The new path winds down the hill from the Old Lighthouse to near the New Lighthouse at the Coastal Trail’s southern trailhead. (All photos by Joaquin.)
by Joaquin Antique
After years of planning and one year of construction, a new hiking trail has opened at Cabrillo National Monument. Named “the Oceanside Trail”, it is an approximately 0.7 mile (one way) dirt and gravel pathway that leads from the whale watching overlook near the Old Lighthouse down a series of switchbacks and stairs to the start of the Coastal Trail near the Monument’s tidepools.
Lots of flowers are now in bloom along the trail which starts near the Whale Lookout, visible at the top of this picture.
Local hikers, including this reporter, are totally stoked as until now there have been only two non-paved hiking opportunities in the area (Cabrillo’s Bayside Trail and the trail in Sunset Cliffs Natural Park that leads from the Cliffs up into the Nazarene campus) that provide any degree of elevation gain in a natural setting.
Trail builders have planted native succulents, cacti, shrubs, and flowers in areas where trail construction impacted mature plants.
In addition to a good workout, the trail allows Monument visitors to park up top and travel to the tidepools without having to drive or walk along the road that leads from the entry kiosk down to the shore.
Newly built stairs link the dirt and gravel portions of the trail that switchback down the hillside.
The Cabrillo National Monument Foundation fundraised $400,000 to pay for the project. Much of the construction work was done under the direction of trail crews from Joshua Tree National Park by the Urban Corps and the California Conservation Corps.
Hikers checking out the new trail on Sunday, April 29.
Marked crosswalks have been painted where the new trail crosses the paved road leading to the tidepools.
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There’s some kick-ass photos here of the new trail.