or pick your starting city — the number is how many trails we list.
California · Central Coast
One outing. Just the right one.
Compare the 18 hiking trails in Central Coast by duration, level and access.
By François Dumaine · updated January 30, 2026
See the trails in Central Coast
Three ways to get out there.
18 trails: our 3 favourites above, then 6 more
No trail matches these filters.
Coordinates: LGPO database · map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Trails can close or change with the season: thaw, snow, maintenance. Each trail page links to the site manager, who publishes closures.
Our practical tipsCounts based on our 18 trails in Central Coast; details and sources are on each trail page.
We list 18: 3 easy, 3 moderate, 2 hard and 10 without a listed level.
Among the 3 easy trails, start with Big Sur (1.0 km, 20 min), Stearns Wharf (1.6 km, 20 min) and Fort Ord (11.0 km, 3 hr). Each trail page gives the duration, the level and the access conditions.
They are not allowed on 2: High Peaks Trail and Pinnacles National Park. For 16 more, the information is not confirmed: check the site's rules.
Each trail page links to the site manager's website (park, municipality, reserve), which publishes closures and rules. During the thaw and after heavy rain, some trails may be closed.
Free guide: 25 hikes under 2 hours from Montreal
Distance, elevation, parking and season for each one. The ones we go back to ourselves.
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