Skip to content
Byway
Nature reserve · California

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park from directly overhead

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a nature reserve in California, at a modelled elevation of 248 m. Loma Prieta stands 1,154 m to the north-northeast, 6.0 miles off. The nearest named place is Fairy Falls, a waterfall 0.4 miles away. Big Sur Coast Highway - Route 1 passes 30 miles off.

The record

What the record says

Built
1963
Visiting

What to expect

Operated by
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Access
Yes

Official site

Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates37.02897, -121.87980
Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Attractions
Historic sites
Picnic sites
  • Porter Family Picnic Area: 1.7 mi
  • Mary Easton Picnic Area: 2.1 mi
  • George's Picnic Area: 2.4 mi
  • Pourroy Picnic Area: 3.3 mi
  • Emmet Reed Picnic Area: 3.4 mi
Peaks
Parks
  • Valencia Hall Park: 2.4 mi
  • Polo Grounds Park: 3.3 mi
  • Aptos Village Park: 3.7 mi
  • Enchanted Valley Community Center: 4.0 mi
  • Seacliff Village Park: 4.1 mi
Gardens: 60
  • Ksitigarbha Garden: 3.2 mi
  • Tiger Lily Garden: 3.3 mi
  • Bamboo Giant Nursery: 3.4 mi
  • Roses of Yesterday: 5.2 mi
  • afe native plant garden: 8.0 mi
Artworks
  • Cabrillo Gallery: 3.7 mi
  • Windfalls: 4.1 mi
  • Skyball: 4.9 mi
  • Skyball: 4.9 mi
  • Skyball: 5.0 mi
Nature reserves
Museums: 58
Beaches: 49
Springs: 24
  • Olive Springs: 2.9 mi
  • Badger Spring: 4.0 mi
  • Sulpher Springs: 4.0 mi
  • Crystal Springs (private): 8.0 mi
  • Old Growth Spring: 8.7 mi
Waterfalls: 23
  • Fairy Falls: 0.4 mi
  • Maple Falls: 1.5 mi
  • Five Finger Falls: 1.7 mi
  • Basin Falls: 5.5 mi
  • Upper Falls: 5.6 mi
Cliffs: 12
  • Capitola Bluffs: 5.3 mi
  • Anthony's Bluff: 9.0 mi
  • Chrystal Cliff: 9.2 mi
  • Upper Quarry: 10.0 mi
  • Upper Quarry: 10.0 mi
Ghost towns: 10
Lighthouses: 2
  • Santa Cruz West Breakwater Light: 8.2 mi
  • Santa Cruz Lighthouse: 9.7 mi
Covered bridges: 2
Natural arches: 1
  • Natural Bridges Rock Arch: 11.3 mi
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 15.4 miles of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Loma PrietaNNE 19°1,154 m6.0 mi
Crystal PeakNNE 23°1,097 m6.3 mi
Mount UmunhumN 353°1,063 m9.1 mi
Mount ThayerNNW 347°1,061 m9.6 mi
Mount ChualNNE 22°1,046 m6.7 mi
El SombrosoN 351°917 m10.5 mi
Ralph's MountainNNW 340°828 m9.1 mi
Santa Rosalia MountainNNE 24°806 m3.3 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1218:4519:20
June solstice05:4919:5320:31
September equinox06:5618:3219:06
December solstice07:1816:1416:55

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, 7 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element relation/10558949

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 The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.

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