Soquel Demonstration State Forest is situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains along California's central coast.

Located along the east branch of Soquel Creek and including portions of Amaya Creek and Fern Gulch Creek, the Forest contains redwood, mixed hardwoods, and riparian ecosystems. Soquel is geologically active, with the San Andreas and Zayante Faults passing through the property.

Soquel is unique because it is the only State Forest located near large urban areas. Its proximity to the metropolitan centers of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area provide excellent opportunities for "hands-on" forestry education and outdoor recreation while demonstrating a "working forest" to the public. 

Visitors enjoy hiking, bicycling, picnicking and horseback riding. There are no restrooms and no developed water sources in the forest so please bring your own drinking water.

Hours for use are dawn to dusk; day use only. Horses and mountain bikes need to stay on trails or roads.

Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.