See more photos on Facebook.

Friends appreciates partnerships like this that help maintain local parks and beaches. If you would like to volunteer on a trail crew, there are several ways to get involved. The Trail Crew at Big Basin Redwoods State Park meets at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Catch up with them at Park Headquarters. The Advocates of the Forest of Nisene Marks also host trail work days. Email them for dates and times. Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz County will hold trail work days in Wilder Ranch State Park in October and November. Learn more and volunteer here.

Find weekend fun at local state parks and beaches.
Learn about local history or go on a guided hike this fall at Santa Cruz-area state parks and beaches. A robust calendar of events continues to happen at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Wilder Ranch State Park and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park during the off-season.

There's something happening every weekend! Check out the calendar of events here. The activities are free; parking at most parks is $10 and supports the park.

Work in State Parks!
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is hiring Park Visitor Service Aides for many State Parks and Beaches, including positions at Año Nuevo State Park for the elephant seal season.

Positions are available now. A job description and the application are available online. Learn more and apply.

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