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Forest Of Nisene Marks & Soquel Demonstration Forest Mountain Bike Trail
Santa Cruz, California
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
11 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 8/19/09 by dkifer |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 20 miles | Global Rank: 3 |
| Tread: Fire Road | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 177 | Wishlist: 98 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.24 mph | Avg. Time: 2hr 33min |
Directions:
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Description: You can either cllimb up Highland Way (long route) or start across the bridge through the fireroad. If you climb up Highland Way, continue on the road until the first fireroad off to the right. Continue the climb into the Forest of Nisene Marks. At the sign, take the fireroad down to the left and do a little more climbing until you see a singletrack trail to the right. You can take the singletrack up through the woods (relatively easy climbing, with one short steep uphill) but the fireroad will join up at the end of the singletrack run. Go left on the fireroad for yet more climbing. Take another left onto Aptos Creek Rd and cross over the gate for yes, still more climbing. You will eventually get to a clearing where you can take a right onto the Ridge trail and take a glimpse at the trail map. Off of the ridge trail, you have a few options for getting back downhill: Sawpit, Tractor, Braille, Sulphur Springs trails. Tractor trail is a fun long singletrack downhill, well worth the climb. A little bumpy at first, but smooths out so you can go top speed. When you spit out on the fireroad, head right for a gradual climb back out towards the bridge where you parked. Though there is a lot of climbing in the Demo Forest, it is mostly on fireroad and in the shade. You will be glad you did it because the downhill really pays off!
Description: You can either cllimb up Highland Way (long route) or start across the bridge through the fireroad. If you climb up Highland Way, continue on the road until the first fireroad off to the right. Continue the climb into the Forest of Nisene Marks. At the sign, take the fireroad down to the left and do a little more climbing until you see a singletrack trail to the right. You can take the singletrack up through the woods (relatively easy climbing, with one short steep uphill) but the fireroad will join up at the end of the singletrack run. Go left on the fireroad for yet more climbing. Take another left onto Aptos Creek Rd and cross over the gate for yes, still more climbing. You will eventually get to a clearing where you can take a right onto the Ridge trail and take a glimpse at the trail map. Off of the ridge trail, you have a few options for getting back downhill: Sawpit, Tractor, Braille, Sulphur Springs trails. Tractor trail is a fun long singletrack downhill, well worth the climb. A little bumpy at first, but smooths out so you can go top speed. When you spit out on the fireroad, head right for a gradual climb back out towards the bridge where you parked. Though there is a lot of climbing in the Demo Forest, it is mostly on fireroad and in the shade. You will be glad you did it because the downhill really pays off!
added on August 17, 2003 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Bullards Barr Trail in Camptonvile
Ucsc in Santa Cruz
Fiddle Creek in Downieville
North Yuba in Downieville
NEARBY TRAILS
- Rancho Canada Del Oro in Morgan Hill (6.5 miles away)
- Sand Point in Aptos (6.8 miles away)
- Old Growth in Aptos (6.8 miles away)
- Santa Teresa Park in San Jose (10.4 miles away)
- Sierra Azul Open Space in Los Gatos (11.9 miles away)
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by daylight on August 31, 2009
This is my favorite trail in the South Bay. We usually climb up Highland way (the long route - recommended because you get an extra stretch of Ridge to do), descend on Ridge, then Braille, and climb up Sulphur Springs to do a second run on the trail of our choice. My favorites here, in order: Braille, Sawpit (though I only did it the first time at Demo, due to the long climb out), and Tractor. Bring a friend when you're biking here.. Demo isn't the kind of place where you want to ride alone and get hurt.
Similar Trail: Corte Madera
reviewed by mtrailblazer on February 20, 2009
Wooooow... this is what mtbing is really about... Demo forest, my new found favorite.
reviewed by jimryan on October 22, 2008
I can't imagine anyone thinking this trail system is "Intermediate." I have ridden the Northern California trails for years. From Marin and Napa to Lake Tahoe down to Big Sur. I've visited the fine trails in the North, South, Midwest and I was there for the first mountain biking event of the Olympics in Georgia. Nisene and SDF are advanced serious trails. Exceptional trails.
* Review edited 10/23/2008
Similar Trail: Ft Ord (Trails 82, 59, 49, 50)
reviewed by TrojanMonkey on July 5, 2008
Maaaan, was this fun. Climbed up the fire road, bombed down Sawpit, climbed Tractor, and flew (I do mean flew) down Braille. I've fallen off condition, so the climbing was really tough, but sooo worth the downhill. I'll admit to being somewhat skeptical as to just how good this ride would be, after hearing everybody rave about Demo, but it really is the best in the area. I need to pound out some hills and then do it again, and again, and again.
reviewed by pyros46290 on March 15, 2008
DEMO FOREST ROX!! ridden here a few times with my buddy who knows the trails pretty well and i had so much fun. definately coming back here
reviewed by littlfubar on February 24, 2008
So far the best singletrack ridden in Nor Cal. A smooth incline up the fireroad allows for reasonable access to the top. Plenty of room for fast riding on the single track on your way back down. Currently the road is out if you are coming from the west. You have to park at the end and ride about 1mi to the bridge.
reviewed by tumbleweed14 on July 7, 2007
Great Trail! I would raise a pint to those who worked so hard on making Braille Trail the most fun I have had in months. Thanks! Lots of Jumps, drops, carves, and overall one of the most fun singletrack decents I have done. The fire roads up are fine but nothing special, and the view of the Pacific is grand.
reviewed by joeandnicole on May 19, 2006
Road to trail has been washed out by land slide. Signs say road closed, but you can make it to trail.. Trail is one of the best I have hit.. Well worth the risk of getting there..
Similar Trail: Wilder
reviewed by gab26 on April 2, 2006
Fun stuff out here. The ridge is fun in itself then you got your choices of Sawpit, Tractor or Braile. A favorite is to ride down Sawpit up Tractor then down Braile. For all out speed warp ride down Tractor.
reviewed by Juan_Gear on June 18, 2005
Just did Highland to Sawpit loop today 32/17 toooohigh a gear with 2.4s Maybe 32/18 for the wet conditions
reviewed by Juan_Gear on June 12, 2005
Don't stop at Sand Point go on up to overlook and rop into Demo do Tractor or Sawpit for a 50+ mile loop on your Single Speed. Toast for a week
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