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Off the Beaten Path in Pebble Beach
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Pebble Beach Off the Beaten Path

The main trail through the reserve - Pebble Beach
The main trail through the reserve
by Ewingjr98
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Pebble Beach attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Drive out to Point Lobos...
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  • Krystynn
  • By Krystynn on September 12, 2002
  • Pebble Beach Page by Krystynn
  • Pebble Beach Off the Beaten Path
    by Krystynn
    Drive out to Point Lobos State Reserve and marvel at the equally breathtaking scenery there.... like the 200-year old Cypress trees and the numerous sea otters wrapping themselves in strands of kelp to keep them from sinking whilst they nap! These amazing critters were certainly a source of amused joy to us.

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    Check out a Pebble Beach Sunset
    Ewingjr98
  • Updated By Ewingjr98 on August 9, 2008
  • Pebble Beach Page by Ewingjr98
  • Pebble Beach Off the Beaten Path
    by Ewingjr98, 4 more photos
    Pebble Beach has a number of great spots to watch the sunset. My favorite has always been the Lodge at Spanish Bay where you can sit at the outdoor bar by the fire with a blanket and a beer, and watch the bagpiper on the golf course with the sun dipping low behind him. Other popular spots to watch the western skies at sunset include Point Joe, where the unsettled sea creates an interesting foreground for your view, and Bird Rock, where the birds and sea lion are silhouetted by the setting sun.

    Nearby sunset spots are Carmel's white sandy beach, Monastery Beach, and Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove.

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    SFB Morse Botanical Reserve
    Ewingjr98
  • Updated By Ewingjr98 on May 30, 2007
  • Pebble Beach Page by Ewingjr98
  • The main trail through the reserve - Pebble Beach
    The main trail through the
    reserve
    by Ewingjr98, 4 more photos
    The SFB Morse Botanical Reserve consists of 84 acres surrounded by the Huckleberry Hill Natural Reserve, Poppy Hills Golf Course, and Congress Road. The reserve was created in 1972, and the Del Monte Forest Foundation acquired this land in 1976. This reserve was initially created to preserve the endangered Gowen Cypress, and other endangered species have been documented here.

    The main trail through the reserve is called the Crawford Trial and is marked by a bronze plaque along Congress Road. The plaque reads, "The Crawford Trail--This trail is dedicated in memory of Rudd Crawford. His knowledge and wisdom instilled a love of nature that will endure forever in all who knew him." The Crawford Trail is marked with purple blaze and runs uphill through a very small draw formed by a tributary of Sawmill Gulch. The trail runs along the edge of the drainage until connecting with Trail 2 in the Huckleberry Hill Natural Reserve. This is a narrow, quiet trail perfect for a quiet stroll.

    The 31 May 1987 Morse Fire began here in the Morse Botanical Reserve, burning 160 acres of forest and destroying 32 houses valued at $18 million back then....here is a slide show from the Monterey County Herald with historic and present day photos. The fire is believed to have escaped from an illegal fire in a trashcan, which is considered arson; no one was ever brought to justice. The official US Fire Administration report is located here: http://www.desastres.org/pdf/tr-007.pdf

    Congress Road and the reserve entrance are located near the SFB Morse Gate to Pebble Beach, near the intersection with Bird Rock Road.

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    Huckleberry Hill Natural Reserve
    Ewingjr98
  • Updated By Ewingjr98 on June 5, 2007
  • Pebble Beach Page by Ewingjr98
  • Pebble Beach Off the Beaten Path
    by Ewingjr98,
    4 more photos
    While all the tourists are zipping up and down 17 Mile Drive snapping photos of a crowded tree and a bunch of golf courses, within a mile is one of the quietest, least visited spots on the Monterey Peninsula. The Huckleberry Hill Natural Reserve contains several hundred acres and is filled with wide trails and dirt roads. No vehicles are permitted in this park.

    During my hike, I followed the main trail from Hwy 68 almost a mile to the maintenance yard. Though this wide, flat trail seems to connect to Lopez Drive, you'd have to sneak though this maintenance yard. I Decided to turn around and go back to the main trail, Trail 7. This cuts downhill through the park about one mile to Congress Road then follows along this same road. It also crosses other trails such as Trail 6 and Trail 3.

    Across Hwy 68 from Pebble Beach's Huckleberry Hill Natural Area is Monterey's Huckleberry Hill Nature Preserve. Though the parks share a name and are only separated by a small, but busy road, there is no access between them. To get to Monterey's Huckleberry Hill area, you have to head into Veterans Park via downtown. The park is located at the upper end of Johnson Street, accessible from downtown via Madison or Jefferson and following the signs (about 1 mile).

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