Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve - Santa Cruz, California

Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve

Located in Santa Cruz, California, the Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a nature preserve and tourist attraction that offers breathtaking views and unique geological features. The reserve is situated on Martin Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, and can be reached by calling 7079445500 for more information.

The reserve is known for its well-maintained trails that take visitors through a fascinating geological area with varied landscapes and microclimates. The area receives considerably more rainfall than other parts of Santa Cruz county due to its sandy soil, giving it a unique appearance. Despite the initial appearance, the reserve is well worth the visit.

Specialties and Features

• Nature preserve
• Tourist attraction
• Wheelchair-accessible entrance
• Hiking
• Good for kids
• Kid-friendly hikes

The reserve offers a variety of trails for hikers of all skill levels, making it an excellent choice for families and nature enthusiasts. The unique geological features and varied landscapes provide a fascinating experience for visitors. Whether you're interested in nature, hiking, or simply want to explore a new area, Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a great destination to consider.

Other Points of Interest

Some popular attractions in the area include:

• Redwoods
• Wildlife viewing
• Scenic views

The reserve is open to visitors and offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With its unique features and well-maintained trails, Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in nature and the outdoors.

Average Opinion

based on 44 reviews on Google My Business, the average opinion for Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is 4.5/5 stars. Reviewers praise the reserve's natural beauty, unique geological features, and well-maintained trails. While some reviewers mention that the reserve can be crowded, the overall consensus is that it is a great destination for nature lovers and families.

Specialties and Features Summary

The Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve offers a unique blend of natural beauty, geological features, and outdoor recreational activities. With its well-maintained trails, wheelchair-accessible entrance, and kid-friendly hikes, it is an excellent choice for families and nature enthusiasts. Whether you're interested in hiking, wildlife viewing, or simply want to explore a new area, Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a great destination to consider.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a unique and fascinating destination that offers a range of natural beauty, geological features, and outdoor recreational activities. With its well-maintained trails, wheelchair-accessible entrance, and kid-friendly hikes, it is an excellent choice for families and nature lovers. We highly recommend visiting Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve for a peaceful and enriching experience.

👍 Reviews of Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve

John R.

5/5

Beautiful trails through a fascinating and unique geological area. Great views and a microclimate that has always intrigued me. This area of Santa Cruz county gets considerably more rainfall than any other yet because of the sandy soil it doesn’t appear that way. Well worth the visit.

Julie H.

5/5

Open, sunny, quiet, easy hiking. Protected native Santa Cruz Sandhills habitat. Some areas closed because of damage from the August 2020 CZU fire. Plenty of trees, wild grasses and flowers, regrowth, and birdlife. One of the Santa Cruz Mountains' underreported gems. Recommended. New interpretive signs along the trails and at the parking lot adjacent to the Bonny Doon Volunteer fire station. Plenty of parking.

Katrina C.

5/5

Pretty cool to see an ancient beach uplifted several hundred feet! The flora here is more like Southern California Backcountry than anything else you'll find around Monterey Bay. Very unique and interesting environment with great views, lots of birds, and beach sand not even close to the shore.

J B.

4/5

Nice quiet park with a limited number of trails.
Just visited (5 July 2021) for first time today. About half the trails are closed, likely due to fire damage from last season.

The map at the park isn't the easiest to read - see Strava map for all open trails (you will reach a dead end going left or right once you cross the road and get on trail).

The confusing part is that if you make the right after getting on the trail from the parking lot, the Bonny Doon trails will end (you can't make the turn because the trail is closed), but the trail continues straight to another trail system. It isn't indicated on the park maps that there are more connecting trails and there's no sign on the trail saying you're leaving Bonny Doon. After ~0.6 mile from that intersection (photo 5), you end up at a river crossing and can keep going for quite a while on different trails. Alltrails has a map of the area (also posted as pic).

Enjoy!

Sara S.

5/5

great hike added the new Laguna Creek trail for 700 feet of elevation gain

Natacha S.

5/5

Beautiful ecological reserve with a diversity of environments between sand dunes, wildflowers and tall trees.

Mark S.

5/5

Beautiful and quiet nature preserve. Well maintained trails and signage with a number of routes to choose from. Good views of the nearby Moon Rocks sandstone formations.

Matt M.

3/5

Sandy trail in Bonny Doon that the first half of the main outer loop has very little shade. Pretty hot. Parking lot is across the street from the trail head. Trail intersection are pretty well marked.