Soquel Demonstration State Forest

• Restore and enhance the natural resources within the forest, including watershed protection and aquatic species habitat enhancement.
  
  
• Provide public recreational uses that are consistent with protection of SDSF.
  
  
• Develop a forestry education program for the public, schools and interested organizations.
  
  
• Demonstrate sustained-yield timber harvesting sufficient to cover forest operations and management costs.
  
  
• Protect old-growth redwood trees.
  
  
• Provide research opportunities in forestry and natural resource management.
  
  
• Continue the reintroduction of beneficial prescribed fire to increase forest resiliency and ecological restoration.
  
  
• Maintain a robust and current forest inventory.
  
  
• Promote native plant species and manage invasive species.

A major purpose of the SDSF timber management program is to demonstrate sustained yield management with examples of timber harvesting. In simple terms, sustained yield is the yield of commercial wood that an ownership can produce continuously at a given intensity of management consistent with required environmental protection and which is professionally planned to achieve, over time, a balance between growth and harvest. This approach ensures that harvesting does not exceed forest growth.

At SDSF, timber harvesting is conducted to demonstrate how forests can be managed sustainably while also protecting and improving other important resources. These include air quality, fish and wildlife habitat, water resources, watersheds, aesthetic values, and recreational opportunities. Forest managers apply silvicultural methods and harvesting techniques that comply with the California Forest Practice Rules for the Southern Subdistrict of the Coast Forest District. These practices support sustained yield management while maintaining an uneven-aged forest structure.

Hardwoods are also a significant component of SDSF forests and are evaluated as part of both wildlife and timber management planning. One aspect of hardwood management is exploring and experimenting with alternative uses for hardwood species. Another aspect includes reducing the number of hardwoods in certain areas to promote the increased growth of conifer species. 

A secondary goal of timber harvesting at SDSF is to generate revenue to support forest operations. This revenue helps cover maintenance, management, and operational costs, as well as funding research, forest inventory, monitoring, and restoration projects for the forest’s various natural resources. The current harvest rate planned is about 1,000,000 board feet per year, and revenue from these harvests helps fund the management of California’s state forests.

The coast redwood forest at SDSF regenerates naturally through sprouting from stumps and roots and through seed germination. However, in some areas dominated by Douglas-fir, young Coast Redwood trees may be shaded out, making natural regeneration insufficient. In these stands, active reforestation is used to restore redwood dominance and maintain ecological balance.

Redwood seedlings planted at SDSF are grown from seeds collected within the forest itself. During years of high cone production, redwood cones are gathered in the forest. The seeds are then processed, stored, and grown into seedlings at the CAL FIRE Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center. Seedlings grown from SDSF seed are planted in timber harvest areas within the forest and on privately managed forest lands throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Using locally sourced seed helps maintain genetic adaptation to the local environment. Additional tree planting is also carried out for research and demonstration purposes.

SDSF Timber Harvest History

SDSF is a 2,700-acre working forest. The conifer inventory on SDSF is approximately 117,376,000 board feet and the annual conifer growth is 2,615,000 board feet. Eight timber harvests have occurred at SDSF since 1995 (totaling 14,415,560 board feet). The ninth Timber Harvesting Plan (Amay II THP) is scheduled to occur in 2027. The current planned harvest rate is approximately 1,000,000 board feet per year. Revenue from these harvests funds the management of the State Forests.

SDSF Timber Harvesting Summary by Decade

1990–1999:

• THPs during this period were Longridge (50 acres) and Amaya (148 acres).
• Advertised board feet totaled 2,062,000 BF with net volume removed of 2,161,750 BF.
• Defect percentage averaged 6.5%, and purchasers were Big Creek Lumber (Longridge) milled in Davenport and Redwood Empire Sawmills (Amaya) milled in Cloverdale.
• Net receipts totaled $405,182 for the decade.

2000–2009:

• No timber harvesting plans were completed at SDSF during this decade.

2010–2019:

• THPs during this decade were Rim (2011, 158 acres), Fern Gulch (2012, 201 acres), Comstock Mill (2014, 228 acres), and Meridian (2017, 220 acres).
• Total acreage harvested was 807 acres, and cumulative net volume removed was 8,386,920 BF.
• Average defect percentage was 11.3%.
• Purchasers were Sierra Pacific Industries (Rim, milled in Sonora, Chinese Camp and Davenport),  Big Creek Lumber (Fern Gulch and Comstock Mill, milled in Davenport), and Redwood Empire Sawmills (Meridian, milled in Cloverdale and Chinese Camp).
• Net receipts totaled $3,702,900 for the decade.

2020–2029:

• Operations include Longridge (2020), Sulphur (2024), and Amaya II (2027).
• Total acreage harvested so far is 386 acres, with net volume removed of 3,866,890 BF.
• Average defect rate is 8.8%, and Big Creek Lumber has been the purchaser with mills in Davenport.
• Net receipts total $2,731,754 so far.

Cumulative Totals:

• The cumulative total acreage harvested is 1,391 acres with 14,415,560 BF net volume removed.
• The average defect across all THPs is 9.9%.

Total net receipts are $6,839,836. 

SDSF serves as a laboratory to examine various forest management techniques in a coastal redwood forest ecosystem. Projects are done in-house and by outside agencies, interest groups or educational institutions. These demonstrations include stream restoration, forest thinning for fire resiliency, burning and regeneration studies. Data collected during demonstrations provides private landowners with information to make their own land management decisions.

Forestry education opportunities are provided for the public, forest landowners, the educational community, the media, natural resource professionals and environmental groups. SDSF takes these opportunities to teach about the multi-use nature of SDSF and displays how sustainable yield timber harvest, resource protection and recreation can be compatible.

SDSF covers rugged terrain and many areas with difficult access. Emergency response can take an extended period of time in some areas and cell phone reception is not consistent. Please be always safety conscious. Travel with others when possible and let someone know of your plans. There is no developed water source in the Forest and poison oak and ticks are common.

• No e-bikes are allowed at the forest.
• Bring plenty of water.
• Advanced terrain exists on mountain biking trails. Ride within your limits.
• Practice trail etiquette. Ride at a safe speed.
• Be courteous to other forest visitors. Bikers yield to horse riders and hikers; hikers yield to horse riders.
• Braille Trail, Flow Trail and Sawpit Trail are recommended for downhill traffic only. Watch for and expect two-way traffic on roads.
• Respect private property by not trespassing onto adjacent private lands.
• Check signboards and the SDSF Facebook page for any current closure areas.
• Keep trails in good condition by not riding when soils are saturated. Stay off trails during wet weather and wait at least one day for each inch of rainfall before riding for trails to dry out.
• Report problems and hazards to SDSF staff. Please call 911 in an emergency.
• Watch for and expect forest management traffic on forest roads.
• SDSF Roads and Trail Maps
• “Thinking of Mountain Biking at SDSF?”

SDSF staff partners with Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship (santacruztrails.org) for trail maintenance and trail projects within the forest. This partnership with the mountain biking community has led to additional high-quality trails supported by donations and volunteers. The forest remains open to the public at most times during daylight hours. However, some areas are subject to temporary closure for forest management activities.

Outbreak of Potentially Deadly Amatoxin Poisoning Linked to the Consumption of Wild, Foraged Mushrooms

Learn more about the risks

Poisonous Mushroom Poster (PDF)

SDSF Personal Use Mushroom Gathering Permits will be available between October 15- January 31 at the following link:

• Soquel Demonstration State Forest Personal Use Mushroom Gathering Permit
  
  If the link is not accepting responses, the permits are closed for the season.

Dozens of research projects, studies and monitoring projects have been completed and are in process at SDSF including: archaeology research, biological assessments, annual fish population monitoring, geologic assessments, watershed assessments, recreation studies, stream habitat surveys, bird surveys, herpetology surveys, stream temperature monitoring, Sudden Oak Death research, instream Large Woody Debris assessments, restoration and monitoring, tick borne disease research and mountain lion research.

SDSF recently received funding from the California Climate Investments, Forest Health Program to perform landscape-level fuel reduction and forest health treatments (Project ID 20-FH-CZU-059). There will be ongoing research to evaluate the effect of these activities on the landscape. View the list of grant awards.

Explore More about Research on Demonstration State Forests

Research Partners at SDSF

• UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Laboratory in Infectious Disease Ecology
  
  
• Cal Poly Natural Resources Management 
  
  
• Environmental Sciences and Swanton Pacific Ranch
  
  
• California Geological Survey
  
  
• Santa Cruz Puma Project
  
  
• HERP Mapper
  
  
• UC Cooperative Extension

Visitors to the forest enjoy bicycling, hiking, picnicking and horseback riding. While recreating in Soquel Demonstration State Forest, please keep these rules in mind.

1. The forest is open from dawn to dusk for day use only. No camping permitted.

2. The forest entrance is located at 29400 Highland Way, Los Gatos.

3. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the forest. This means No E-bikes or bikes with pedal assist.

4. Mountain bikes must stay off trails when it is raining, or soils are saturated.

5. Horses and mountain bikes must stay on designated roads and trails.

6. Park smart. Do not impede emergency access by blocking fire roads or gates.

7. California Fish and Wildlife regulations prohibit fishing in the East Branch of Soquel Creek.

8. Firearms of any kind are not allowed.

9. Pack your trash out

10. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash.

11. Smoking or fires of any kind are not allowed in the forest due to the associated fire risks.

Soquel Demonstration State Forest Public Entrance
29400 Highland Way
Los Gatos, CA 95033

Soquel Demonstration State Forest Headquarters Office
3065 Porter Street, Suite 105 Soquel, CA 95073
Phone: (831) 475-8643
Email: soquel.stateforest@fire.ca.gov