What Do You Want to Do?
Our diverse parks and beaches have something for everyone. Find your next adventure!
Backcountry Trail Camps provide an incredible wilderness experience in the backyard of the Bay Area. Plan a backpacking trip and explore for yourself.
BACKPACKPay tribute to a loved one, celebrate a milestone or demonstrate community support with a Tribute Table.
GIFTImproving the resilience of our coastline starts with studying coastal processes, planning for change, and adapting to new conditions.
LEARNFriends of Santa Cruz State Parks is now hiring for a Finance Director position and a Visitor Service Aide position.
NOW HIRINGFriends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) is a vital partner with California State Parks, creatively working to ensure our cherished local parks and beaches are thriving and available to all. Friends’ innovative and collaborative community partnership provides support and investment for education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation and cultural events.
I want to help!
Why do our trails look like *that*???
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This is what happens when we hike, bike or horseback ride on muddy trails 😢 If you can leave an indent in the ground, the trail is too muddy to be using! When that trail dries, those indents are still left in the dirt, causing unevenness and erosion. Not only is it damaging to the trails, but if the trail is too muddy to drive on, emergency services will not be able to reach you if you have an emergency on a trail!
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Respecting trail closures helps make sure our trails aren't damaged like this one has become. Remember to always check for closures on the official California State Park website for your park of choice before heading out to recreate!
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Image Description: a dried trail with many divots, bumps and cracks in it. There are bike tire tracks, footprints and horseshoe prints left behind deep in the now uneven trail.
📍 Uypi Land #WilderRanch #WilderRanchStatePark #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks #SantaCruz #SantaCruzStateParks #VisitSantaCruz #ThingsToDoInSantaCruz #CaliforniaBeaches #ExploreSantaCruz #RecreateResponsibly #NatureLovers #GetOutside #LoveYourTrails
Due to the expected rain on Thursday, we are sad to announce we will be cancelling the Ranch Kid Homeschool Day event which was planned for this Thursday Feb. 13th! Please stay warm and dry, and we hope you'll join us at our fall semester Ranch Kid Homeschool day later this year.
📍 Uypi Land #WilderRanch #WilderRanchStatePark #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks #SantaCruz #SantaCruzStateParks #VisitSantaCruz #ThingsToDoInSantaCruz #CaliforniaBeaches #ExploreSantaCruz #RecreateResponsibly #NatureLovers #GetOutside #santacruzhomeschool #homeschoolcalifornia #homeschoolcaliforniahistory #thatsmypark #castateparks
Get your outdoor space ready for spring pollinators with a can of early-blooming, pollinator-friendly flowers! This lovely variety of blooms is easy to plant and provides nectar and shelter for native bees, honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Available at all ParkStores and the ParkStore Online - check out the link in our bio.
#thatsmypark #thatsmybeach #ParkStore #shop #Wildflowers #spring #Seeds #gardening #pollinators #Bees
Mushroom season is popping right now! 🍄 Become an amauteur mycologist at a local state park (we recommend The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park for optimum mushroom sightings!). Here are some fun things you can do during your exploration:
🔍 Observe - has something been munching on it, is it melting in the rain, what trees is it growing near?
📖 Identify - the ParkStore Online offers books and laminated guides to help! Check out our link in bio!
📷 Photograph - play around with camera angles to see mushrooms in a new light or try a magnifying glass or a clip on lens
Parking is $8 and helps Friends supports the park.
@santacruzmountainsstateparks
#thatsmypark #Mushrooms #Mycology #Wildlife #RainySeason #StateParks #Forest #Redwoods #Photography
Who's ready for Superb Owl Sunday?! We definitely are! No matter whooooo wins this weekend, don't forget to get outside in your Santa Cruz California State Parks before the rain comes back next week, or you might end up as grumpy ad our Great Horned Owl friend here.
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#SuperbOwlSunday #SuperbOwl #WilderRanch #WilderRanchStatePark #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks #SantaCruz #SantaCruzStateParks #VisitSantaCruz #ThingsToDoInSantaCruz #CaliforniaBeaches #ExploreSantaCruz #RecreateResponsibly #NatureLovers #GetOutside #Owl #GreatHornedOwl