Blauert on Outdoors: Treks to the coast offer great wintertime getaways

It’s long been said that “Merced is two hours from everything.” Though sometimes delivered with sarcasm, this statement also identifies a unique and positive thing about our location.

The two-hour radius includes popular mountain destinations such as Yosemite Valley and Pinecrest Lake and the historic Mother Lode towns of Mariposa, Sonora, Jamestown, Angels Camp, Murphys and Columbia. Recreational reservoirs such as McSwain, McClure, Don Pedro, New Melones, Eastman, Hensley, San Luis and Millerton are from 45 to 75 minutes away.

Closest to home, the Merced and San Luis National Wildlife Refuges (featured last week) are 30 to 60 minutes away. Monterey Bay, the Bay Area, Pinnacles National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks stretch the “two hours from everything” a bit but can generally be reached in about 21/2 hours. In clear weather, skiing at Dodge Ridge and Badger Pass is about the same distance. All of these destinations make great day trips. All also offer wintertime recreation.

One of my favorite winter getaways is hiking along the coast. Our coastline can be surprisingly warm and sunny in the cold months, and there are lots of short, easy trails along the bluffs and beaches that most can enjoy without worrying about steep climbs and the thin air of higher mountain elevations.

Here are five of my favorite coastal hikes that can be enjoyed year-round:

Wilder Ranch State Park Old Landing Cove Trail: This is one of the best bluff walks in the state with steep cliffs dropping dramatically off to the sea. Looking the opposite direction across the wide, flat expanse of the bluff, you can see where it meets the forested mountains. The Old Landing Cove trail is about 2.5 miles round trip, following the bluffs to a couple of small coves with sandy beaches.

In the spring and early summer, the bluff is a great place to see wildflowers. You can also explore trails into the nearby mountains on foot, bike or horseback. The park was originally a dairy farm, and tours are offered of the restored Victorian homes on the property, along with the horse barn and carpenter shop. For information, go to www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549 or call (831) 423-9703.

Monterey Bay beach walks: It’s more than 40 miles from Santa Cruz on the northern end of the bay to Monterey on the southern end. Most of that shoreline is sandy, flat and walkable. Access points from north to south include city beaches in Santa Cruz and Capitola and 11 state beaches: Natural Bridges, Twin Lakes, New Brighton, Seacliff, Manreasa, Sunset, Zmudowski, Moss Landing, Salinas River, Marina and Monterey.

Natural Bridges: This is always a winner – in addition to the beach, there’s a picturesque arch amidst the waves and tide pools to explore. From mid-October through January, up to 100,000 monarch butterflies make the park their temporary home. You can see them via a short trail.

On the opposite end of the bay – actually just around Point Pinos and out of the protected waters of the bay – the bluff and beach trails at Asilomar State Beach provide unforgettable views of a sea that often crashes violently against the picturesque rocks of the shoreline – a sharp contrast from the typical views within the bay. The whole trail is about 1 mile from end to end with numerous side paths to explore and more sights than you usually see in 5 miles of walking.

For information about all Monterey-area state beaches, go to www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549.

Elkhorn Slough: Featured last week, the 5 miles of trails at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve offer exceptional wildlife viewing, especially in winter. They’re almost completely flat, and you can see a lot within a 1- or 2-mile loop, including a wide range of birds, plus otters and deer. For information, go to www.elkhornslough.org or call (831) 728-5939.

Point Lobos: This is one of the most legendary and loved parts of our coastline, and rightly so. It’s often very busy, especially on weekends when the parking lot fills early and a long line of parked cars stretches along Highway 1, but the winter attracts fewer people and is the ideal time to visit. The coastline is rocky and rugged with windswept cypress groves along some of the cliffs. The trails are easy, and the entire perimeter is about 6 miles, though you can opt for a much shorter walk and still see a lot. For information, go to www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=571 or call (831) 624-8413.

Because weather conditions can vary in the winter, prepare for your coastal hike by bringing multiple layers of clothes, including a waterproof or water resistant layer.

Enjoy your day of rest, family and being thankful, and I’ll see you next week with five more great coastal walks.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Blauert on Outdoors: Treks to the coast offer great wintertime getaways."