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Fort Ord Dunes Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Running trail in Seaside, California · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Fort Ord Dunes Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Fort Ord Dunes Trail — running trail in Seaside, CA, photo 1
Fort Ord Dunes Trail — running trail in Seaside, CA, photo 2
Fort Ord Dunes Trail — running trail in Seaside, CA, photo 3
Fort Ord Dunes Trail — running trail in Seaside, CA, photo 4
Fort Ord Dunes Trail — running trail in Seaside, CA, photo 5
Paved

What runners say about Fort Ord Dunes Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (16 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

This was a nice secluded hike with a paved trail for 3/4 of the way and then 1/4 left was sandy but still a trail. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the trail. The trail is full of oranges, greens and with beautiful views. The beach itself was quite a beauty.

★★★★★ — Brenda , Feb 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 16 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“This was a nice secluded hike with a paved trail for 3/4 of the way and then 1/4 left was sandy but still a trail.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Fort Ord Dunes Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Where to find Fort Ord Dunes Trail

1002-1000 1st St, Seaside, CA 93955

Get directions

Running trails near Seaside

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Fort Ord Dunes State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,398 reviews

Marina, CA

PavedScenic

A trail leads to the beach in this park with a bluff-top platform offering views of Monterey Bay.

under a mile away

Locke-Paddon Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 228 reviews

Marina, CA

LitScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a pond (a.k.a. “The Duck Pond”), plus wetlands, trails and picnic tables.

2.8 miles away

Eolian Dunes Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 142 reviews

Sand City, CA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Park with ocean views, a dog-friendly beach, picnic tables, and kid-friendly hikes.

2.8 miles away

Glorya Jean Tate Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 165 reviews

Marina, CA

PavedDog-friendly

Recreation area featuring a pump track, a playground, a skateboarding area, and a restroom.

3.1 miles away

Trail 67/68 Scenic View

3.8 ★★★★☆ 4 reviews

Seaside, CA

3.4 miles away

Roberts Lake Park

4 ★★★★☆ 34 reviews

Seaside, CA

Scenic

3.8 miles away

All running trails in Seaside, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.