Hikers Guide
The Coastal Wetlands of Southern California
In the last 150 years, thousands of acres of California’s marine estuaries disappeared under the development of harbors, marinas, industrial building and housing tracts. Wetlands became the Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego Harbors. Downtown San Francisco and the Marina District sit atop bay mud, much of San Francisco Bay wetlands has been converted…
Read MoreThe Profits and Pleasures of the Harbor
The Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbors exemplify the huge L.A. economy. The harbors abut each other inside San Pedro Bay and are among the world’s biggest ports. The Port of Los Angeles alone throbs with commerce at 29 cargo terminals. In /998 it handled 3.2 million containers with a cargo value of $73.8 billion. Add about…
Read MoreLos Angeles River Basin Past, Present & Future
Imagine the Los Angeles basin as a rolling grassland with the Los Angeles, San Gabriel and Santa Ana Rivers flowing through riparian lowlands of cottonwood, alder and sycamore. Further imagine marshes, lagoons and large lakes interlaced with thickets of willow, grape and brambles, chaparral and oak forests draping the hills, numerous springs bubbling to the…
Read MoreHostels Along California’s Coast
Coastal hostels offer a welcome alternative to campgrounds and hotels as you explore California’s Coastal Trail. Imagine brisk walks on the CCT while staying at a cozy, perhaps historic, hostel with an ocean view. Cook hot meals in a well-lit kitchen, sleep in a comfortable bed and meet friendly people from around the world. Each…
Read MoreCalifornia’s Coastal Conservancy
California’s Coastal Conservancy is a state agency that protects and improves coastal and San Francisco Bay natural resources and helps the public get to and enjoy the coast. It works in partnership with local governments, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations and private landowners. The Coastal Conservancy has undertaken more than 700 projects along California’s 1,100-mile…
Read MoreSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The 150,000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), established in 1978, preserves the region’s unique ecosystems and rich cultural and natural history. This beautiful, diverse area, bounded by Mugu Lagoon and the Oxnard Plain on the west, Conejo Valley and San Fernando Valley on the north, and the coast on the south, reaches all…
Read MoreChannel Islands National Park
On clear days a tantalizing vision appears as you hike the Santa Barbara or Ventura coastline. Five islands comprising Channel Islands National Park rise from the blue Pacific Ocean, sparking curiosity about what’s out there. While the five islands lie between 10 and 40 miles across the sea, extensive information about the park dwells few…
Read MoreThe Case Against Shoreline Armoring
Shoreline erosion occurs as a natural process. The planet’s surface shifts in a dynamic, ever changing interplay of wind, water and earth. This constant movement plays out most dramatically and rapidly on the shoreline, creating circumstances for disaster. Crashing waves, exposed geology, fresh air, sandy beaches, and vivid scenery attract millions of people to the…
Read MoreExperience the California Coast! – A Pioneering Walk Along the California Coastal Trail
By Dinesh Desai Bob and I are walking the lonely Mattole Road. It is about 1 P.M. and as we come close to the top of a small rise, Bob freezes and motions me to be quiet. No more than 100 ft. ahead on the road is a full-grown mountain lion. He is staring at something…
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