Community Seed

Earth Energy Walks




Earth Energy Walks

Join us on our monthly walks, and feel the power of the Earth.

Walks are on the THIRD Saturday of each month, and have been combined with the Beach Clean Ups. Just save each 3rd Saturday as ‘Get Out In Nature’ day!

  • Gather at 9:45 am (except beach months, see below)
  • Departure: 10 am
  • Return: around 12:00 pm.

2013 Walk Locations (directions follow)

  • January 19th, Quail Hollow
  • February 16th, Pogonip
  • March 16th, Henry Cowell, Graham Hill Entrance
  • April 20th, Wilder Ranch
  • May 18th, Moore Creek
  • June 15th Bonny Doon Beach, Noon Start
  • July 20th: Bonny Doon Beach, Noon Start
  • August 17th: Bonny Doon Beach, Noon Start
  • September 21st: Nisene Marks Crossroads
  • October 19th: Fall Creek
  • November 16th: Natural Bridges Beach
  • December 21st: Henry Cowell, Highway 9 entrance

Details…

Our walk is usually about 2-3 hrs round trip with a stop for meditation half way in. We will walk rain or shine, however… if the forecast is very stormy, call ahead to verify. (831) 469-0336

Before beginning our walk together, we will take a moment to center our minds and bodies. Once we are all fully present, we will begin our journey, walking in silence, all the while tuning in, listening, and absorbing the energies of the elements, plants, and animals. Halfway into our walk we will sit for meditation, a guided visualization, and to share food.

FOR ALL LOCATIONS Please bring:

  • Drinking water
  • A small snack
  • Hiking Shoes
  • Comfortable Clothes
  • Money for Parking (Several parks)

Directions to the walks

Quail Hollow:

  • 800 Quail Hollow Road, Felton. From Highway 17, take the Scotts Valley/Mount Hermon Rd exit. Continue on Mt. Hermon Road for 3.8 miles. Turn left onto Graham Hill Road and go past the shopping center. Turn left onto East Zayante Rd. Take East Zayante Road about 1.9 miles to Quail Hollow Road. Turn left onto Quail Hollow Road and proceed about 1.1 miles to the entrance of Quail Hollow Ranch, which will be on your right. You can also use Graham Hill Road from Santa Cruz, or Highway 9 and Glen Arbor from SLV.

Fall Creek (Felton):

  • Parking is free! From Highway 17, take the Scotts Valley/Mount Hermon Rd exit. Continue on Mt. Hermon Road for 3.8 miles. Turn right onto Graham Hill Road. Continuing past Highway 9, the road now becomes Felton-Empire Grade. Go about 1/2 mile and turn right into the parking lot. Caution, it is very easy to miss this turn.

Pogonip (Santa Cruz):

  • We use the rear entrance to the park. From the Highway 1 / River Street intersection, take Hwy 1 to Mission. Turn right onto Mission, and then an immediate right onto Highland. Turn left on High St, and then right on Spring Street – Limited parking on residential street. Meet up at the trail head at the end of Spring Street.

Henry Cowell (Graham Hill Entrance):

  • The trail head is just north of the Horse Show Grounds, across from the mini-mart at the intersection of Graham Hill and Nepenthe.From Highway 17 Southbound:take the La Madrona / El Rancho exit. Turn left on La Madrona. Proceed about 1/4 mile, to Sims Road. Turn right on Sims Road. Proceed about 1/2 mile, to Graham Hill. Turn right at Graham Hill. On the left is a sign for the “Southern Boundary of the Park”. Once past that take the next left down into a dirt parking lot.Directions From Santa Cruz: From Ocean St. northbound, turn left at Ocean / Plymouth (the last traffic light before Highway 17 starts). Bear right on Graham Hill Road and go for 1 1/2 miles. Look for the park sign as above and park under the trees on the left.

Henry Cowell (Highway 9 Entrance):

  • The park entrance is South of Felton on Highway 9. Official meeting place is outside of the Gift Shop within the park grounds. You can choose to pay the fee to drive through the entrance and park. Or you can choose to park out on Highway 9 and hike in. From Santa Cruz – The park is about six miles north of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 9.         

Natural Bridges State Beach (Santa Cruz):

  • We use the rear entrance to the park. From Highway 17, take Highway 1 North. Bear right onto Mission Street. Follow Mission Street to Swift Street, and turn left on Swift Street. Turn right onto Delaware Avenue. Park on the street near Swanton Boulevard. We meet at the back entrance gate.

Nisene Marks (Crossroads):

  • This is within the boundaries of Nisene Marks State Park, but off in a corner of the park that most people know nothing about. Here is how to get there: Southbound Soquel Avenue, just past Cabrillo College, in Aptos. Turn Left onto Vienna Drive. Continue on Vienna all the way till it ends (about 1 mile). Turn left onto Wilshire Drive. This will end in half-a-block at Danube Drive. Park anywhere on these two streets. Our meet-up spot is the intersection of Wilshire and Danube. The trailhead is right next door. There is a small creek at the turnaround spot for this walk. You might bring a small towel, if you feel like splashing around.

Wilder Ranch (Santa Cruz):

  • 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, We will meet near the restrooms in the main parking lot. The park is north of Santa Cruz, west of Highway 1, a mile or so past Western Drive. From Highway 17, take Hwy 1 N towards Half Moon Bay for 1 mile. Turn right on Mission St (also still Highway 1). Continue for 3.2 miles. Turn left into the Wilder Ranch driveway. Watch for the sign. Entrance is free, but parking is $8. Free parking is sometimes available outside of the park on Highway 1, but you will have to walk into the parking lot a little ways.     

Moore Creek Preserve (Santa Cruz):

  • Lower entrance. From Highway 17, take Highway 1 North. Bear Right onto Mission Street. Follow Mission Street through town. Parking is on Shaffer Road (just past Western Drive), on the street. Cross Highway 1 (carefully!). Hike begins near the gate and cattle stile across Highway 1. Also available is a “bike corral” for cyclists. Follow Mission to Highway 1 North (A.K.A Coast Road). Left on Shaffer (just North of Western). Park on the street. Cross Highway 1 (carefully!) Meet near the gate/cattle stile.
Bonny Doon Beach (for the summer beach picnic and clean ups):
  • Bonny Doon Beach is located on Highway 1, near Bonny Doon Road. This beach has ample parking, which is free, and there is the benefit that it is clothing optional. This means if you want you can go skyclad, (nude) but of course this is optional.At the end of the cleanup, we ask each person to help with hauling away the trash and recycle. Bring leather gloves if you have them. We will supply bags and other containers for nails and glass. Please bring a lunch, or food to share, your own water supply, and be advised that there are No Bathroom Facilities, so come prepared. Also be aware that it is a steep hike down to the beach, so wear good hiking shoes.Safety Clean Up Rules:
    * Children should be supervised at all times.
    * Do not pick up needles, syringes, or broken glass without protection!
    * Do not touch injured or dead animals.
    * Do not turn your back on the ocean.
    * Make sure any fire areas cold before touching.
    * Driftwood, sea shells and seaweed are not trash, please leave them on the beach.Directions: Bonny Doon Beach is located on Highway 1, just before Bonny Doon Road, which is just South of Davenport. From Santa Cruz, Drive out of town on the Coastal Highway. About 8 miles out start looking for a long, thin parking lot on your left. That’s your destination. Bonny Doon road is farther up the highway on the right. If you pass Bonny Doon Road, you’ve gone too far. Keep your eyes peeled!We are very pleased to say that over the last several years a visible difference has been made in the amount of trash that we find on the beach. Further efforts on our part will continue to make a difference.
  • Please Bring:
    • Leather gloves if you have them.
    • Bring a picnic lunch, or snacks to share
    • Your own water supply
    • Camera
    • Layers of clothing (It’s often breezy on the sand, and temps can vary widely)
    • Sunscreen.
    • Sunglasses.
    • Something to sit on. (Big beach blankets, or towels will do …)

    We will supply bags for nails, glass, and trash. Be advised that there are NO POTTIES AVAILABLE. Come prepared.

Contact us with any questions: (831) 469-0336 or info-at-communityseed.org

We hope to see you out in Nature!


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