The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, Three Minutes from Sand Dollar Inn

The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is a paved, car-free path that follows the curve of the bay, and one of its quietest stretches runs through Seaside and Sand City, about three minutes from Sand Dollar Inn. Here the trail follows the dunes behind Monterey State Beach, with wide views across the water to Monterey and Pacific Grove.

Ride or walk south and the trail leads into Monterey, past Lake El Estero to Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Lovers Point. Head north and it continues toward Fort Ord Dunes State Park and Marina. It is flat, easy, and shared by walkers, runners, and cyclists.

Tips

• The ride from Seaside to Fisherman's Wharf is about four miles one way, an easy morning outing.
• Keep right and pass on the left, and use a bell when passing walkers.
• Afternoon winds on this part of the bay can be strong. Ride into the wind first and coast home.

monterey.gov

Photo: Monterey Bay Coastal Trail east of Monterey station, June 2018 by Pi.1415926535, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.