Hiking the California Coastal Trail, Volume Two: Monterey to Mexico

This second volume of the two book series completes the first guide to the California Coastal Trail (CCT), America's newest, most diverse long distance trail. Volume Two describes more than 600 miles of the CCT from Monterey to the Mexican border in 83 accessible sections. Most sections offer easy day hikes, while six sections offer great backpacking, including the dramatic and rugged Big Sur High Route. Concise but thorough descriptions support 65 detailed original maps by artist Marsha Mello. Each section details how to get there, hike distance, elevation gain/loss, cautions, and facilities available including campgrounds, hostels and lodgings. The guide also covers alternate routes, worthwhile side trails, and river, bay, and harbor crossing information. Thirty-three feature articles discuss history, geology, land use and attractions. Volume Two describes such Coastal Trail highlights as the Monterey Peninsula shore, Del Monte Forest/Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, vast Big Sur, the Hearst Ranch, Montana de Oro State Park, Pecho coast, Nipomo Dunes, Mussel Rock Dunes and Point Sal, Vandenberg coast, Point Conception, Santa Barbara beaches, Point Mugu State Park, Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Malibu coast, Venice Beach, Palos Vereds Peninsula, and the Orange and San Diego County coasts.