Best Walking Trails in Monterey, CA

Are you looking for the best walking trails in Monterey, CA? Well, luckily people don't have to venture out too far. Monterey and the surrounding areas are filled with wonderful places to walk that offer great views of the ocean and/or the surrounding hills. This article highlights some of the best.

Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail

This is by far the best choice because the views of the Pacific Ocean are amazing. It's a paved path that takes you through many of the highlights of the region. The trail is a total of 18 miles long. It stretches from Pacific Grove to Castroville which means that it goes right through Monterey. It is right along the water so seeing seals, sea lions, and other marine life on your route is not uncommon.

It is a paved trail which makes it safe for strollers, wheel chairs, and walkers. You can also bring your dogs - just clean up after them! There are parking opportunities throughout the trail so you can do different parts of the trail at different times. One of the best places to park is at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey so you can view the major ocean-front sites of the city by foot.

Jack's Peak County Park
25020 Jacks Peak Park Road, Monterey, CA 93940

This park has plenty of opportunities for walking. You can hike up the peak itself or take your car to the top, pay the fee at the gate, and enjoy the walking trails that branch off from the parking area.

The best trail is a short loop that takes you by two view points. One gives you an amazing view of the entire Monterey Bay. The other gives you a wonderful view of Carmel. Ask for a walking trail at the entry gate.

Toro Park
501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68, Salinas, CA 93908

This is another regional park in the area. The "walking" is more like hiking, but like any hiking area there are easy trails and harder ones. You can look for a map online or find one in the park. At Toro Park, not only do you have some great views of the surrounding mountains, you can actually walk to the top of some of the peaks!

Garland Ranch
Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CA

Of the parks in the area, this is one of the best. The Lupine Loop trail is gentle and free from strenuous hills. It's perfect for runners, dogs, and people who just want to take a leisurely walk through a park that was once a ranch.

However, if you feel like venturing into the mountains, there are some amazing view points. Siesta Point offers a nice view of Carmel Valley. From Siesta, navigate to Mesa Point. This is a wonderful place to have a picnic lunch and take a few pictures. If you're brave, continue on to Sniveley's Ridge or head back down to the parking lot.

There are plenty of other trails to explore, too. Just grab a map at the visitor's center. They keep the maps outside so don't worry if the center is closed.

The best walking trails in Monterey, CA are those that have beautiful views of the ocean or the mountains. These four parks represent the best the area has to offer.