Be watchful when visiting the preserve. With a little imagination and a good eye, telltale signs of past history are still evident. You might notice a flattened pad where a mill or cabin once stood, or the rusted remains of heavy equipment, abandoned when the mills were no longer economical to operate. Numerous logging roads are still evident, most of which are now trails. With a little help, nature has incredible healing powers: the deep canyons have regenerated dense stands of second-growth redwoods. While most of the giant old-growth redwoods were logged, a few awe-inspiring giants remain to be seen. - openspace.org
~ CK
The Spanish phrase “el corte de madera” roughly translates to “cutting wood,” referring to the clear-cut logging that took place here, starting in the 1860s. As San Francisco flourished following the discovery of gold in California, logging the coastal redwood forests supplied building materials for the growth. The remote nature of this preserve, coupled with its steep terrain, kept loggers away until the 1860s. Resourceful entrepreneurs spent the next 50 years building and operating eight different mills adjacent to the creeks of the preserve. Around the turn of the century, the mills were closed or nearing the end of their economic viability. Modern selective logging continued periodically until 1988, shortly after the preserve was created. - openspace.org
~ CK
More than 34 miles of multiuse trail are available for exploration at this 2,906-acre preserve. While this preserve is extremely popular with bicyclists, it also has lots of hearty hiking and horseback riding opportunities. Visitors will find creekside trails through mixed evergreen and redwood forests, enjoy ocean views, admire rare sandstone formations and experience a sense of remoteness while remaining close to an urban area. - www.openspace.org
~ CK
