Chapter 3
Visiting the Park
W
hen I visit the Henry Cowell there are a number of things to do. It’s virtually impossible to be bored at the park. The beautiful hiking trails are probably the most attractive options of things to do there. The Observation Deck hike is a trail you can take up through the sand hills to an observation deck. When you get to the top of the trail there is an observation deck where you can see all of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s truly one of the magnificent sights you can see. You are standing on this deck surrounded by nature. Trees are all you can see, the ground is not even visible because it is covered by trees.
You can also get the most amazing view of the sunrise or sunset from this place as well. Another great hike you can take is to the visitor center on the other side of the
woods on either side of you. Once you walk down the creek for about a mile you’ll enter a redwood grove with some of the most amazing redwoods I’ve ever seen in my life. You don’t realize how small you really are until you are standing next to these giant trees. It’s a very humbling experience. At the end of the redwood grove you find this building which is the park visitor center. Inside you can find all sorts of facts about the park and it’s wildlife. In front of the building they have a tree named the Banana Slug Hotel because of the large number of slugs congregating there.
“The wisdom’s in the trees not the glass windows.” -Jack Johnson park. The hike is about three miles but it’s by far the most scenic one you can take. You walk down the Eagle Creek trail to the San Lorenzo river with these enormous red-
19