There are miles of scenic waterfront running options in Crescent City, the small Del Norte County city known for its crescent-shaped beach. Our routes around Crescent Harbor and along scenic Pebble Beach Dr. can be mix & matched.
There are two waterfront routes, which can be mix & matched in various ways.
Crescent Harbor. Robert Campbell
Crescent Harbor. This route features the scenic harbor and marina area, up to 8 miles, incorporating numerous piers and jetties. Start at Beachfront Park, and head south along Sunset Cir. and around the marina. At ~1 mile, you can do jaunts down Citizens Dock and ~1 mile out & back down Anchor Way. Retrace your steps to Beachfront Park for the second half of this route, to access the jetty roads/paths out to Flat Rock & Lighthouse Way. There are gorgeous views of the water and Battery Point Lighthouse. Note:Lighthouse Way is a hard concrete surface and very exposed. Use caution in times of high surf.
Pebble Beach Dr. Google Street View
Pebble Beach Drive: This is a scenic run along Pebble Beach Dr., which follows the water north for 3.5 miles north toward Del Norte County Regional Airport. There are great views of the crashing surf and Castle Rock. For the first 2.3 miles, the road has a wide shoulder that’s safe for running. It’s a dedicated path for the final 1.2 miles north of Washington Blvd.
Beach Running. There’s nearly 4 miles of good beach running incorporating South Beach, Crescent Beach, & Endert Beach.
Coastal Trail. South of Endert Beach, trail runners can enjoy the scenic, hilly Coastal Trail, part of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. This trail, which can be followed for 20.5 miles south to Klamath, is scenic, rugged, and very hilly. This is challenging trail running, with areas of difficult footing. The trail alternates between sections with coastal views and more interior sections.
There are miles of scenic waterfront running options in Crescent City, the small Del Norte County city known for its crescent-shaped beach. Our routes around Crescent Harbor and along scenic Pebble Beach Dr. can be mix & matched.
There are two waterfront routes, which can be mix & matched in various ways.
Crescent Harbor. Robert Campbell
Crescent Harbor. This route features the scenic harbor and marina area, up to 8 miles, incorporating numerous piers and jetties. Start at Beachfront Park, and head south along Sunset Cir. and around the marina. At ~1 mile, you can do jaunts down Citizens Dock and ~1 mile out & back down Anchor Way. Retrace your steps to Beachfront Park for the second half of this route, to access the jetty roads/paths out to Flat Rock & Lighthouse Way. There are gorgeous views of the water and Battery Point Lighthouse. Note:Lighthouse Way is a hard concrete surface and very exposed. Use caution in times of high surf.
Pebble Beach Dr. Google Street View
Pebble Beach Drive: This is a scenic run along Pebble Beach Dr., which follows the water north for 3.5 miles north toward Del Norte County Regional Airport. There are great views of the crashing surf and Castle Rock. For the first 2.3 miles, the road has a wide shoulder that’s safe for running. It’s a dedicated path for the final 1.2 miles north of Washington Blvd.
Beach Running. There’s nearly 4 miles of good beach running incorporating South Beach, Crescent Beach, & Endert Beach.
Coastal Trail. South of Endert Beach, trail runners can enjoy the scenic, hilly Coastal Trail, part of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. This trail, which can be followed for 20.5 miles south to Klamath, is scenic, rugged, and very hilly. This is challenging trail running, with areas of difficult footing. The trail alternates between sections with coastal views and more interior sections.
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Essentials
Harbor Route: Up to 7.8 miles (12.6 km); Pebble Beach Dr.: Up to 7 miles out & back
Harbor route is flat; Pebble Beach Dr. is rolling hills
In Mendocino, there's wonderful running in Mendocino Headlands State Park. The 2.4 mile Coastal Trail runs along a coastal bluff, with great views. The 4.8 mile Big River Trail is a rolling hills, fairly easy trail run. Numerous additional trails and fire roads for running.
Just north of Mendocino, there's nice running in the 300-acre Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park on ~4 miles of trails around a protected 1909 lighthouse and along a dramatic coastal bluff.
Beautiful run along an old coastal road that's now a wide paved trail along a coastal bluff in the Noyo Headlands. Part of the the California Coastal Trail in Mendocino County. Great views! Can add with the coastal trail in Mackerricher State Park.
Scenic coastal running just north of Fort Bragg. The highlight of the park is the 5 mile Mackerricher Coastal Trail, an old road that follows the coastline from Glass Beach to Inglenook. Combine w/Noyo Headlands Trail for more gorgeous coastal bluff running.
The beach, part of Mackerricher State Park in Fort Bragg, is wonderful for running. Wide, with firm packed sand (except at high tide). Great sunsets! The beach is 3.5 miles long. Good add-on options along nearby coastal bluff trails
This huge state park located 30 miles southeast of Eureka features the largest expanse of ancient redwoods left on the planet. There are 100 miles of trails and miles of scenic roads for running in this gorgeous old-growth redwood forest.
The best place to run in this Northern California port city is the Eureka Waterfront Trail, which features wonderful views of Arcata Bay and the North Bay Channel. Add on by creating your own tour of Old Town, with its 150+ preserved Victorian buildings.
Run among some of the tallest trees on earth, as well as vast prairies, oak woodlands, riverways, and 40 miles of rugged coastline in the 133,000-acre Redwood National and State parks near the California-Oregon Border.
These two parks in near Crescent City are part of the Redwood National & State Parks system. Here, we recommend some of the best running among the redwoods, from easier trails & logging roads, to some more challenging trail running options.
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Essentials
Harbor Route: Up to 7.8 miles (12.6 km); Pebble Beach Dr.: Up to 7 miles out & back
Harbor route is flat; Pebble Beach Dr. is rolling hills
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