Point Pinos Coastal Trail and Access 

Zander Westbrook Design & TrailPeople led a multidisciplinary team of engineers and environmental scientists through the planning, environmental review, design, and construction of the Point Pinos Coastal Trail project in Pacific Grove. The team prepared a feasibility study, developed the final trail design, and guided CEQA certification and implementation. The design balanced habitat restoration, trail accessibility, cultural resource protection, sea level rise adaptation, shoreline erosion management, and continued vehicle and tour bus access while creating a resilient and welcoming coastal experience.

The Point Pinos Coastal Trail project re-envisioned and restored a ¾-mile segment of a highly visited and environmentally sensitive shoreline along the Monterey Peninsula. The project accommodated significant visitor use while protecting cultural and natural resources and responding to future sea level rise. Key improvements included a 30-year coastal retreat strategy, resource protection areas, redesigned parking facilities, a new segment of the California Coastal Trail, 2.5 acres of native habitat restoration, and ten carefully integrated coastal access points. Together, these improvements provide an accessible, resilient, and immersive coastal experience while preserving the site’s ecological and cultural character.