Project Description

NORTH EL CAMINO REAL BIKE TRAIL

Location:  San Clemente, CA
Client:  City of San Clemente
Project Type:  Class I Bicycle Trail with Sustainable Landscaping

The North El Camino Class I bicycle trail provides the northern coastal entrance to San Clemente’s “Spanish Village by the Sea” enhancing the well-established mix of coastal plant material that sets the City of San Clemente apart from other coastal cities. The Village character, as defined by the foresight of Ole Hanson, has matured to the unique and quaint historical seaside community of today.

This is the last segment of the Coastal Pedestrian Trail designed by BGB Design Group, completed earlier in 2008 offering a 2.4-mile coastal experience unique to Southern California. The mix of native plantings, combined with crushed rock mulch trail edging, provided inspiration for the North El Camino Bicycle trail. In addition to small scaled coastal succulents and grasses that are included in the palette, stately Date Palms mark the gateway into the downtown village. Drainage from the vehicular travel ways pass through rock lined channels spaced at distances supported by hydraulic calculations. The city desire was to create a safe separation between the bicycle and vehicular ways, yet low maintenance and water conserving.