SimplySycles1

Hello all, planning a family mini tour from So Cal via Amtrak and road bikes with baby trailer. We are pretty solid riders and do not hesitate on most roads but with baby in tow we would like to stay on paths or farm roads. Is it possible to do that from Salinas train station to Cannery Row? Google earth looks like farm fields but there is nothing like local info from riders that are on those roads all the time.


thanks all
Ruben

prototoast

I haven't done exactly that route, but in general, the farm roads in that general area can be pretty sketchy. They are busy farms, and there are a lot of big trucks driving down roads with little-to-no shoulder. There's a path that runs along Del Monte in Marina, and once you get there, the route is safe and easy, but getting to that point might be a little sketchy.

For reference, I've biked from Palo Alto to Monterrey and back on several occasions, and the stretch from Watsonville to Marina is rather unpleasant.

shotwellian

Blanco Road heading west out of Salinas is somewhat busy but has marked bike lanes. At the end of Blanco Road, you'll reach Reservation Road, which has a mix of bike lanes and sidepaths taking you the rest of the way to the coast, where you can pick up the Monterey Bay Scenic Trail, which leads south into Monterey. TBH, this isn't that great of a route, especially heading west into the prevailing wind. Once you reach Monterey though, there's nice cycling there.

SimplySycles1

Thanks for the info. We see Blanco/Reservation Roads are +/- 10 miles of semi urban traffic? I understand it may not be too scenic, from a baby trailer just car wheels spinning by. Our intent of this trip is kids/tourist stuff along the bay not any real amount of riding. Keep any info coming!!


Ruben