Monterey Coastal Trail — Lovers Point toward the wharf
California · Rail-trail
At Lovers Point join the designated bicycle portion of the coastal recreation trail. Follow it toward Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf for up to three miles, then retrace, turning at the wharf or an earlier actual end. In Pacific Grove use the cycle route rather than the separate shoreline footpath. Walk crowded wharf areas; traffic roads and 17-Mile Drive are excluded.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Pacific Grove / Monterey · California
- Ride length
- Up to 6 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved coastal bicycle trail; separate shoreline footpaths excluded
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Coastal route with short rises and busy pedestrian/driveway interfaces. Wind can add effort.
- Starting location
- Lovers Point public coastal bicycle-trail access, Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Named public place/junction reference, not a surveyed trail entrance or parking stall. Follow written local access and parking limitations.
Monterey Coastal Trail — Lovers Point toward the wharf — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Lovers Point public coastal bicycle-trail access, Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA.
No verified dedicated trail parking at this named public access. Arrive by lawful public pedestrian/bicycle access, or independently arrange lawful visitor parking and walk to the path. Private, business and reserved lots are not assumed available.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 6 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: At Lovers Point join the designated bicycle portion of the coastal recreation trail. Follow it toward Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf for up to three miles, then retrace, turning at the wharf or an earlier actual end. In Pacific Grove use the cycle route rather than the separate shoreline footpath. Walk crowded wharf areas; traffic roads and 17-Mile Drive are excluded.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved coastal bicycle trail; separate shoreline footpaths excluded. Coastal route with short rises and busy pedestrian/driveway interfaces. Wind can add effort.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Official Monterey tourism describes this popular former-railway route as paved and explicitly recommends the separated Lovers Point–wharf section for beginning cyclists. The wider 18-mile Castroville corridor is not this outing or an uninterrupted-path claim. Full tourism HTML retrieval was denied; primary indexed route text supplied the route facts. Obey current city event and maintenance controls. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.