Monterey Hikes

Friday, June 22, 2007

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Garrapta State Park The park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense redwood groves. The park also features outstanding coastal headlands at Soberanes Point. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters frequent the coastal waters and California gray whales pass close by during their yearly migration.

Location-Directions
The park is located on Highway 1, 6.7 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel (18 miles north of Big Sur).

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing
The weather can be changeable. Layered clothing is advised.

Trail Map & Brochure:

Photos:

Garrapata State Park. June 10, 2007

Map:

Friday, June 8, 2007

Toro County Park

Toro Park. June 8, 2007

Toro County Park
501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68, Salinas, CA 93908 (get map)
(831) 755-4899 or toll-free (888) 588-2267 for reservations and information

Between the Salinas Valley and the Monterey Peninsula.
Toro County Park is located six miles from downtown Salinas, and 13 miles from the Monterey Peninsula. First opened to the public in 1971, the park's 4,756 acres have been a haven for thousands of visitors. The park is also home for many types of wildlife including deer, coyote, and a rare mountain lion or golden eagle. Toro's pastoral setting makes it the ideal place for your next family outing. Toro County Park has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast. The park facilities include an equestrian staging area and riding trails, two softball fields, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, mountain biking, volleyball courts, and over 20 miles of riding and hiking trails.

Vehicle Entrance Fee: Weekends and Holidays - $6.00/Vehicle; Monday through Friday - $4.00/Vehicle

Hours of Operation:
January through February 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
April 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PST)/7:00 p.m. (DST)
May 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
June through August 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
September 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
October 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 (DST)/5:30 p.m. (PST)
November through December 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Trail Map:

Photos:

Toro Park. June 8, 2007

Map:

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Jacks Peak Regional Park

Jacks Peak Regional Park. June 5, 2007

Jacks Peak County Park
25020 Jacks Peak Park Road, Monterey, CA 93940
(888) 588-2267 for reservations and information

Jacks Peak Park has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast. Almost 8.5 miles of horseback riding and hiking trails wind through cathedral-like forests and to breathtaking ridge top vistas. The Skyline Self-Guided Nature Trail which features fossils from the Miocene epoch traverses the summit of Jacks Peak. Brochures describing features along the trail are available at the entrance station. Visitors can also enjoy other passive activities including nature study, photography or relaxation.

Vehicle Entrance Fee:
$3.00/Vehicle Monday-Friday; $4.00/Vehicle Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Hours of Operation:
January 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
February 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
March 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
April 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (DST)/7:00 p.m. (PST)
May through September 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
October 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (DST)/5:00 p.m. (PST)
November through December 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Trail Map:

Photos:

Jacks Peak Regional Park. June 5, 2007

Map:

Friday, June 1, 2007

Asilomar State Beach

Asilomar State Beach. June 1, 2007

Located on the Monterey Peninsula in the city of Pacific Grove, Asilomar (meaning "a refuge by the sea") State Beach and Conference Grounds offers overnight lodging and views of the forest, surf and sand.

Asilomar State Beach is a narrow one-mile strip of sandy beach and rocky coves. A 3/4-mile coast-walking trail is open to pedestrians. Bicycle riding is allowed on the paved road bike lane in close proximity to the trail. There are no restrooms or picnicking facilities at the state beach. Parking is available on Sunset Drive, the city street that runs parallel to the state beach. The coastal resources are protected. Asilomar State Beach is part of the Pacific Grove Fish Garden Refuge and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Dogs are permitted on the state beach but must be leashed at all times and in the immediate control of the handler.

A boardwalk across the sand dunes gives access to the Asilomar Conference Grounds.

The Asilomar Conference Grounds began in 1913 as a camp and conference site for the YWCA. Its historic buildings were designed by the California architect Julia Morgan. It has been owned and operated by the State of California since 1956. The grounds are available to park visitors for conferences and/or overnight stay. There are no campground sites at Asilomar. The California State Parks training facility -- William Penn Mott, Jr. Training Center -- is located on the conference grounds.

Location
Asilomar State Beach is adjacent to Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove.
Asilomar Conference Grounds is at 800 Asilomar Avenue in Pacific Grove.

Directions to Asilomar State Beach: From the North (Santa Cruz)
Take State Highway 1 south towards Monterey. Exit at Highway 68 West to Pacific Grove. Turn left on Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove. Follow Sunset Drive to Asilomar State Beach.

Directions to Asilomar State Beach: From the East (Salinas/Highway 101)
Take Highway 68 West from Salinas. Turn south on Highway 1 (aproximately 15 miles). From Highway 1 take 68 West into Pacific Grove and proceed as above.

More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asilomar_State_Beach

Photos:

Asilomar State Beach. June 1, 2007

Map:

Map from MTYcounty.com

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Frog Pond Wetland Preserve

Location: Del Ray Oaks, California

Description:

In an increasingly urban world, open spaces, such as the Frog Pond, provide a refuge for resident and migratory wildlife as well as people. Maintaining and enhancing the Frog Pond's wildlife habitat value is a high priority on the District's operational work program.

The Frog Pond is composed of a unique arrangement of habitat types that provide a refuge for wildlife and for people. As an isolated remnant of a much larger ecosystem, the Frog Pond nevertheless retains an important wetland habitat.

Considered one of the most biologically productive and ecologically important ecosystems, wetlands are one of the most threatened habitats on earth. Disregard for wetlands by expanding urban and agricultural development is the number one cause for wetland loss. This leads to fragmented habitat and results in remnant oases that need human intervention to maintain their potential bio-diversity.

At the same time, maintaining public access is important for people and their health and well-being. The pond provides a unique wildlife habitat within the community of Del Rey Oaks for wildlife, nature study, education, recreation, and inspiration. To maintain a balance, the District provides a perimeter access to the central pond/wetland habitat core.

With the rapid pace at which open space and natural areas are being developed, a fundamental concern of the District is how to protect and then maintain the important values that the remaining open spaces give to our community. Those values lie in the ecological processes and patterns of life that are all too absent from urban life. For those values to produce any social good, they must be experienced, understood, and adopted by the public.

Herein lies the District's ultimate challenge: how to protect the ecological integrity of open spaces while also providing barrier free public access.

PUBLIC ACCESS

The Frog Pond is open for pedestrian use only and is an excellent place for birding. Please contact the Regional Park District for access and use guidelines.
Call 831-659-4488

(Borrowed from Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District)

Photos:

May 31, 2007

Map:

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Fort Ord Public Lands

General Details: Come and enjoy some of the last undeveloped natural, public lands on the Monterey Peninsula, located on the former Fort Ord military base. Here the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) protects and manages 35 species of rare plants and animals and their native coastal habitats. While habitat preservation and enhancement are primary missions at Fort Ord, there are also more than 50 miles of trails for the public to explore on foot, on bike or on horseback. (borrowed from: Bureau of Land Management)

Trail Map (click to download):