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California Coastal Trail

Oceanside Transit Center

Season 1 Episode 6

The majority of San Diego's coastline may be developed, but it's fortunate enough to also be hugged by a major rail artery. Multiple trains come and go, with some traversing as far as 300 miles north to California's Central Coast. Not only that, the county's coastal cities and agencies have all agreed to build the Coastal Rail Trail, an ambitious bikeway project. Here's what you can grab from this important transit hub:

Coastal Rail Trail

When finished, the goal of this 44-mile bikeway is to be a robust mix of bike path and protected bikeway between Oceanside and downtown San Diego generally following the rail corridor (there will be some on-street bike lanes and routes throughout). As of spring 2015, It's nearly half way complete in separated segments. Want to take advantage of what's out there now? The GoBikeSD interactive map can deliver you to plenty of places along the coast with existing bicycle infrastructure.

Coaster

As its name suggests, the Coaster spans most of the San Diego County coastline running over 20 trains on weekdays and a modified schedule on the weekends. It takes about one hour to travel the whole thing, so good thing there are plenty of coastal views to take in for most of the ride.

Pacific Surfliner

One of the busiest Amtrak lines in the country, the Surfliner climbs up and down the coast between downtown San Diego and San Luis Obispo, hitting major stations in Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara. While it doesn't stop at every station in San Diego County, it can be used for some local commutes.

Metrolink

Usually associated with the Los Angeles metro region, two of Metrolink's routes dip into San Diego County at Oceanside: the lines from Los Angeles Union Station and the Inland Empire.

Sprinter, Breeze, and more

The Oceanside Transit Center also serves as an important hub for inland commuting. The Sprinter is a light rail travels to Escondido while the Breeze bus service offers numerous routes in the north county region. Additionally, Riverside Transit offers a commuter express options to here.

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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