This trestle across the Salinas River is the last and most successful of all the trestles built to cross the pesky Salinas River. It is presently closed to pedestrians and bicycles.

Adventures

Listening to the Voices in the Rails: Railwalk in Monterey County

Del Monte Junction (Castroville) to Marina


Friday, April 8 – 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Lecture Orientation
Room 435, Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA

Sunday, April 10 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Walking the line
This walk has been postponed.
Watch for reschedule.

Distance: Approximately 6 miles – railroad grade level
Difficulty: The gravel ballast is uneven, so you need strong ankles.
Transportation: Private vehicles – we'll carpool and shuttle
Lunch: Bring a picnic lunch
Place of beginning: Details and shuttles will be gone over in the Friday evening class.
Fee: $45.00

REGISTER HERE


Studying an old Southern Pacific branch line and hiking it.

Built by Chinese railroad workers in late 1879, the line opened in late spring of 1880 in time for the grand opening of the Hotel Del Monte in June of that year.

For almost a century (1880 to 1971), visitors coming to Monterey's Hotel Del Monte by train, rumbled through Moro Cojo country, crossed the Salinas River and into the sand dunes that heralded the imminent appearance of one of the country's most storied hotels. Soldiers-to-be came in on this line for their basic training and left raring to go. And tons and tons of sand left the Monterey Bay beaches on this same line.

Today the line is quiet, but we will bring it to life.

A rare opportunity to learn both the history of this important section of regional railroad as well learn about of the line's future from the Transportation Agency for Monterey County. We will be joined by staff members of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, including the agency's Executive Director, Debbie Hale.

In contrast to neighboring Santa Cruz County that continues to fuss and fret over the pending purchase of the Watsonville to Davenport branch line, Monterey County already owns their rail line. Perhaps you've seen or bicycled the recreational trail that skirts along Monterey and Pacific Grove? The section we will walk still has its rails.

REGISTER HERE