Presents . . .

Photo by Lynne Glazer

Swanton Pacific is set in some of the most remote areas

of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The trail passes through cathedral-like redwood forests, fascinating sandstone cliffs and outcroppings, deep canyons drained by quiet streams, high chaparral ridges, and grassy hilltops overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

It is worthy of the title…..

 

“The Most Beautiful Trail in the World”

To contact us:

 

Big Creek Ranch

Barbara McCrary

640 Swanton View Road

Davenport, CA  95017

 

Phone:    831-423-4572

Fax:         831-423-8869

E-mail:   bigcreekranch@wildblue.net

August 16, 2008

Logging, lumber, and forest products have been a part of the industry of the Swanton area since the mid-1800's, and railroads played an important part in that industry.  In mapping out our ride in its first year, 1983, we found we were passing through three areas with railroading history: the Pescadero Creek watershed, where Santa Cruz Lumber Co. used locomotives to haul huge logs into their sawmill at Waterman Gap; the Little Creek watershed, where San Vicente Lumber Company's logging shay struggled up ten-percent grades; and Swanton, where the Ocean Shore Railroad terminated its track northbound from Santa Cruz and where it picked up San Vicente's logs to deliver to the mill in Santa Cruz.  The name Swanton Pacific comes from a railroad built by our late neighbor Al Smith, using a 1915 steam engine on a narrow-gauge track laid along part of the old Ocean Shore route.  All but the Swanton Pacific have long since passed into history . . . . .