Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapThe Ohlone Loop Trail offers a birder's paradise in a wetland area of Watsonville on California's central coast. Its location, bordering a residential area, provides easy access for residents to experience the natural habitats of the Struve Slough. Along the 3-mile paved pathway, you might see owls, falcons, hawks, ducks and other waterfowl or raptors.
At the northern end of the trail, cross Main Street to pick up the Upper Struve Slough Trail for further exploring of the scenic waterway. Or, explore a neighboring marsh along the Watsonville Slough Trail.
On the eastern side of the Struve Slough, access to the Ohlone Loop Trail is available at the Harkins Slough Road and Ohlone Parkway intersection. On the western side of the waterway, parking can be found in the retail areas along Westridge Drive.
We missed a chance to see a Cuckoo near this trail by a week in 2012. It was only the second time ever that a European Cuckoo has been spotted in the United States and it stayed for a week. People came from all over the States to see it. Even without a Cuckoo, this is a wonderful trail to walk. We saw many water birds in and near the slough and hawks overhead looking for prey. The walk around the slough is green and varied. It is dog friendly (on leash) and accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. It pairs very nicely with the Watsonville Slough Trail. And a visit here should definitely include the Nature Center next to Ramsey Park and at the beginning of the Watsonville Slough Trail.
_0_nb.jpg)
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
