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California Coastal Trail

From Border to Border

Depending who you are, the California coast can mean many things: a weekend spot for rest and relaxation, a view that offers beauty and drama bundled into one, an opportunity to disconnect from technology and ride some waves. No matter your reason, visitors have probably crossed one of the state's most notable trails on the way to the sand, whether they knew it or not.

The California Coastal Trail got its start over four decades ago when voters approved a ballot measure protecting the Golden State's largest asset: its coastline. That resounding "yes!" paved the path for more protection, including one that formally set sights on the longtime dream of many to build a trail along the whole coast.

Still a works in progress, the CCT may someday become as recognizable as other American routes that don recognizable acronyms, like the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and AT (Appalachian Trail). It deserves that even if it's not in the rugged backcountry with snow-capped peaks to climb. After all, some 1,200 miles within the sight, sound, or smell of the Pacific Ocean, flanked by hundreds of unique communities and an unending amount of enthusiastic visitors, is a worthy trip for anyone's bucket list.

Support Provided By
Newport Beach: A Lifeguard's Story
2:41
Gary Conwell is a lifeguard officer for the city of Newport Beach for the past 18 years.
Marin Headlands: San Francisco's Backyard
5:02
Marin Headland's Golden Gate National Recreation Area hosts rich biodiversity.
San Francisco: Land's End
6:07
Lands End is a popular hiking destination at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Crescent City Harbor Trail
6:28
Del Norte County is home to the cleanest river in the continental U.S., the Smith River.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
5:26
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park hosts sea-side bluffs above ancient redwoods.
Connecting Communities on the Humboldt Bay Trail
6:03
The Humboldt Bay Trail is a network of trails that will connect Humboldt's largest cities.
Haul Road: MacKerricher State Park
5:59
The Fort Bragg Coastal Trail sees as many as 12,000 people per day on holiday weekends.
Restoring Coastal Access at Noyo Headlands Park
6:48
In Fort Bragg, California, an industrial mill site closed off the coastline for 150 years.
Pelican Bluffs and The Art of Trail Design
6:55
The Mendocino Land Trust has just completed the two-mile Pelican Bluffs Trail.
The Sea Ranch: An Environmentally-Planned Community
7:58
The Sea Ranch is an environmentally-planned private community along the Sonoma Coast.
Ownership of Tribal Land Restored at Kashia Coastal Reserve
8:10
In 2015, the Trust for Public land helped establish Kashia Coastal Reserve.
Discovering Russian History on the California Coast
5:28
Decades after the Russians withdrew, Fort Ross was acquired by the state in 1906.
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