Mark your calendars! The long-awaited opening of the 5,800-acre Cotoni-Coast Dairies (CCD) Unit of the California Coastal National Monument is set for Friday, August 15. We’re thrilled to see 9 brand-new miles of trail (that we got to build) opening to the public in this incredible place. Stay tuned for more info, and prepare to be blown away!

Join our team as they build trails at Cotoni-Coast Dairies (CCD). We host regular drop-in volunteer trail work at CCD–check out our events page for the latest sign-ups.

• Leaving a permanent legacy on the region:
  It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open part of a national monument that will outlive all of us, our children, our grandchildren, etc.

• Expanding outdoor access:
  COVID caused a spike in outdoor recreating — we don’t anticipate that slowing down much. With everything from ADA to advanced trail experiences, Cotoni-Coast Dairies will become a destination park for people throughout the greater Bay Area, including those historically excluded from these spaces.

• Community health:
  For every dollar invested in building trails, nearly three dollars in medical cost savings may be achieved (per the American Heart Association)

• Without this campaign, the park could take another decade to open:

  The Bureau of Land Management supervises the land, but there’s a $100 million backlog in construction and maintenance needs around the country

And yes, there are opportunities to get your name on a bridge, too!

Timeline: Initial timelines have shifted. We don't have a firm public opening date yet, but hope to be able to share one soon!

Fundraising Goals: Together, we need to raise about $5 million for this project.

- Crews to break ground in December on Cotoni-Coast Dairies trail network, Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 2021
- This Coastal California Town Is Getting 19 Miles of Gorgeous Oceanfront Hiking Trails at a New National Monument, Travel + Leisure, March 2022
- Effort to open the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument, one of Obama’s last gifts to California, is underway, SF Gate, May 2022
- When Will the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument Open?, Bay Nature, March 2023
- This coastal California property was designated a national monument six years ago. But it’s still closed to the public, SF Chronicle, August 2023
- The Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument unit near Santa Cruz, CA, is home to a brand-new MTB trail system, Singletracks, March 2025
- Scenic forest trails near Santa Cruz to open to the public for the first time, NBC Bay Area, June 2025
- ‘Prepare to be blown away’: New national monument near Santa Cruz to open with trails for hiking, biking, SF Chronicle, June 2025

Dive into Cotoni-Coast Dairies history and trails in our blog.

- Sustainable From Scratch, December 2021
- Cotoni-Coast Dairies Dig Day Recap, January 2022
- From Nuclear Plant to National Monument: the History of Cotoni-Coast Dairies, May 2022
- Cotoni-Coast Dairies: Through the Eyes of an Archaeologist, July 2022
- Meet the Maker: How Our Trails Superintendent Builds and Tests Cotoni-Coast Dairies Trails, October 2022

Read about how we accept restricted donations here.