Shaping the Future of Trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Are our trails working for everyone?

That’s one of the underlying questions in a unique regional study by the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network (SCMSN), a collaboration of 25 organizations — including POST! — working together to care for the wild and beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains.

Some of you may remember our request for input to help us better understand how people use (or don’t use) local trails. After a two-year period of surveys and analysis, we’re pleased to share some findings, both expected and unexpected.

The Challenge

Caring for our region’s vast open spaces is a mighty feat. It takes an equally mighty network of organizations and agencies, working both independently and together. Each brings its own goals, management approach, data systems, and capacity to the table, whether operating at the state, regional, or local level. This study set out to look across those differences and imagine a regional trail network that’s healthy, welcoming, and resilient for both people and nature.

The Study

The study takes a bird’s-eye view of the Santa Cruz Mountains  — covering 1,195 square miles from redwood-covered peaks to bay coastlines.

After gathering the available knowledge from maps, data, and past projects, the SCMSN went straight to the people  — trail lovers and trail newcomers alike  — to learn what’s working, what’s missing, and what people dream of for their outdoor experiences and inform sustainability goals. These include:

• Enact Purposeful Design and Planning that strives to meet the public’s broad recreational trail needs, including the users’ experience.
• Foster Equitable Access to recreational opportunities for all people, particularly for those who have historically been excluded, and reduce barriers to entry.
• Balance Recreation and Biodiversity Conservation by providing connections and access opportunities in a way that adequately protects regional biodiversity.
• Protect Natural and Cultural/Historic Resources as a primary focus in designing, building, and maintaining trails.

Key Findings

• 

  Tailor Trails to Community Needs. Instead of funding projects people might not want, the study revealed areas where SCMSN partners can maximize resources. Over 75% of equestrian users want more equestrian trails, over 50% of dog-owner users want more on-leash dog trails, mountain bike and e-mountain bike users want more bike trails (66% and 75%, respectively), and 25% of respondents want more hiking trails. 

• Create Trails Everyone Can Access. Trail awareness (outreach), access (transportation, physical ability), and inclusion (hospitality, culture, language) are all equity considerations. For example, 69% of study respondents identified as white, but representation for non-white trail users was much lower than in the general population. 
• Balance Recreation and Conservation. Trails are popular and demand is growing. That means open space operators need practices that can meet rising visitor expectations while still preserving natural habitat. 
• Nurture Natural Resources. Most responses focused on accessing and using trails, but some were concerned with managing invasive plant species, habitat, and waste. Others suggested interpretive signage about seasonal closures and coexisting with wildlife. 
• Horses are a Mane Attraction. One surprise? Most equestrian users (44%) are from Santa Cruz County. In addition, 10% of riders stay overnight compared to 1% of other trail users.
• More Time, Please. Thirty percent of users would like to embark on multi-day trips (only 6% of trail users do that currently).

The People’s Choice

Wondering what the study area’s most popular trail is?

Wilder Ranch State Park is by far the top destination for hikers, runners, dog owners, and bikers!

These are the 5 most popular open spaces after Wilder Ranch. How many have you visited?

• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 
• The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
• Soquel Demonstration State Forest 
• Monte Bello Preserve
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park

What’s Your Frequency? Over half (52%) of trail users are out in open space every week, while nearly 30% visit monthly and 11% visit daily.

What’s Next

SCMSN partners are rolling up their sleeves to figure out where their individual expertise and resources can enhance trail experiences for everyone. For example, Santa Cruz County Parks will use this data to help develop its first-ever trail master plan. And other partners are in the early stages of exploring options for improving amenities, connectivity, and building new trails.

Remember, caring for our trails is a community effort, and you can be part of it. Learn more about the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network to see how 25 organizations are joining forces to shape the future of our open spaces. Then, take the next step: hit the trail at one of the region’s most-loved parks, volunteer with local partners to keep them healthy, or support efforts that make trails more welcoming and resilient for everyone.