I wish I could travel back in time to the mid-1800’s and live at Wilder Ranch. You are looking at the original ranch buildings which are now a museum.
The Wilder’s bought the property as a dairy farm in the late 1800’s.
The ranch covers 7000 acres of pristine coastal and marine habitat in Northern California’s Santa Cruz County.
The good news is, the Wilder family sold the property to the state in the 1960’s and it is now a protected marine and wildlife sanctuary and state park.
As you can see, it is a rich habitat, home to 1000’s of birds. I was amazed by the number of bird species I saw and photographed here.
The ranch has some 34 miles of hiking trails, all with stunning views of the coast and coastal valleys.
It is also a diverse marine environment with otters, seals and whales. Even Blue Whales are here, attracted by the mile deep Monterey Trench, the deepest marine canyon off the west coast of North America.
Camping is prohibited to protect the wildlife, but you can spend as many days as you like exploring the ranch on foot. I recommend visiting in winter when the whales are swimming by!
Cheers to you from stunning Wilder Ranch~
Yeah, would love to see the whales swim by. That would be the icing on the cake!
It is thrilling!
I believe you! 😎
❤
Lovely Cindy.
Leslie
Thank you & cheers too!
Happy New Year Cindy.
Leslie xoxo
Visa versa 2UX2!
🙂
Stunning indeed!! Thank you Cindy for sharing this great place. Happy New Year to you and yours!! May you explore, discover and embrace all that life brings your way 💕
Hugs to you sweet lady! ❤ I look forward to sharing the year with you and wish you only the best!
What a gift for wildlife, hurrah!
Of course, we agree ❤
what an amazing place!
It is indeed. Happy New Year Liz!
Beautiful!
Thank you & cheers to you!
Good grief – need to get there while flocks last!
❤ ❤
If you traveled in your time machine to the Wilder Ranch of the mid-1800s, good chance they would put you to work … probably milking the cows. Or, if you were to come to North Ranch, good chance I would put you to work stringing wire, moving hay, cleaning the barn, etc. 🙂
Laughing….Okay. Deal. If you come to The Holler, I’ll put YOU to work, tending our orchards, picking the fruit, monitoring the black widows and scorpions, relocating rattlers, watching out for the ankole watusi bull as you repair our fences. If I went back to Wilder Ranch in 1860, I would sell The Holler first, and use today’s assets to buy the ranch before the Wilder’s got there, and still have oodles of assets left over, because I am sure the ranch land went for a song back then. I would miss my cameras though, and my computers, and my blog friends, including you! 😉
Wilder Ranch reminds me of buildings I saw in museums in Colorado and in cowboy movies. In reality, they were most likely drafty, dusty and cold most of the time. We can, however, dream!
Not so terribly cold on the coast of California in winter, not like Colorado. All those balmy ocean breezes and fresh caught seafood. Even when I was a kid we could pick lobster and abalone out of tidal pools. I can’t even imagine what the natural California coastal world was like in 1870, utterly unspoiled and full of life.
I imagine natural CA coastal waters in 1870 were unspoiled as you mention. I have a sister in CO but these days I am in Upstate NY where lake effect snows can be brutal. This AM school delays due to ice and winds. I do relish my four seasons though. Nothing like fresh seafood that’s for certain! Lucky you.
Upstate is beautiful, lucky you! I heard on NPR that the current split in the polar vortex is likely to bring colder nor’ easters to the east coast and warmer drier weather to the west. Bummer for both of us. Stay warm! ❤
And currently we have a thunderstorm. Unusual for Jan. Agree on both coasts and weather. Now that I am retired, I don’t have to be out in the elements on a daily basis. ^__^
“Now that I am retired, I don’t have to be out in the elements on a daily basis. ^__^”
I do know what you mean, when it rains in California now, I am so grateful I don’t have to drive to work, dealing with all the California drivers who can’t drive with moisture on the road. 😉
Upstate NY drivers are not much better I fear. It seems they follow too closely especially when there is snow and ice on the road. They tend to overstate their importance! ^__^
Gorgeous, Cindy. I need to spend some time here- your images are beautiful. By the way, I saw a video of a water spout over the ocean in Santa Cruz yesterday.
Wishing you a fabulous 2019!
Oh, I will look for it! Water spouts are fascinating. I heard you had a big storm. Thank you for your very kind comment Jane & cheers to you.
Awesome scenery! I’d love to visit the ranch when it was still a ranch. Don’t think I’d want to live there, though. I’m too used to our modern conveniences – like indoor toilets!
Indoor toilets are definitely proof of advancement!
I love the birds standing around – and great picture with just the waves. Really good this property is protected – too lovely to lose to development!
My thoughts exactly and so pleased you enjoyed! Cheers to you~
Happy new year! I always are looking forward your wonderful photos.
And I yours! Thank you so much & Happy New Year!
war heute beim Arzt zur Kontrolle, entsprechend den Umständen soweit alles ok, lass es dir, wie das Wetter auch ist, gut gehen, Klaus
Ich hoffe du bist in Ordung! Ich sende dir meine Gedanken und Gebete. ❤
I’ve hiked those trails several times over they years, Cindy. And admired the same wildlife and beauty you are featuring. –Curt
Well, yeah. We are both Californians. Now matter how badly our president(s) behave, there is always California, showing them up, in every way. You and I continue to hike her. We know her.
I think that a person could spend her whole life just exploring the state, Cindy.
And still now find every wonderful bit.
Yes.
Happy to see that protection of habitat is important in your area of the world. Wonderful photos, Cindy. ❤
Thank you very much. In California, habitat is often valued, particularly by native Californians, and we know there are precious bits of it, that have not yet been ruined.
Wow, Cindy. These photos are remarkable. So glad to know the Wilders’ former place is now a sanctuary.
All the best to you sweet lady ❤
Thank goodness it’s protected! What a lovely spot.
Thanks my friend & Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Visa versa 2UX2 ❤
Alot of strange animals, you are putting your self at risk, and by the way I only see strange animals in your blog, actually I even feel related
Oh, you, and you, and you again, with all these very kind comments. You rock Mr. Charly! Long may you be well.
I´m just that dumb, I meant nice…..you realice?
Of course…..
This is beautiful!
So are you.
Thank you.
❤
You are welcome.
Cindy, I accidentally sent you comment on show kindness to trash, and I cannot recover it. I apologize.
Where it is, I don’t know. Odds are, I really liked it. No worries my friend, and thank you for caring.
You are welcome.
❤
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here is another beautiful post from Cindy Knoke!
❤
I live in Santa Cruz and was biking though Wilder Ranch about a month ago, a beautiful place.
It is stunning, both the inland and coastal trails are so beautiful. You are lucky!
I am, and I’m always appreciative of the surrounding natural beauty.
Yes, our state is an incredible gift to us to protect.
The pictures are wonderful. It’s fun to see all the birds.
I am so glad it was fun for you! Birds are such fun. They are like us, except they can fly.
Oh, be still, my heart! I really love these photos, and especially the one of the museum part. I wonder how this specific area was affected by the Gold Rush, or if it was. Until you see the ocean photos, it is hard to tell that it is California. Looks like someplace back east. Thank you kindly for sharing. That was an absolute treat!
Thank you more for your thoughts. They are a gift to me ❤
A nice reflection!
Thank you & cheers too~
This is wonderful…keep on blogging dear!
Thank you & you too!
You’re welcome!
Please, I would like you to visit my blog at your leisure time ok.
Oh, I would love to be there too!
I wish you were!
Bonsoir ou bonjour mon amie CINDY
Ce soir
Une nouvelle nuit vas tomber
Le sommeil va arriver
Tes yeux vont se fermer
Et comme d’habitude tu vas rêver
D’amour et d’amitié ,
Et demain tu vas t’éveiller
Sans rien te rappeler
De qui tu as rêvé
Mais tu te rappelleras
Que la veille tes amies
Sont venues te souhaiter
Une merveilleuse soirée ou bonne soirée
Sur ces lignes je te souhaite pour ce soir
Une très belle soirée et douce nuit gros bisous Bernard
Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
Not quite as nice pictures, but I’ve posted some from my 2018 Dec 28 bike ride in Wilder Ranch:
https://gasstationwithoutpumps.wordpress.com/2019/01/12/wilder-ranch-bike-ride-2018-dec-28/
Your photos are beautiful and I really like your blog!
It is so pretty there. I’m glad it’s protected area. Great photos of course and as always.