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California Coastal Trail
West Cliff Drive: The Heart of Santa Cruz
Season 1
Episode 32
West Cliff Drive is one of the most beautiful features of the California Coastal Trail in Santa Cruz. This area is also the site of where surfing was first brought to North America, introduced by three young Hawaiian princes in 1885. West Cliff Drive is also home to the grand Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, the longest municipal wharf on the West Coast of the United States.
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5:08
Pristine conditions along this area are a result of decades of work from activists.
6:35
Devil’s Slide was a treacherous section of Highway 1 until a landslide closed it for good.
4:34
Once upon a time, Wilder Ranch State Park was a dairy known for its delicious butter.
4:39
The Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
6:48
This popular segment of the California Coastal Trail almost didn’t happen.
5:07
East Cliff Drive is one of the newest sections of the California Coastal Trail.
6:53
This "Serengeti of the Sea" offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the world.
5:56
Big Sur is a precious jewel that remains pristine, rugged and remote.
5:27
It's not every day you get to witness 5,000-pound elephant seals charge each other.
6:00
This section of the California Coastal Trail has only been open to the public since 2007.
5:10
Pismo Beach is set to become a major destination for outdoor recreational activity.
4:27
Santa Barbara and the California Coastal Trail are windows into a fascinating history.