GARDEN OF EDEN

From: richard@West.Sun.COM (Richard M. Mathews)

  GARDEN OF EDEN is a good change of pace or an alternative when the coast
  is fogged in.  It is in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park at a spot where
  the San Lorenzo River makes an "S" bend and has deposited sandy spots on
  both sides of this small stream ("river" is somewhat of an exaggeration!).
  This spot is not as nude as it used to be.  It may sometimes be occupied
  by textiles, but you will sometimes find it deserted or nude or mixed.
  If it appears to be textile, try going upstream a hundred yards or so.

  The Garden is in a valley in a redwood forest, which means that it gets
  sun only near midday.  It is at a roughly east-west bend in the river's
  generally southerly course; so there's more sun here, as well as larger
  sandy beaches at the turns.  But even here, at the height of summer
  the sun will be hidden below the western treetops by about 4 p.m. PDT.
  You'll probably want to bring sandals, aqua socks, or old sneakers you
  don't mind getting wet, for comfort in getting upstream or down.  The
  river bed is full of fairly large rocks and some tree trunks.  I've done
  it barefooted but find it safer and faster in rubber soles.

  The park is about six miles north of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 9.  To get there
  from San Jose, go south on Highway 17 towards Santa Cruz, but at Scotts
  Valley take the exit for "Mount Hermon Road/Felton".  Take that through
  Scotts Valley and to the west.  When you get to a T intersection (with
  a park ahead of you) turn right, then left at another traffic signal
  onto Highway 9 into Felton.  Just as the town is fading out, you can
  turn left into the main parking lot for the park.

  The Garden is so named on the map on the signboard near park headquarters,
  and on the AAA map of Santa Cruz and Vicinity.  From the main parking lot,
  enjoy walking south through the short Redwood Loop trail.  From the south
  end of the loop follow the railroad tracks over a bridge [WARNING! These
  tracks are no longer disused!  An occasional recreational train runs from
  Felton to Santa Cruz and back through the park, so don't get caught on the
  bridge when a train is coming!].  Then proceed maybe another half-mile
  south until you see signs warning you about diving in the river; there
  may still also be a slim vertical "Garden of Eden" post sign showing the
  location of the trail down.  (If you take the railroad tracks as far as
  the gravel roadbed, you've gone too far by maybe 50 yards.)  Go down to
  the river and enjoy!

  Alternately, you can drive another mile or so past the main parking lot
  and park along Highway 9 nearer the Garden.  You'll first see signs for
  Smithwoods RV park and Cotillion Resort (or similar names) then the road
  will turn right and then bend sharply around to the left.  Soon after
  that there's a turnout on the left with space for about a dozen cars.
  You will find the Ox Road Trailhead here.  Walk down the trail about a
  quarter mile to the tracks, right along the tracks about another quarter
  mile, and look for the "no diving" sign as described above.
  	[Original from Neil E. Midkiff <midkiff@netcom.com>]