With sweeping views of the ocean and the San Diego coastline from La Jolla Cove to Torrey Pines State Beach, the Coastal Meander Trail on the campus of Scripps Institution of Oceanography is designed to add a recreational amenity to the state’s network of publicly accessible trails. The newest section of trail, to be dedicated Tuesday, June 2 at 3:30 p.m. features a pathway and boardwalk traversing a coastal terrace 150 to 200 feet above the beach, revegetated with drought-tolerant native plant species.
The dedication will take place at Scripps, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive.
The trail was built with attention to impacts on environmental and cultural resources. Portions of the trail serve as a focal point of habitat restoration and storm water pollution prevention efforts to protect the waters of the La Jolla Ecological Preserve, a state-designated Area of Special Biological Significance.
Construction of this trail was funded by a $350,000 grant from the California Coastal Conservancy and $262,000 in additional funding from Scripps Oceanography, with the goal of expanding public access and enjoyment of coastal view trails at Scripps. The new trail extends the meander northward to a spot that will eventually connect to a second scenic overlook with public parking for visitors.
With new signage and mapping marking the meander as a new strand in the California Coastal Trail, this project reflects values shared between the California Coastal Conservancy and Scripps Oceanography.
UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of the oldest, largest and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. The institution has a staff of about 1,300 and annual expenditures of approximately $187 million from federal, state, and private sources. Scripps operates robotic networks, and one of the largest U.S. academic fleets with four oceanographic research ships and one research platform for worldwide exploration.