Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve - Santa Cruz, California

Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve

Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a unique and fascinating nature preserve located in Santa Cruz, California. Situated at Address: Martin Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States, this ecological reserve offers visitors an opportunity to explore a rare geological wonder that is both beautiful and educational.

Specialties

• Nature preserve: Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is a protected area that preserves the unique ecosystem and geological features of the region.
• Tourist attraction: The reserve attracts visitors from all over, who come to appreciate its natural beauty and learn about its fascinating history.

Other Points of Interest

• Wheelchair-accessible entrance: The reserve is designed to be accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities.
• Hiking: Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve offers several hiking trails that wind through the reserve, allowing visitors to explore the area on foot.
• Good for kids: The reserve is an excellent destination for families with children, as the unique geological features and diverse wildlife are sure to captivate young minds.
• Kid-friendly hikes: The hiking trails at Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve are suitable for children and offer a safe and educational outdoor experience.

Opinions and Reviews

Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve has received 41 reviews on Google My Business, with an impressive average rating of 4.5/5. Visitors consistently praise the reserve's unique geological features, diverse flora and fauna, and the educational value of the hiking trails. Many also appreciate the wheelchair-accessible entrance and the kid-friendly nature of the reserve, making it a great destination for families.

"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."

"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."

Contact Information

For more information about Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve, visit their official website or contact them directly at 707-944-5500.

Final Recommendation

If you're looking for a unique and educational outdoor experience in Santa Cruz, be sure to visit Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve. With its fascinating geological features, diverse wildlife, and kid-friendly hiking trails, there's something for everyone at this exceptional nature preserve. Don't miss the opportunity to explore this hidden gem – contact the reserve today at 707-944-5500 or visit their website for more information.

👍 Reviews of Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve

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.

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.

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!

Natacha S.

5/5

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

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.

Sara S.

5/5

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

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.