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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.

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Laguna Beach: Where Art and Nature Thrive
7:46
Before Orange County saw a housing boom, Laguna Beach was a small, isolated artist colony.
Newport Beach: Hanging Out at the Pier
5:32
Newport Beach's coastal center is undoubtedly around its namesake pier selling fresh fish.
Little Corona del Mar Beach
5:02
Little Corona del Mar Beach makes up for its size with a bounty of tide pools.
San Clemente
5:10
San Clemente's coast is 2.3 miles of beautifully constructed trail, and 11 beaches.
Ocean Discovery Institute
4:13
Enter Ocean Discovery Institute, founded 1999 to help fill in gaps in science education.
Oceanside Transit Center
3:21
San Diego's coastline is fortunate enough to be hugged by a major rail artery.
Border Field State Park
1:39
At the most southern end of the California Coastal Trail you find classic, sandy beaches.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
4:23
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography continues to honor its 100 year legacy.
The Scripps Wave Phox
5:39
This segment features a profile of Phil Breshnahan, a sixth year Ph.D. candidate.
Coronado: Where the Beach Sparkles
4:22
Explore the vast expanse and beauty of Coronado and its neighboring coastal communities.
Tijuana Estuary
3:49
The Tijuana Estuary is a coastal salt marsh where the tides come and go, like the ocean.
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