DIRECTIONS:  Camp is located 20 miles north of Santa Cruz and 60 miles south of San Francisco. 

 

From Santa Cruz, take Highway #1 north towards Half Moon Bay. Go past Davenport (9 miles N of Santa Cruz) for 1.5 miles, turn R on Swanton Road.  Go 4.5 miles to Old Seaside School, now a private residence.  Turn R through a green pipe gate, and follow this dirt road 1.5 miles to the main camp, a meadow with picnic tables set on it and a creek running through it.  You may camp anywhere in meadows before or after the main camp, as well as designated areas in the main camp itself.  If you brought dogs, please camp in the first site on the L, identified by a sign ("DOGTOWN"). 

 

From San Francisco Bay area, take Highway #1 or Highway #92W to Half Moon Bay, then south toward Santa Cruz approximately 30 miles into Santa Cruz County, across Waddell Creek bridge, past Big Creek Lumber Co. mill, and turn SHARPLY LEFT onto Swanton Road .3 mile south of the mill.  Proceed on this winding road for 2.5 miles to the dark red schoolhouse, turn L through the green pipe gate.  Watch for our signs.  Camp will be open from Friday AM through Sunday noon. 

 

Riders coming from great distances (7 hours driving time or more) may arrive as early as Thursday afternoon, but please call us first.  There are many beautiful camping areas and no lack of sites.  All have ready access to either hydrant water or the creek.

 

 

CAMP:  Camp is located in a deep canyon, so bring warm clothing for horse and rider.  Creek water is suitable for horses, but riders should bring their own drinking water.  A phone is available in camp for credit card or reverse charge calls only.  Hot showers, portable toilets, and trash receptacles are provided.  NO OPEN FIRES PERMITTED.  CHARCOAL GRILLS, PROPANE OR WHITE GAS STOVES, AND CAMP LANTERNS ARE OK.  SORRY, NO MOTORIZED CYCLES OR ATVs.  DOGS MUST BE CONFINED INSIDE TRAILERS OR CAMPERS DURING THE EVENT AND MAY BE WALKED ON LEASH ONLY.  NO DOGS ALLOWED IN CAMP, IN THE VETTING AREA, IN STATE OR COUNTY PARKS, OR IN THE START-FINISH AREA.  THERE IS A DESIGNATED CAMPING AREA FOR PEOPLE WITH DOGS ("DOGTOWN".)  Ride management is very firm about this requirement.

 

COURSE:  Each trail is a single loop, with camp at start and finish.  On the 100 mile trail there is a short vet check at 15 miles, 1-hour gate holds at 34 miles and 67 miles, 15-minute gates at 47 miles (NO CREWS ALLOWED) and 92.5 miles, and  a half-hour gate hold at 84.5 miles, ALL BUT THE 15 and 47 MILE CHECK HAVE EASY CREW ACCESS.  The 75 mile trail is very similar to the 100, as all the vet checks but Swanton are the same. The trail will diverge at the 15 mile checkpoint on China Grade and take the Basin Connector to the Old Haul Rd. and then to the first vet check at Bloomquist Flat. Later in the ride, the trail will go directly to the finish from the Sawmill vet check, instead of going on to Siberia, the Swanton vet check and Powerhouse Grade. These two changes cut off 25 miles from the 100 mile trail. Riders without crews may send supplies in to the longer vet checks with ride personnel assigned to the job of transporting crew bags.  The trail will be well marked with pink and white flagging, signs and chemical light sticks.  The 75-mile trail diversion will be marked with pink and black polka-dotted flagging.  Marshals will be stationed where deemed necessary.  There is plenty of water and quite a bit of shade on the trail.  The scenery is breathtaking, from meadows and grassy hilltops to deep wooded canyons, high shale ridges, the Pacific Ocean, and magnificent redwood forests.  There will be a nearly full moon, but be sure to bring small flashlights to spot flagging.  Twelve-hour light sticks will be available for purchase.  DUE TO SUMMERTIME HIGH FIRE DANGER, SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE TRAIL OR IN GRASSY AREAS, ONLY AT VET CHECKS AND ON HARD GROUND.

 

PRE-RIDE VETTING:  Upon vet arrival (usually about 3:00 PM) - 8:00 PM Friday.

PRE-RIDE DINNER AND BRIEFING:  6:30 PM - Friday.  Please purchase tickets with entry.  Extra dinners may be available directly from the caterer, but we do not guarantee this.  Briefing follows at 8:00 PM.

RIDE START:   5:30 AM - Saturday for both distances. 

RIDE FINISH:   11:30 PM for the 75, time allowed - 18 hours overall, including vet checks; 5:30 AM Sunday for the 100, time allowed - 24 hours overall, including vet checks.

POST-RIDE EXAM OF HORSES:  Within one hour after each individual finish.

AWARDS BREAKFAST:  8:00 AM - Sunday.

BEST CONDITION JUDGING:  About 9:00 AM, Sunday. 

 

AWARDS PRESENTATION:  After breakfast, probably about 10:00 AM.  The completion award for Swanton Pacific 100 this year is a beautiful redwood plaque with a silver plate bearing the SP100 logo.  The SP trophy has become a coveted and prestigious award, representing a significant equestrian accomplishment.  A paper certificate is optional at a reduced fee.  Awards for the 75 mile ride are sweatshirts with the SP logo on the back.  After the ride, finishers will select their preferred size and the sweatshirts will be sent to have the rider's and horse's names embroidered on the left front.  Sweatshirts will then be sent to the riders.

 

RIDE RULES:  The rides are sanctioned by AERC and will comply with AERC rules and policy.  Juniors must wear helmets and we strongly recommend that all riders wear them.  Ride management reserves the right to interpret rules as would be necessary to insure the continuity of the ride and to settle any questions that may arise from any incident that might occur during the ride.

 

AMENITIES:  We offer treats at the remote vet check: carrots and hay for horses, snacks, fruit, trail mix bars, water and lemonade for the riders.  Hay and carrots only will be provided at other vet checks.  Hot showers are available in our famous redwood grove showers at camp.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  A timely entry earns a $25 discount, a late one not only includes the extra $25 but has no guarantee of either meals or awards.  Checks will be voided and shredded for cancellations requested by August 10th, but are subject to deduction of the value of all meals ordered if requested after August 10^th.  We will not order meals for faxed entries until payment is received.  All meal orders go to the caterer on August 10^th, and availability after that is in question.  We also do not sell meal tickets at the ride.  We always tell people to ask the caterer directly if there is enough food to cover last minute decisions.  There will be no refunds for no-shows or for cancellations requested after the ride is over.    No fee will be retained if the horse does not pass the vet check.  All money will be refunded except for meal costs.  You are welcome to stay and use your meal tickets.

 

General Information