Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail

For this continuous nearly five-mile stretch, start in Seaside and head south past Monterey to Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. While this is the busier, more urban segment of this 17-mile long trail, it offers easy access to some of Monterey's most popular attractions and can provide a good workout. Immediately past Lovers Point, the trail continues but becomes too narrow and sandy to travel by wheelchair.

From the parking lot, cross Sand Dunes Dr. and follow the wide paved trail downcoast for about half a mile as it makes a long gradual climb through the dunes (grade 4-7%), leaving the beach behind. At the crest of the hill, be sure to look back at the unspoiled, sweeping ocean view. The long switchbacked descent is exhilarating, but watch for fast-moving cyclists.

After the first half-mile you travel away from the bay then, turn right to follow a broad path along busy Del Monte Boulevard. For the next three-plus miles the trail is more congested and noisy, until you pass the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Divided lanes help to control traffic, which can include joggers, strollers, and distracted tourists. For 2 miles you pass through a small eucalyptus grove across from the Naval Post Graduate Academy and as you approach Del Monte Beach, you begin to smell, hear, and see the bay—a welcome reprieve from the constant car noise. You’ll find level access to the beach complete with 2 beach mats.

If you're traveling with children, take a side trip to El Estero Park, across Del Monte Boulevard from Monterey City Beach at Camino el Estero. Here you will see mature willows, the Dennis the Menace Playground (on Pearl Street), an accessible fishing pier, and an accessible hard-packed dirt path that wends most of the way around El Estero Lake.

After El Estero Park, the trail skirts the perimeter of the Fisherman's Wharf parking lot, where you can watch fisherman unload their catch at the commercial pier or, just beyond the marina, shop for trinkets and grab a fresh seafood lunch at one of the many dining venues and snack bars that line thie recreational pier. Immediately inland from Fisherman's Wharf is Monterey Bay State Historic Park, a recommended stop for anyone interested in California history.

Continue past Fisherman's Shoreline Park, a small linear park with good views of the marina, another half-mile to pristine San Carlos Beach Park, which is down a gentle slope from the trail. Here you can see the curve of the bay and follow the route you've taken thus far. A steep concrete ramp leads onto the small beach below, but on my visit it was buried in sand. From here you can choose to return to the trail or continue along Cannery Row Way, through Cannery Row—the bustling tourist section of Monterey—to the aquarium. The only other access to Cannery Row from the trail requires negotiating a steep descent and several street crossings with steep curb cuts.

The trail’s last mile, from the Aquarium to Lovers Point Park, is a bit less noisy; here you’re traveling below the road through a mostly residential area, where traffic is lighter. About halfway to the park is a mural depicting early inhabitants. As you approach the park, look for harbor seals draped across the rocky outcrop. The activity level picks up again at Lovers Point Park, a popular four-acre park frequented by both residents and tourists for its charm and beauty. The park has a small pocket beach with an extremely steep concrete ramp and a grassy picnic area graced with windswept cypress, but its biggest draw may be the large rocks at the point, which people climb for views of Monterey Bay and to watch the crashing waves. Upon leaving Lovers Point Park, the trail becomes too narrow and sandy to continue in a wheelchair.