The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is network of public trails that runs the entire length of the California coastline, along beaches, bluffs, bays and coves, through wilderness and cities, staying as close to the shore as possible. Once completed, it will extend about 1,200 miles from Oregon to Mexico. Like many of the trail systems in our nation, it is a work in progress. Currently, 82%, or around 978 miles of the route is reasonably safe and worthwhile to follow. The remaining 18% follows highway shoulders. The goal is to complete an uninterrupted safe coastal footpath for all sections.

• Visit the California Coastal Trail Official Website.

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• Hiker’s Map
• Map showing Status of Trail 

Google Earth - Get a bird’s eye view of Big Sur. If you have Google Earth installed, you can double-click on the linked Placemark file and it will fly you to Big Sur. If not, you will need to install Google Earth first (available at http://earth.google.com).

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INTERESTING FACTS and PHENOMENA about the California Coast

Glow-in-the-dark-water
Red tides, caused by a sudden overpopulation of algae, discolor coastal waters and are smelly, ugly and inconvenient to anyone wanting to swim in the ocean.  But at night, the phosphorescent plankton of an intense Red Tide can transform the waves into a spectacular light show. When you come out of the water, your whole body glows and your footprints light up on the beach. A less intense Red Tide, while not as spectacular, may make you think you’re seeing things if you observe the tide at night. Every few seconds a glow of greenish light will appear, only to vanish a second or two later. Red tides are harmless in California, but may be toxic in other parts of the world.

The Green Flash
The Green Flash, A.K.A., Astronomical Refraction, is a phenomena seen at sunrise and sunset when the sun is low in the horizon. Just when the sun is about to disappear, it suddenly and briefly changes color. Usually the color seen is green, but it can change to other colors, as well. See explaining green flashes.

The grunion are running!  The grunion are running!
From March through August, shortly after the new and full moon, small silvery fish wash themselves up on beaches along the coast of Southern California to spawn. Racing around, trying to catch the briefly stranded fish by hand, is a popular and exhilarating experience. All that is needed is a valid California fishing license, perhaps a gunnysack to keep them in, a flashlight, and a willingness to run around on the beach in the middle of the night. Expected grunion runs for 2007.

Venice Beach
Situated between Santa Monica and Marina del Rey is the California phenomenon known as Venice Beach. A symbol of the California counter culture, Venice Beach is a funky mish-mash of bikini-clad skaters, fortune tellers, preachers, magicians, street performers, food vendors, clothing shops and craft stands. Nearby are the picturesque Venice canals, built in 1904 to resemble the romantic waterways of Venice, Italy, complete with singing gondoliers steering beautifully, crafted gondolas.

Whale Watching
Many whales migrate south for the winter, in order to breed and shelter. The entire population of grey whales swim past the west coast twice a year, traveling between the frigid waters of the Chukchi and Bering Seas and their nursery and breeding grounds in Baja California, Mexico. The whale spends the summer and a few fall months in the arctic waters before starting their 5,000-mile journey south to Mexico.

Whale Watching Timeline:
• December through February: Grey whales travel southbound from Alaska to Mexico
• February through April: Grey whales northbound from Mexico to Alaska. Mothers with calves travel at the back of the pod, close to the shore.
• June through October: Blue whales and humpback whales may be seen around the Channel Islands and along the coast of Big Sur where there is a deep submarine canyon.
• April to early December: Humpback whales may be seen along the central California coast

Whale Watching Tips:
Grey whales normally spout in a cycle of 3 to 5 blows, 30 seconds apart, followed by three- to six-minute dive. They often show their tail flukes just before they dive. If you see a whale spout, continue to watch in the direction it’s moving (south in winter, north in spring) for the next spout. 

• A guide to Southern California Whale Watching
• Whale Watcher's Lingo
• Gray Whale Migration Route

Pioneer of the California Coastal Trail
In 1911, a middle-aged Englishman set out on horseback from El Monte, California. Decked out in riding breeches and leather puttees, a brown tweed coat and broad-brimmed Stetson hat, he was beginning a journey that would take him over nearly two thousand miles of trail and road from the Mexican border to the Oregon line.

He would sleep in the homes of isolated ranchers and camp under towering redwoods, and enjoy alike the hospitality of noble Spanish Californio families and of tramps bivouacked by the roadside. Along the way he took notes, combining observations of the topography, botany and humanity he met on the trail with snippets of poetry and public-school erudition. On returning to Los Angeles, he compiled his notes into a book.

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THREE WAYS TO HIKE THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL TRAIL
1.  Hike the trail in sections, keeping a checklist of what you've completed, until the entire trail is done.
2.  Through-hike the entire 1200-mile trail in one trip.
Read about the 2003 Coastal Expedition.
3.  Day hike any portion.    

Ideas for DAY HIKES along the California Coastal Trail and Surrounding Area:

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
• Montaña de Oro Bluffs Trail

MONTEREY COUNTY
• A Guide to California’s Big Sur

VENTURA COUNTY
• Overlook Trail Loop - Pt. Magu State Park
• Ormond Beach Family Hike: Port of Hueneme to Mugu Naval Base

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
• Carpinteria Bluffs
• Carpinteria Beach Walks
• Montecito
• Santa Barbara
• Goleta - Six area hikes
• Goleta Beach to Elwood Beach
• Hendry’s Beach to Goleta Beach
• Refugio to El Capitan
• Summerland Beach Walks
• Gaviota

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
• Point Dume State Beach #1
• Point Dume State Beach #2
• Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County
• South Bay Bicycle Trail—This paved trail stretches 23 miles from Pacific Palisades almost to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, traversing a full range of beach life, from the eccentric Venice Boardwalk through several other beach towns, boardwalks and marinas. There are several opportunities to leave the paved path to walk along the beach itself. Mileage chart
• McBride Trail - Palos Verdes Peninsula
• Palos Verdes coastline
• White Point to Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

ORANGE COUNTY
• Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve
• Crown of the Sea Trail
• Huntington's Dog Beach
• San Clemente State Beach
• San Clemente State Beach Trestles Trail
• Discover sea stacks and small sea cave at the historic Dana Point headlands
• Crystal Cove Coastline
• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
• Little Corona Beach Tidepools
• San Onofre State Beach #1
• San Onofre State Beach #2
• Upper Newport Bay

SAN DIEGO COUNTY
• Tijuana Estuary
• Mission Bay Park
• Point Loma's Bayside Trail
• La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines reserve
• La Jolla Shores Beach to La Jolla Caves
• Leucadia and Encinitas sea bluffs
• San Elijo Lagoon
• South Carlsbad State Beach to Moonlight Beach
• San Elijo Lagoon

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• CAMPING ON THE COAST –Listing and links to campgrounds situated on the California Coast.
• Coastal Camping at Leo Carillo State Beach
• Popular Southern California Camping Beaches

HOSTELS
• Hostelling International - California Hostels
• San Francisco Area Hostels
• Hosteling The California Coast - LA to SF
• Central Coast Hostels
• Los Angeles Area Hostels
• Orange County Hostels
• San Diego Hostels

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Two high tides and two low tides take place every 24 hours and 50 minutes. To make sure your trail will not be blocked by high tides, consult a tide table before attempting hikes near or on the beach.

• Avoid the temptation of strolling out to an interesting rock without knowing when the tide rolls back in.
• If possible, begin your hike on an outgoing tide, as it's much easier to walk on wet sand.
  
• Take the high tide into account when setting up camp. Nothing can ruin a camping experience faster then getting awakened by the tide entering your tent or washing away your belongings.
  
• Appropriate footwear might not mean heavy-duty hiking boots. Consider sport sandals for shorter hikes or lightweight hiking shoes.

• If you are camping at the beach, take long tent anchors made for sand. As a rule, tent stakes do not work in sand.

• Remember that the sun reflecting off the water intensifies the exposure so wear, sunglasses, a hat and plenty of sunscreen--reapply often.

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• Big Sur
• Santa Barbara
• San Diego
• The Enlightened Explorer's Guide to San Diego Weather

Going on a trip? Predict the weather in advance! The Trip Planner helps you plan for your upcoming trip or event by searching a historical database for the weather conditions during the dates of your trip in past years. The results will help you decide how hot, cold, wet, or windy it will be.

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TENT

For maximum space and minimum weight we recommend MSR’s Hubba Hubba 2-person tent. This Backpacker Editors’ Choice Award winner—our best-selling 2-person freestanding tent—comes in at under 4 pounds. It boasts unmatched livability, with lots of elbow room, 3 setup options, 2 doors and vestibules, and 2 stay-dry entrances that keep the inside dry even with the vestibules open.  The fly can also be used as a sun shelter at the beach, giving you a great two-for-one value!

LIGHT WEIGHT STOVE

• MSR’s proven PocketRocket™ canister stove, the best-selling backpacking stove available Ultralight:
  Only 7.3 oz.—half the weight of Jetboil.
• Fast-Boiling:
  Boils two cups of water in just 2.25 minutes; no system on the market is faster.
• Super-Compact:
  Stove and 4-oz. MSR® IsoPro™ canister fit inside kettle to save space.
• Easy to Use:
  No priming, pressurizing, or maintenance necessary.
• Wind-Resistant:
  Windclip™ windshield protects flame in light winds

WATER FILTER

The MSR Miniworks EX Ceramic Water Filter delivers long-lasting, fully field-maintainable water filtration. The MiniWorks is also lightweight, compact, and capable of pumping one liter of water per minute.

• Long-lasting
  Durable ceramic element ensures protection and will pump water for years.
• Field-maintainable
  Can be cleaned repeatedly for full filter recovery; no tools required for complete disassembly.
• Fast Flow
  AirSpring Accumulator increases filtration speed; up to 1 liter/minute.
• Effective Protection
  Removes bacteria, protozoa (including crypto and giardia), and particulate.
• Better-tasting Water
  Carbon core removes unpleasant tastes and odors caused by chemicals, such as iodine, chlorine, and pesticides.

LIGHTWEIGHT, FAST-DRYING TOWEL

The ultimate sports and travel towel, silky-soft MSR Packtowl® Personal™ is perfect for face, hand, and body use. Plus, it’s super-lightweight, ultra compact, and fast drying.

• Ultrasoft
  85% polyester/15% nylon micro fiber blend is unbelievably soft and highly absorbent.
• Packable
  These ultra light towels fold up small enough to fit in your pocket.
• Long-lasting
  Edges are serged for added durability.
• Easy Care
  Machine wash, then hang dry using the convenient snap loop or tumble dry.

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• California Coastal Trail Clinic - Come and learn about California’s premier hiking trail, the CCT. Meet long-distance hikers who have hiked the CCT in its entirety, and pick up some suggestions for great CCT hikes, tips for long-distance trip planning and gear essentials, and learn how you can become a steward of this California treasure. FREE!
Adventure 16 San Diego Store: Wed., Aug 29, 7 p.m.
Adventure 16 West Los Angeles Store: Thurs., Aug 30, 7 p.m.

• California Coastal Trail Official Website - Plans and progress reports about the Trail's completion, current news, detailed descriptions with maps and text about the Trail, and resources for the hiker and visitor.
• Coastwalk Website - Volunteer organization dedicated to the completion of the California Coastal Trail and to coastal environmental protection. The Coastwalk website has organized walking tours of California’s beautiful coast and other activities.

• California Coastal Trail Website - Natural and cultural history, lore, photos, poems, and more about the CCT. 
• Coastal Film Festival
• Guided Trips for adventure on the California Coast
• Tide Predictor
• CCT Hiker’s Guide
• Guide to Orange County Beaches

BOOKS:
Hiking the California Coastal Trail - by Bob Lorentzen & Richard Nichols—Available at all Adventure 16 Stores, $8.96

Day Hikes on the California Southern Coast - Available at most Adventure 16 Stores, $14.95

California’s Coastal Parks - Available at most Adventure 16 Stores, $15.95

Points of Historical Interest Along the California Coastal Trail

• San Diego
• Orange County
• Los Angeles County
• California Coastal Access Guide - handbook exploring California’s majestic 1100-mile shoreline. With the most up-to-date maps and information, for all beachgoers – hikers, campers, swimmers, divers, wheelchair users, joggers, boaters – detailing where to go, how to get there, and what facilities and type of environment to expect.
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Nature Walks

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• Assume that all cliff edges are unstable. Wet trails or soft sand and earth can make for unstable footing. Rocks can be slippery even when it isn’t raining.

• Rip currents may appear as dark, choppy water. Any time you see debris and foam floating out to sea, chances are you have found a rip current. Avoid the area.  Do not fight a rip current – if caught in a current keep calm, float, breath, don’t panic, and wave for help. Go WITH the current and conserve energy.

• Standing at the base of an oceanside cliff can be dangerous, especially if it has an overhang. In some places, winter storms and high waves have eroded the shoreline, increasing the chance of collapse and slides. Don’t walk along the base of cliffs unless absolutely necessary.

• Avoidance and treatment of injuries caused by hazardous marine creatures

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• Coastal Cleanup Day
• Cigarette Butts Are One of the Most Littered Items
• Get Involved with the California Coastal Trail Committee
• Coastal Conservancy
• Ventana Wilderness Alliance - Dedicated to protecting the wildlands of central California's wondrous northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast.

• Order a whale tail license plate
Proceeds from the plate support the annual Coastal Cleanup Day, which each fall turns out thousands of volunteers to clean our beaches and waterways. The plate also supports the year 'round Adopt-a-Beach program, the Whale Tail Grants program (which supports marine education at the local level), resources for educators and the Coastal Conservancy's beach access and habitat restoration programs. Prominent environmental artist Wyland designed the plate.

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Hiking, backpacking, and other wilderness activities, are potentially dangerous and unpredictable. Adventure 16 assumes no liability for injuries associated with the use of information provided on this site. The trails, activities and areas described on this site are to be used for informational purposes only and should not be your sole source of guidance. Always thoroughly research any outdoor area you plan to visit using various resources--including contacting local ranger stations--to obtain the most up to date information for your destination. Contact your physician if you are unsure about your health or physical abilities.