Wilder Ranch State Park
Encyclopedia
Wilder Ranch State Park is a California State Park on the Pacific Ocean
coast north of Santa Cruz, California
. The park was formerly a dairy ranch, established in the late 19th century by the Wilder family and operated until 1969. The dairy ranch, in turn, was originally part of Rancho Refugio
, a Mexican land grant of 1839. Historic buildings include part of the rancho adobe, the 1897 Victorian farm house and other structures. Many of these have been restored for use as a museum. There are no campgrounds; a day-use parking lot provides access to the museum. Dogs are prohibited on the trails, but many trails allow bikes or horses. The long trails and ocean views make the area a favorite of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers
.
campus. The addition of Gray Whale Ranch, plus more recent additions, results in a park totaling 7000 acre (28.3 km²) that extends 7.5 mi (12.1 km) up-slope from the coast and creates a swath of publicly owned land from the shore all the way to the town of Felton
. The main ranch road (dirt) extends through Wilder Ranch to the coast, and in the other direction connects to a fire road on the UCSC campus.
The former Gray Whale Ranch also contains the ruins of a lime manufacturing operation, including a quarry and lime kilns built by early lime manufacturer Samuel Adams in the mid-19th century. The ranch and lime works were later acquired by industrialist Henry Cowell.
Spelunking is one popular activity on Gray Whale Ranch, although most cavers try to prevent the location of the caves from becoming widely known. The main cave frequented by spelunkers is known as Hell Hole; the main destination inside is the Hall of Faces, a clay room where people leave sculptures and sign a book. Getting to the Hall of Faces is no easy task, and requires descending the 90 foot (27 m) vertical called the Pit. Barricades are periodically placed in the caves to prevent entry, but these barriers are typically removed fairly quickly.
The Gray Whale Ranch had been zoned only for logging but was considered for further development before the Save-the-Redwoods League
, a private conservation group, bought the land in 1996 for $13.4 million and transferred it to the State Parks Department. The California Coastal Conservancy
and the state Wildlife Conservation Board each contributed to help State Parks acquire the property for just over $1 million.
is a marine protected area along the coast of Wilder Ranch State Park and part of the adjacent Natural Bridges State Beach
. The long, narrow Reserve area is bounded by the mean high tide line and a distance of 200 feet seaward of mean lower low water. This protected area helps conserve ocean tidal-zone wildlife and marine ecosystems.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
coast north of Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. The park was formerly a dairy ranch, established in the late 19th century by the Wilder family and operated until 1969. The dairy ranch, in turn, was originally part of Rancho Refugio
Rancho Refugio
Rancho Refugio was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to María Candida, Jacinta, and María de los Angeles Castro...
, a Mexican land grant of 1839. Historic buildings include part of the rancho adobe, the 1897 Victorian farm house and other structures. Many of these have been restored for use as a museum. There are no campgrounds; a day-use parking lot provides access to the museum. Dogs are prohibited on the trails, but many trails allow bikes or horses. The long trails and ocean views make the area a favorite of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
.
Gray Whale Ranch
In 1996 the state acquired the adjacent Gray Whale Ranch. The 2305 acre (9.3 km²) parcel contains many long trails, extending from the northern boundary of Wilder Ranch to the University of California, Santa CruzUniversity of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
campus. The addition of Gray Whale Ranch, plus more recent additions, results in a park totaling 7000 acre (28.3 km²) that extends 7.5 mi (12.1 km) up-slope from the coast and creates a swath of publicly owned land from the shore all the way to the town of Felton
Felton, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Felton had a population of 4,057. The population density was 891.2 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Felton was 3,691 White, 25 African American, 29 Native American, 69 Asian, 11 Pacific Islander, 60 from other races, and 172 from...
. The main ranch road (dirt) extends through Wilder Ranch to the coast, and in the other direction connects to a fire road on the UCSC campus.
The former Gray Whale Ranch also contains the ruins of a lime manufacturing operation, including a quarry and lime kilns built by early lime manufacturer Samuel Adams in the mid-19th century. The ranch and lime works were later acquired by industrialist Henry Cowell.
Spelunking is one popular activity on Gray Whale Ranch, although most cavers try to prevent the location of the caves from becoming widely known. The main cave frequented by spelunkers is known as Hell Hole; the main destination inside is the Hall of Faces, a clay room where people leave sculptures and sign a book. Getting to the Hall of Faces is no easy task, and requires descending the 90 foot (27 m) vertical called the Pit. Barricades are periodically placed in the caves to prevent entry, but these barriers are typically removed fairly quickly.
The Gray Whale Ranch had been zoned only for logging but was considered for further development before the Save-the-Redwoods League
Save-the-Redwoods League
The Save the Redwoods League is an organization dedicated to the protection of the remaining Coast Redwood trees in the state of California. It was founded in 1918 by Frederick Russell Burnham, Madison Grant, John C. Merriam, and Henry Fairfield Osborn....
, a private conservation group, bought the land in 1996 for $13.4 million and transferred it to the State Parks Department. The California Coastal Conservancy
California Coastal Conservancy
The California Coastal Conservancy is a state agency in California established in 1976 to enhance coastal resources and access.-Goals:The agency's official goals are to:*Protect and improve coastal wetlands, streams and watersheds...
and the state Wildlife Conservation Board each contributed to help State Parks acquire the property for just over $1 million.
Marine Protected Area
Natural Bridges State Marine ReserveNatural Bridges State Marine Reserve
Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve is a marine protected area located at the northern edge of Santa Cruz, California, approximately south of San Francisco. The SMR covers The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing or other removal of any living marine resource is...
is a marine protected area along the coast of Wilder Ranch State Park and part of the adjacent Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach is a California state park in Santa Cruz, California in the United States. The park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach. It is also well known as a hotspot to see monarch butterfly migrations...
. The long, narrow Reserve area is bounded by the mean high tide line and a distance of 200 feet seaward of mean lower low water. This protected area helps conserve ocean tidal-zone wildlife and marine ecosystems.