Everyone deserves the opportunity to bask in the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Over the past several months, Midpen has been working on a series of improvements to parking areas and trails in our Skyline Ridge, Russian Ridge and Pulgas Ridge open space preserves to enhance easy-access opportunities and allow more people to enjoy these public lands.
The work has improved pathways from the Russian Ridge Preserve parking area on Alpine Road, the Skyline Ridge Preserve circle parking area and the Pulgas Ridge Preserve parking area to their respective trailheads in order to meet the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards by grading and paving ADA parking spots, accessible paths to the trailheads and access ramps.
The project also included regrading and resurfacing easy-access portions of the Horseshoe Lake Loop, Ipiwa and Cordilleras trails. Segments of these trails now have a steadier, flatter grade and are topped with a layer of Granitecrete, a material similar to concrete but with a more natural aesthetic and easier maintenance for Midpen staff in the future when repairs may become necessary.
Thanks to these improvements, visitors can now more easily access the Daniels Nature Center and Alpine Pond from the Russian Ridge Preserve parking area, as well as travel from the Skyline Ridge Preserve circle parking area around part of Horseshoe Lake to a scenic spot that is soon to be complete with picnic tables.
These new improvements are part of Midpen’s larger ADA Barrier Removal Project, which was created to systematically remove accessibility barriers at Midpen facilities and preserves.
Projects include modernization and ADA upgrades to restrooms, accessible parking and pathways, easy access trails, signage, facilities and other preserve amenities.