History of the California Coastal Trail

Policy makers and coastal managers have long planned for a continuous coastal trail in California:

• In 1972, Proposition 20 (the “Save the Coast” initiative) provided that “a hiking, bicycle, and equestrian trails system be established along or near the coast” and that “ideally the trails system should be continuous and located near the shoreline.” The Coastal Act of 1976 requires local jurisdictions to identify an alignment for the California Coastal Trail in their Local Coastal Programs (LCPs).
• The California Coastal Trail was designated California’s Millennium Legacy Trail in 1999 by Governor Davis and the White House Millennium Trail Council encouraged federal agencies to assist in developing it.
• State Legislation in 2001 focused efforts to complete the Coastal Trail. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 20 (Pavely) declared the Coastal Trail is an official State Trail and urged the Coastal Commission and the Coastal Conservancy to work collaboratively to complete it.
• State Legislation in 2001 focused efforts to complete the Coastal Trail. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 20 (Pavely) declared the Coastal Trail is an official State Trail and urged the Coastal Commission and the Coastal Conservancy to work collaboratively to complete it.
• Senate Bill 908 (Chesboro) charged the Coastal Conservancy in 2001 to prepare a plan, in cooperation with the Coastal Commission and California Department of Parks and Recreation, describing how the Coastal Trail can be completed. This Plan was submitted in 2003 to the legislature and is entitled Completing the California Coastal Trail. It sets forth the goals and objectives of the CCT and includes a blueprint for how missing links can be connected.
• The California Legislature adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 153proclaiming October 11, 2008 as California Coastal Trail Day

• The trail is sited and designed to be located along or as close to the shoreline as is physically and aesthetically feasible.
  • Where it is not feasible to locate the trail along the shoreline due to natural landforms or legally authorized development that prevents passage at all times, inland bypass trail segments located as close to the shoreline as possible should be utilized.
  • Shoreline trail segments that may not be passable at all times should be augmented by inland alternative routes
  • Special attention should be given to identifying any segments that may need to be incorporated into water-crossing structures and that those necessarily must be placed within Caltrans right-of way.
• Where gaps are identified, interim segments should be developed to ensure continuity of the coastal trail.
  • Interim segments are noted as such, with provisions that as opportunities arise, the trail shall be realigned as close as possible to its optimum location. Interim trail segments should meet as many of the CCT objectives and standards as possible.
• The CCT is designed and located to minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive habitat areas and prime agriculture lands to the maximum extent feasible.
  • Where appropriate, trail access should be limited to pass and repass.
  • Where necessary to prevent disturbance to sensitive species, sections of the trail may be closed on a seasonal basis.
  • Alternative trail segments shall be provided where feasible.
• For situations where impact avoidance is not feasible, appropriate mitigation measures should be identified, including but not limited to use of boardwalks, reducing width of trails, protective fencing and seasonal closures. The CCT is designed to incorporate existing oceanfront trails and paths and support facilities of public shoreline parks and beaches to the maximum extent feasible.
• The CCT is designed to avoid being located on roads with motorized vehicle traffic where feasible.
  • In locations where it is not possible to avoid siting the trail along a roadway, the trail should be located off of the pavement and within the public right-of-way, and separated from traffic by a safe distance or by physical barriers that do not obstruct, or detract from, the scenic views and visual character of their surroundings.
  • In locations where the trail must cross a roadway, safe under- or over-crossings or other alternative at-grade crossings should be considered in connection with appropriate directional and traffic warning signage.
• To maximize access to the CCT, adequate support facilities, such as parking areas, restrooms, and trailheads should be provided.

The Coastal Commission is a state agency responsible for statewide coastal planning and regulation, operating under the Coastal Act of 1976. An important part of this responsibility is the Coastal Commission’s role as the lead agency for CCT planning and permitting for the entire coastline. A primary objective for the Commission is to ensure the selection of a continuous and coordinated trail alignment, which respects and protects natural resources in a manner consistent with the Coastal Act.

The California Coastal Conservancy is a state agency created to assist in the implementation of the goals of the Coastal Act. In addition to the many resource protection and enhancement programs the Conservancy supports, maximizing recreational opportunities such as the CCT is one of the agency's highest priorities. The Conservancy provides funding to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations to acquire land and construct new segments of the CCT. (You can visit https://scc.ca.gov/ for more information.)

The CCT is located on lands owned by public agencies and private landowners as well as Tribes. As future segments continue to utilize both public and private lands, a comprehensive approach for planning, implementation and operation of the CCT has been developed. This public/private/tribal partnership is headed by the State Coastal Conservancy, in consultation with the California Coastal Commission, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and Caltrans, along with many other partners including Federal and State agencies, local governments and special districts as well as various nonprofit and private landowners.