Monterey Bay Coastal Trail

You’ll run out of steam before you run out of trail! Possibly my favorite thing Monterey has to offer. Im a new mom and every day we’re out walking or running. It gets really congested on the weekends with tourist traffic, so I recommend going south past Lover’s Point. Fewer people head that way and the beaches are gorgeous. It gets real scenic and it’s dirt trail so only foot traffic is allowed.

Hands down the easiest and most scenic bike route you’ll ever ride. Rent the bike — take the ride. Thank me later. Check our Adventures by the Sea for rentals, they have great cruisers as well as Fuji road bikes, and this this new 2 or 4 man jitney pedal cars. We rode from Cannery Row to Pebble Beach Golf club and back. About 20 miles. The 3 miles heading up to Pebble are steep and narrow, not for the faint of heart. So turn around as Asilomar beach if you are just out for a nice day ride. The paved protected trail is okay for kids, but sometimes it cuts to the road and I wouldn’t recommend that part for the little ones.

This bike ride blows away anything down in SoCal, by a long shot. The views are simply stunning, from end to end. My ride began in Marina, CA at Reservation Road. Once you cross the fence just under Highway 1… the fun begins. Heading south through rolling sand dunes, I saw very little to no mid-​morning foot or bike traffic, until I reached the Seaside/​Monterey boundary, at Dennis the Menace Park. Lots of shade and room to stop and take-​in the fresh coastal breeze. The trail continues just behind crowded Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row. The wide, double-​lanes makes it easy to pass and avoid the obvious foot tourists. The trail technically «ends» in Pacific Grove, at Lover’s Point — but I continued on the road, via Ocean View Blvd, to Asilomar (Sunset Drive).
At the end of Sunset Drive — 17 Mile Drive is a scenic toll road (bikes are FREE), snaking through Pebble Beach… and is a must-​do ride. Here you have lush, Pebble Beach Golf Course and zillion dollar homes to one side… and the crashing Pacific, on the other side. SoCal can’t hold a candle to this kind of scenery, ever. As much as I wanted to push-​through nonstop to Carmel — I simply had to stop and revel in the beauty of what I was immersed in. I dropped down into Carmel for a fast, 50mph descent and had lunch there.
Total round-​trip distance from Marina to Carmel (Ocean Avenue), was 54 splendid, breathtaking miles. This «Bucket List» ride will forever live on in your cycling dreams…

I’m from SoCal and this is Hands down one the most scenic trails I’ve ever run in California. I started at the Hyatt regency and started south along the trail which mostly all waterfront. I passed the wharfs, cannery row, park and beaches. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you Monterey!

We love running on this trail, there is plenty of things look at and it is so beautiful! I’m giving this ⁴⁄₅ because the cross walks seem confusing. Normally cars yield to cross walks but some do and some don’t. Before crossing the street there is a yield sign on the path. I just yield to cars to stay on the safe side.
I would recommend walking or biking on this path, it’s beautiful and great to see the city and take in the ocean views.

A great option to explore the area on foot or on bike, without having to deal with all the traffic on the streets. We stumbled on a lot of interesting spots along the way.
Looks like a VERY popular trial for locals and tourists alike.

Wonderful day trip! We always try to make time to ride this trail when we visit. We’ll pack a lunch and start early at the Pacific Grove lighthouse and connect to the Bay trail at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. An early start avoids cars when starting at the lighthouse and minimizes pedestrians in the more crowded sections of the trail in Monterey. We’ll usually get a light breakfast in Monterey and then on to Marina and trails end. Wonderful ocean views, but it can get windy so watch the forecasts. My wife & I are turning 65 this Summer, so when I say anyone can do this ride, I mean anyone!

What an awesome wide trail to walk, jog, or bike. We did different sections of it throughout our week long stay. Our favorite portion was Cannery Row to Pacific Grove.
Incredibly beautiful scenery!
You do need to pay for parking in the business sections like Cannery Row but if you’re willing to park just a bit further there is plenty of free parking (it’s still right on the coastline trail).

I jogged on the beach along the trail and it was as good as it can get.

What a wonderful trail to see Monterey coastline! Perfect for biking, jogging, or walking.
We started off at Cannery Row and walked all the way to Asilomar Beach (approx 7miles round trip). This took us a good 3hrs.
Tip: Metered parking is free before 9am along the streets of Cannery Row. OR, if you want to start at Asilomar, there is plenty of free parking along the residences. metered parking at Cannery Row is $ 1.50 per hour and 2 hour limit.
Along the way, you will see:
–Outlet shopping
— lots of the beautiful coast line and beaches.
— plenty of benches to rest on and take in the wonderful view
–Lover’s Beach (restroom is located near the pool).
–The Grill (at Lover’s Beach) if you want to get a snack or drink
–Seals
–Seagulls
After you are done and back at Cannery Row, don’t forget to visit the Fish Hopper and Louie’s Linguine for your free chowder sample! Unilocal Check in at Louie’s for 2 free cups of chowda.

I’m not even sure what one considers for reviews of a trail, but it seems pretty great to me. I’ve run out pretty decent distances on this trail. I love the views. I like to get out in the morning and run around while the sun is still rising a bit.
There are lots of benches, the pavement is always nice and even, and the views are gorgeous. So 5/​5, because I can’t think of anything that would detract stars.

Wow! Such a nice walk! We started walking right outside the Monterey Bay Aquarium heading north on the trail which is along Ocean View Boulevard. Minutes after walking you could a group of seals resting on the shore next to the Hopkins Marine Station. As we continued to walk we were greeted by countless scenic views of Monterey with the waves crashing on the rocks. The native coastal California landscaping is also very nice. There are benches along the walk for resting and relaxing in the spectacular weather. We walked all the way to Lovers Point Park which of course had even more spectacular views. This is truly a great way to experience the beauty of Monterey Bay.

Every once in a while, I’m lucky enough to have a conference to attend in Monterey and this trail is perfect for a pre-​conference run.

Directions on Unilocal are wrong, it’s actually west of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
You’ll see people riding their bikes and walking along this path; it’s paved with concrete and overlooks the ocean.

On our way to Point Lobos from our hotel in Monterey we took the long way and drove a portion of the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. We started at Fisherman’s Wharf and drove through Cannery Row and hugged the coastline the rest of the way. It was an overcast day so we didn’t really get to enjoy it in all it’s glory, but we got to see the jagged shoreline and the spring wildflowers. The plant life is quite interesting on the trail.

This trail is lovely for taking a stroll or going on a bike ride to take in the scenery. However, that being said, I cannot recommend it for runners. Why?
As it is entirely paved with asphalt or concrete depending on where you are, it is murder on your calves and/​or knees.
If running is your thing, run on the sand between Seaside and Fisherman’s Wharf, you get a better ocean view, a better workout, and you wont be in pain.

I only walked a short distance along the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, but what I experienced I enjoyed.
Just a few minutes walk away from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I found seals lounging on a beach that was separated from the trail by a wire fence. Further along there was a park bench that I made use of as I snacked on leftovers.
As I relaxed and enjoyed the view and cool air, a number of people passed by, on foot, on bicycle, or at a jog. A peaceful, yet not entirely lonesome, spot.

Monterey, Marina, an Seaside equals heaven!
There’s something about these California Coastal cities that puts me at ease. When I’m on vacation, it’s also about the 3 R’s…Rest, Relaxation, and Run. The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail is 2^nd to none when it comes to a nice run with beautiful views.
The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail has a 5 Star Average and I can see why. We started our morning run at Monterey, specifically by Monterey’s Fish House. From there, we ran 5 miles north into Seaside and back totaling 10 miles. The trail has a lot to offer from the fresh ocean breeze, the beautiful beaches, the dunes, and a safe trail absence of cars. You get uphills, you get downhills, and of course my favorite, flat land. But what I love most about this trail besides everything I just mentioned, is that it’s for everyone at any fitness level. Great for a bike ride, walk, run, jog, intervals, and sight see. Great views from almost everywhere on this trail.
PS: Can’t forget the wildlife here. We spotted a raccoon, which I don’t ever see in Las Vegas. And if you’re lucky, you may even get the chance to see a whale or two jumping out of the water. Naks!

Beautiful trail to ride bicycles or get your walk/​run on at. The ocean shore view is gorgeous and the trail is well-​kept and nicely paved. You can take the trail to the Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, American Tin Cannery Outlets, Asilomar State Beach, San Carlos Beach, Monterey Beach, Fort Ord State Beach, Lover’s Point and the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf. The hubby and I enjoyed this trail very much.

Enjoy oceanfront bliss along this 18-​mile expansive recreational trail. This is one my favorite relaxation spots to take in some beautiful scenery and the perfect antidote for life’s stresses. This landmark trail stretches from Pacific Grove all the way to Castroville and boasts stunning views from every direction. There are plenty of trailside cafes, restaurants, sports rentals, shops, grassy parks and benches to enjoy.
Some of the attractions along the trail include Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, American Tin Cannery Outlets, Asilomar State Beach, San Carlos Beach, Monterey Beach, Fort Ord State Beach, Lover’s Point and the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf.
Visitors can pick from a variety of wonderful outdoor activities, including whale watching tours, kayak and surrey (4-​wheeled canopy bikes) rentals, wine tasting, surfing, scuba diving, sailing, in-​line skating, dinner cruises and so much more.
I really enjoy coming down to this ocean-​fringed trail. It’s a great place to soak in so much natural beauty while you torch some calories.