The Beach Range Road Multi-Use Trail runs parallel to State Route 1 along the Pacific Coast, offering a safe alternative for commuters in Sand City, Seaside and Marina, and for students attending California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). It will also provide a connection to the area's light rail transit service at the future Monterey Branch Line station at 8th Street and CSUMB in Marina.
The trail was formerly a military access road for historic Fort Ord. The fort, established in 1917 and closed in the 1990s, is now home to Fort Ord Dunes State Park with miles of shoreline and natural areas to explore. The route offers spectacular scenery, including views of sparkling Monterey Bay, sandy beaches and some of the highest dunes on California's central coast.
Trail-goers can continue their journey along the coast on the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, which parallels Beach Range Road and travels south to Pacific Grove (via Monterey) and north to Castroville.
A parking lot is available in Fort Ord Dunes State Park in Marina at the northern end of the trail. From State Route 1, exit at Lightfighter Drive (bear right). Turn left (north) onto 2nd Avenue, then left (west) onto Divarty Street. Next, turn right (north) onto 1st Avenue. Signs will direct you from here to the park entrance at the 8th Street overcrossing of SR 1.
The trail is great for bikes, runners, and dogs on a leash. The ocean views are amazing, and the freshness of it is nice while running.
Fairly easy to get a parking spot in the parking lot and miles and miles of paved trails with many sandy side trails. Beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding lands.
Connected on to this trail from the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail at the south end and rode to north end of trail. Nice wide paved trail/road that used to be a main road for Fort Ord (no longer used for vehicle traffic). At south end of trail a number of homeless camps and trash tossed around. Nothing threatening just an eye sore. A spur trail leads down to some old military munitions storage bunkers. A few information panels are along the trail. I went through basic training at Fort Ord and the trail passed by one of the rifle ranges we used, brought back some memories. Much better, wider, trail than the parallel running Monterey Bay trail.
Park at the lot at First and Divarty. Construction at 8th.
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