Race for Open Space (Draft)

This course is open to runners, hikers, walker, rollers...you name it!

For kids, families, or people who want to get out on a shorter course while supporting Big Sur Land Trust, this is the option for you! This 1-mile out-and-back course provides a relatively flat, partially paved option surrounded by the rolling hills of Carmel Valley that is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The trailhead begins at Palo Corona Regional Park Discovery Center, with portalets and an aid station available on site.

It is expected that participants will carry their own aid (i.e., water and snacks) while on the course, although a limited-supply aid station will be offered at the Discovery Center. The Race Team may elect to alter the course or limit the participation of individuals should safety concerns arise due to weather or otherwise.

Fee

Registration for this 1-mile course is $25 and closes on May 9.

About Palo Corona Regional Park

Palo Corona Regional Park is one of the Central Coast’s most significant undeveloped open spaces. In the largest land conservation project in Monterey County history, Big Sur Land Trust, the State of California, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD), and The Nature Conservancy partnered to acquire the 10,000-acre Palo Corona Ranch. The acquisition was finalized in 2004. The 10,000-acre ranch was then divided between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and MPRPD to be protected in perpetuity. MPRPD created the new Palo Corona Regional Park with the northern 4,350 acres of the former ranch. In 2018, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, California Wildlife Conservation Board, CDFW, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Natural Resources Agency and Santa Lucia Conservancy, an additional 190 acres of the former Rancho Cañada Golf Course was added to the park.

Beginning at near sea level and rising to over 3,400 feet in elevation, Palo Corona is home to over 500 species of plants as well as several federally-endangered and threatened species including steelhead trout, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, Smith’s blue butterfly, golden eagle, and California condor. Palo Corona also provides habitat connectivity for several previously-protected conservation properties, including Garrapata State Park, Joshua Creek Ecological Preserve, Mitteldorf Preserve, Glen Deven Ranch, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Santa Lucia Conservancy lands, and the Ventana Wilderness.

About Southbank Trail

Big Sur Land Trust acquired land and multiple trail easements in Carmel Valley to create the Southbank Trail starting in 2011. Located on the south side of the Carmel River, the trail runs between Rancho San Carlos Road and Palo Corona Regional Park. Southbank Trail is maintained by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District in agreement with Big Sur Land Trust.

Course Map

Below is a georeferenced and printable PDF version of this course map. If you use the Avenza app on your phone, you can upload this map to display your GPS location on the course.

 

Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.