Skip to content
Byway
Nature reserve · California

Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve

Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve from directly overhead

Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve is a nature reserve in California, at a modelled elevation of 56 m. Loma Prieta stands 1,154 m to the northeast, 16 miles off. The nearest named place is Santa Cruz holding 4, a park 0.4 miles away. Big Sur Coast Highway - Route 1 passes 28 miles off.

Visiting

What to expect

Operated by
City of Santa Cruz
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates36.96947, -122.06442

Overlooks nearby

Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
  • Santa Cruz holding 4: 0.4 mi
  • Moore Creek Overlook: 0.4 mi
  • University Terrace Park: 0.6 mi
  • Moore Creek Open Space: 0.6 mi
  • Round Tree Park: 0.7 mi
Nature reserves
Picnic sites
  • Volcano Commons Picnic Area: 0.9 mi
  • Wagner Grove: 1.6 mi
  • Friendship Picnic Area: 1.7 mi
  • Upper Glen Picnic Area: 1.7 mi
  • Millennium Circle: 1.7 mi
Artworks
  • Welcome to Santa Cruz: 1.0 mi
  • Guardian I: 1.5 mi
  • Untitled: 1.6 mi
  • Sesnon Art Gallery: 1.7 mi
  • Kresge Totem Pole: 1.8 mi
Historic sites
Attractions
  • Wilder Ranch: 1.2 mi
  • Monarch Eucalyptus Grove: 1.2 mi
  • Blue Whale Skeleton: 1.4 mi
  • Grey Whale Skeleton: 1.4 mi
  • Train Engine: 1.7 mi
Peaks
  • Horseback Hill: 1.6 mi
  • Bolcoff Hill: 2.8 mi
  • Prospect Hill: 2.8 mi
  • Table Rock: 3.9 mi
  • La Corona: 4.5 mi
Beaches: 52
  • Wilder Beach: 1.3 mi
  • De Anza Beach: 1.4 mi
  • Natural Bridges State Beach: 1.4 mi
  • Younger Beach: 1.4 mi
  • 2222 Beach: 1.5 mi
Gardens: 39
Museums: 34
Waterfalls: 25
  • Moose Lodge Falls: 4.5 mi
  • Ferndell: 5.7 mi
  • Maple Falls: 10.9 mi
  • Fairy Falls: 11.2 mi
  • Five Finger Falls: 12.5 mi
Springs: 15
  • Dodero Spring: 1.2 mi
  • Horse Trough Spring: 2.3 mi
  • Crystal Springs (private): 3.6 mi
  • Redwood Springs: 5.7 mi
  • Reggiardo Spring: 6.7 mi
Cliffs: 12
  • Chrystal Cliff: 1.8 mi
  • Anthony's Bluff: 2.0 mi
  • Upper Quarry: 2.0 mi
  • Upper Quarry: 2.1 mi
  • Sand Hill Bluff: 5.0 mi
Ghost towns: 10
Lighthouses: 3
Covered bridges: 2
Natural arches: 1
  • Natural Bridges Rock Arch: 1.4 mi
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 18.2 miles of Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Loma PrietaNE 51°1,154 m15.6 mi
Crystal PeakNE 52°1,097 m16.1 mi
Mount UmunhumNE 35°1,063 m16.0 mi
Mount ThayerNNE 31°1,061 m15.6 mi
Mount ChualNE 51°1,046 m16.4 mi
Mount BielawskiN 355°985 m17.6 mi
Castle RockN 354°979 m18.0 mi
El SombrosoNNE 30°917 m16.8 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1318:4619:20
June solstice05:5019:5320:32
September equinox06:5718:3219:07
December solstice07:1916:1516:56

Local time (America/Los_Angeles).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: year-round.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F525355586063646565625651
Precip in6.46.14.32.00.90.20.00.00.11.33.26.0

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Santa Cruz, 4 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element relation/7062682

More nature reserves in California

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Plan a driveMore nature reserves
Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens