Trail named for late park leader at Piedras Blancas

A nearly 2-mile trail near Piedras Blancas now honors the late Jim Boucher, and California Coastal Trail markers have been installed on fences along the scenic route.

Boucher, who died about two years ago, had been park manager for the Piedras Blancas Light Station since 2006.

The trail named for him offers spectacular coastal and mountain views, as well as pristine wildlife viewing opportunities.

The Boucher Trail runs from the north end of the paved elephant-seal viewpoint parking lot to a half-mile north of the light station.

In the first 0.83 mile, there are five elephant-seal viewpoints, but the beaches are under permanent closure, because of the presence of the massive marine mammals that haul out on the beach to breed, give birth and rest between long migrations.

The remaining mile of the trail, which is designed to protect the habitat, wends northward through varied terrain, including coastal scrub, grasslands and wetlands. The trail provides views of the circa 1875 lighthouse, Point Piedras Blancas, rugged offshore rocks that are part of the California Coastal National Monument, the waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the rural lands along Highway 1.

The light station is accessible by guided tour only, and hikers are urged to stay on the trail to protect natural and cultural resources.

PS: The North Coast’s Boucher Trail has no connection to an identically named, steep, rugged footpath in the Grand Canyon area, or a similarly named trail near Palomar Mountain in Southern California.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 10:17 AM with the headline "Trail named for late park leader at Piedras Blancas."