Watsonville Wetlands 2016-03-14

Watsonville Wetlands is a rare freshwater slough set amidst 800 acres near Watsonville. The six mile trail system by the sloughs is maintained by the City of Watsonville. You can also learn about the fresh water slough system from Watsonville Wetlands Watch, an organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and appreciation of wetlands. 

Ramsey Park

The trails have several entry points, but the best place to start from is the Nature Center located at Ramsey Park on Harkins Slough Rd (off Main St. exit from Hwy 1). Apollo and I started by exploring Ramsey Park before crossing Harkins Slough Rd and taking the trail by Watsonville slough. Most of the trails we walked today are paved, blacktop trails. The map that is available at the Nature Center is detailed and color coded. The trails are not clearly named and marked, however. 

Watsonville Slough trail runs from Harkins Slough Rd to Ohlone Pkwy, bordering the Watsonville slough. The trails were wet, but not muddy; the slough lush, green and full of water. The greenery all around was thoroughly enjoyable, made possible by the excellent rains we had recently. 

At Ohlone Pkwy, we turned right, walked by the elementary school and continued the walk by Ohlone Loop trail across the road. Ohlone Loop trail curves around and makes a wide U turn before running parallel to Struve slough on the left. 

While the trails are not named, there are numbered markers along the way, compliments of the local Girl Scout troop. Ohlone Loop trail crosses Harkins Slough Rd at Ohlone Pkwy and goes behind a business center before coming to Main St. 

Crossing Main St, we continued our walk by Upper Struve Slough trail that runs between Main St and Pennsylvania Dr. As you probably guessed, the slough and the trails run within the city, both residential and business districts. We turned around at Girl Scout marker #2, walking back to Main St.

Bearing right as we approached Main St, we crossed the busy road and continued to walk by Ohlone Loop trail, this time on the west side. On this side, the trail curves around couple of times, crosses Harkins Slough Rd and ends at Westridge Dr. Evidently, the water levels in the sloughs have risen considerably from the recent rains. The underpass at Harkins Slough Rd was flooded; fortunately, we were able to circumvent it.

Struve Slough looked expansive and huge here, with Hwy 1 and Westbranch Struve Slough directly ahead. At this time, there is no option but to retrace your path from here, although there are plans to connect this spot to Watsonville Slough trail. 

All along, I was able to see several birds from the waterfowl family (mallards, ducks, cormorants and more). I was wondering whatever happened to egrets and pelicans when a large American White Pelican flew down and settled down in Struve slough.

Back at Harkins Slough Rd, I turned right and used the sidewalk to reach Ramsey Park where I'd parked the car. Our 5.4 mile walk covered much of the slough trail system, skipping but one disconnected segment on the south (also called Watsonville Slough trail). 

More pictures from our hike.
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