Jacks Peak Park, Monterey

Jacks Peak Park, located in Monterey County, California, is renowned for Jacks Peak, the tallest point on the Monterey Peninsula, standing at 1,068 feet (325 meters) above the cities of Monterey and Carmel. This 525-acre park is managed by the Monterey County Parks Department.

The history of the park dates back to 1859 when David Jack, a Scottish immigrant, acquired the land as part of the Pueblo Lands tract. The initial 55 acres, which later formed a part of the park, were bought in 1964 by Talcott and Margaret Pardee Bates. This land was subsequently sold to the Nature Conservancy and eventually to Monterey County. In 1971, Monterey County expanded the park by purchasing additional land from Del Monte Properties, and the park officially opened in January 1977.

Jacks Peak Park is a popular destination for picnics and day hiking, featuring several miles of trails, including a self-guided nature trail. These trails wind around Jacks Peak and throughout the park, offering scenic views and a connection with nature.

A notable feature of the park is the presence of one of the only three remaining native stands of the Monterey Pine tree. Additionally, the park's flora is diverse, including species like madrone (arbutus menziesii), coastal scrub with coyote brush (baccharis pilularis), California sagebrush, black sage, and ceanothus, along with poison oak and the coast live oak.