Pogonip Park

One of the wonderful things about living in Santa Cruz, is all the green space that surrounds the city. The outdoor lovers here have worked hard to preserve park land, depsite the increasing demand for buildable property.

Pogonip Park is the best example of the rewards of maintaining these open recreation areas. The park has trails that wind above the city, leading to views of Monterey Bay. On a clear day on Saturday, I parked up near Spring Street, laced up my walking shoes and headed on the "lookout trail." The path lead through chaparal covered hills and redwood forests to the old Pogonip Club house. When I was a student at UCSC, I'd been incorrectly told that Pogonip was an acronym for "polo, golf, and a little nip." Really, Pogonip is an Ohlone Indian word meaning "icy fog."

But, on Saturday the park didn't live up to it's name--there were clear skies for miles. The three mile loop is challenging enough to get your heart pumping, with views to reward you at every turn.
To get to Pogonip from Mission Street: Turn right on Highland, make a left on High Street, and park on Spring Street.