Pogonip

Park Location

333 Golf Club Drive, Santa Cruz, Ca, 95060

Size

640 Acres

Website

http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/parks-beaches-open-spaces/open-spaces/pogonip

Phone

Parks and Recreation Department, City of Santa Cruz (831) 420-5270

Established

1988 - As a City Park using funding from the CALPAW State Bond Act to increase the Greenbelt

Features

Hiking Trails (see list below) Downloadable trail map available at the above website
Lime Kilns
Redwoods, Creeks, Ocean Views
Pogonip Historic Clubhouse
The Koi pond on the Spring Box Trail
No on-site parking, telephones, restrooms or water fountains
Entrances:
- Golf Club Drive: On- street parking west of Highway 9 / east of the Railroad trestle (Hiking only/Dogs on leash)
- Harvey West Park - Trailhead near Friendship Garden (Hiking only/No dogs)
- Spring Street - Limited parking on residential street (Hiking only/Dogs on leash)
- UCSC Upper Campus - Fuel Break Road - Multi-Use Trail Entrance (Hiking, Bicycles and Horses permitted/No Dogs)
- Mclaughlin Drive (UCSC Campus) - No parking (Hiking only/Dogs on leash)
- Glen Coolidge Drive (UCSC Campus) - Unmarked trail from dirt pullout connects to Spring Trail
- Henry Cowell State Park - Rincon Connector Trail - Multi-Use Trail Entrance (Hiking, Bicycles and Horses permitted/No Dogs)||

Description

Adjacent to UCSC, this park is a great place to go for a walk! It was used as a location in the film Lost Boys and the word Pogonip itself means 'icy fog' in Shoshone. According to Margaret Koch in the book "Santa Cruz County - Parade of the Past", Santa Cruz County's first golf course, the Santa Cruz Golf and Country Club, was located in the area where Pogonip is today. The golf and country club was established by Fred Swanton. Pogonip Creek is near the San Lorenzo River. There are no restrooms, water fountains, or telephones inside the park, and bicycles and horses are prohibited on all but 1 mile of 8 miles of trails. Dogs are allowed on leash on certain marked trails.

Wildlife and Vegetation

The pogonip consists of a mix of forested areas and meadow.

A few of the animals you may encounter include:

Mammals: Squirrels, Deer, Mountain Lions, Rabbits, Gophers, Voles, Bats, Coyotes, Bobcats
Birds: Kites, Hawks, Bluebirds, Owls, Chickadees, Robins, Woodpeckers, Sparrows
Reptiles and Amphibians: Garter Snakes, Lizards, Salamanders
Bugs and Insects: Banana Slug, Beetles
Endangered species:

Dangers and Annoyances

Mountain Lions have been spotted periodically in the park. Spottings are rare, but if you see one, it is important to notify the park ranger so that park officials and park visitors can be made aware of possible danger.

Ticks are common in the pogonip, and are potentially dangerous in that they can carry and transmit diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and other diseases. Check your skin as well as your dog's fur for ticks and remove them promptly.

Railroad tracks cross through the park in several places near the easternmost border. Trains use these tracks frequently, so it is important to stay off them for your own safety.

Poison Oak is very common in the pogonip. Luckily, the plant is easily identifiable, and easily avoidable if you stay on well-marked trails. Exposure can cause a profuse itchy rash on the skin, but is relatively harmless to most people.

Heroin dealing is reported to have become common in the park.