Just beyond the veneer of traffic din and mundane get-your-coffee-and-go workaday world lies a vast network of trails, which snake through Watsonville’s slough system. Discovering them takes only a brief walk from about two-dozen entrances scattered throughout the city.
But until I took a half-day, six-mile bike ride with Pajaronian photographer Tarmo Hannula on Feb. 14, I am ashamed to say I had seen very little of it.
We planned to take a half-day for the exploratory trip, which included a lunch stop at one of our favorite taquerias right along the way.
During our ride we ranged from Ramsay Park to the trail that runs north of Slough Road in front of the FedEx building.
We crisscrossed the city – in many cases bypassing busy roads entirely – offering short cuts and alternative routes that surprised even Tarmo, whose encyclopedic knowledge of Watsonville’s byways outrivals just about anyone’s.
We saw great white and great blue herons hunting for a late lunch, and flocks of California gulls intermingled with pairs of mallard ducks floating on the shimmering water.
Also during our trip we passed by several people, some also on bicycles, some with dogs and even one woman who was twirling two giant hula hoops.
Heather Shannon of Aptos was taking a walk with her ex-husband Doug Shannon and their dog Lily. She compared the wetland system to Yosemite National Park, and said she was sad to see so much development on the edges.
“I come here to get back to the feeling of nature,” she said.
Leo Teixeira, who recently retired as a mailman, said that he likes the opportunity to exercise and get fresh air off the busy city streets.
“I like that you can walk freely, and walk safely,” he said.
Jeff Heinrich said he comes out for a walk about once a week. He was hoping to see a flock of white-faced ibises.
He said the trailhead near West Marine is close to his gym.
“It’s a beautiful spot,” he said. “Lots of birds.”
Those lucky enough to have discovered this South County treasure know that the trail system passes through some 800 acres of coastal wetlands, which draws birders from around the world to see 220 species of migratory and year-round birds.
With much of California’s wetlands lost to development, the slough system is one of the largest remaining freshwater marshlands in the state’s coastal zone, said Watsonville Wetlands Watch Executive Director Jonathan Pilch, who noted that the sloughs are home to a nesting pair of bald eagles.
In 2013, euphoric birders from around the U.S. rushed to Watsonville to catch a glimpse of a common cuckoo that made a rare stop here.
“It’s a fantastic resource,” Pilch said. “It’s an incredibly unique environment to have in the city. On any given day you can see something amazing.’’
Pilch said that the trail system is growing in usage and popularity, which is evidenced by growing numbers of people who volunteer to help restore the wetland habitats.
This year, a record 400 people came on World Wetlands Day on Feb. 2, Pilch said.
Moreover, restoration teams frequently encounter people using the trail, he said.
“That shows a general awareness and recognition in our community about what an important place it is,” he said.
The opportunities to connect with nature aside, the trails offer a short respite from city life – it is surprisingly peaceful, given the proximity to the downtown area. With gently rolling hills, it is easy to get around for both walkers and bikers, and in many cases, wheelchairs.
And the system is slated to expand, with city leaders implementing the Trails and Bicycle Master Plan.
We were both happy to see that the vast majority of the trail system was litter and graffiti free, and was in general well maintained. That comes thanks to a partnership between the city and Watsonville Wetlands Watch
These plans include a three-mile trail starting at Harkins Slough Road and ending at West Riverside Drive, including a pedestrian bridge over the sloughs. That trail will connect to Pajaro Valley High School.
The slough trail system is a county treasure. If you have not yet discovered it, I strongly suggest doing so soon.
