Do You Know the Way to Monterey—and Salinas?

by Micah Posner

While plans to get train transportation to the south and south-east chug along, the nicest and most ecological way to visit places in Monterey County is by bicycle. Ken Foster of Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping makes it a point to ride to the Ecological Farming conference in Monterey each year. I ride to my in-laws' house in Salinas about once a month. Both rides are pleasant and easy, if a bit long for a daily commute. Either town is about 50 miles from Santa Cruz, depending on your exact destination. Plan on 5 hours each way, including short breaks, on a decent bike with decent legs pedaling it. The wind tends to push you to Salinas. To Monterey it is variable, though strong at times. Past Aptos, both routes mainly follow farm roads, though the last stretch to Monterey is on a wonderful class one bike trail. You will pass several fruit stands and can buy food and water.

(An excellent touring map covering the entire area from the Golden Gate Bridge to Big Sur is published by Kreb's Cycle Maps, available at most bike shops and at the Bike Church. Richard Kreb's recommended routes are always fine, and you can try out different variations with each trip. Here I've described the most direct routes to Salinas and Monterey.)

From downtown Santa Cruz take Soquel Avenue (or the more pleasant coastal route, if you prefer) to Freedom Boulevard south of Aptos about 10 miles. Turn right on Freedom, cross Highway 1, and immediately turn left on Bonita. Go up a short hill, then down to San Andreas Road, and turn right. Take San Andreas for several miles through strawberry fields. Where San Andreas comes to a "T" with Beach Street, turn left. Go less than a block and turn right on Thurwachter Road, over the Pajaro River. You are now in Monterey County on McGowan Road. McGowan comes to a "T" at Trafton. Turn right on Trafton, left on Bluff, and then right on Jenson (all short farm roads.)

Jenson lets you off at Highway 1. Turn right. Take Highway 1 for five miles on a good shoulder through Moss Landing. (This section is safe but unpleasant, due to traffic. It can be avoided by going east and taking Elkhorn Road, a less traffic-y but more rigorous and time-consuming detour.) Just after Moss Landing, turn right at Molera, near the fruit stand. Take Molera for several miles until it crosses over Highway 1.

Here is where you decide to go southeast to Salinas or southwest to Monterey.

For Salinas, continue on Molera as it turns into Nashua. Merge right onto Cooper, then left on McFadden to Highway 183, into town.

To get to Monterey, turn right on Monte Road and look for the beginning of the bike trail (a class one, rail-to-trail facility to be exact), a gorgeous 20 car-free miles along sand dunes with ocean views that will take you all the way into Monterey.

My favorite place to stay in Monterey is an independent and fairly cheap hotel called Borg's Ocean Front Motel, near Lover's Point. There's also an AYH Youth Hostel in Monterey that's pleasant to stay in and affordable. Camping (permitted and not) is found up behind Monterey around the Veteran's Memorial Park. I don't know where to stay in Salinas except for my in-laws' flower farm, where the Japanese food is so good; you never lose weight, even after a 5-hour ride.

By the time my daughter is grown up we will have a class one rail trail from Davenport, all the way to Monterey, but don't wait until then. The best way to get to Monterey is also the best way to get around Santa Cruz: under your own power.