Hiking California's 'Public' Coastline

A band of amateur hikers attempts to hike the entire length of the 'public' California Coastline. The coastline is still far from public, however.

1 minute read

September 29, 2003, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"California law grants access to the entire coast. A band of hikers finds out the hard way, along 1,196 miles, that it's a work in progress... In 1972, California voters approved Proposition 20, the state's Coastal Initiative, reasserting the public's interest in the coastline and decreeing that 'a hiking, bicycle and equestrian trails system shall be established along or near the coast.'... But for some people living and working along the route, the hiking party represented an advance guard of visitors who might trample on their private property or crowd their solitude." The article also includes 9 fascinating streaming videos (Real Media format) of the expedition's challenges.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, September 28, 2003 in The Los Angeles Times

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