A signed construction reroute is active in Sand City, and the latest official update no longer gives a firm reopening date.
Yes—you can still walk your dog on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail through the Sand City construction area, but you must use the posted detour. Monterey-Salinas Transit directs trail users to the new Beach Range Road multiuse trail extension and a temporary connector back to the coastal trail; from Sand City, use the trail access at the western end of Playa Avenue. Dogs remain leashed-trail visitors here, not beach visitors: at Fort Ord Dunes State Park they may use the north-south recreation trail, but not the beach or the spur trails leading to it.
What changed on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail?
MST is upgrading a section of the coastal trail while work continues on the SURF! Busway and the California Avenue–Highway 1 southbound on-ramp roundabout. The agency’s newest notice says the work began October 5 and now runs through a date to be determined. That matters because an earlier project notice listed October 22 as the end of the trail work and October 23 as a tentative reopening date.
For now, the practical route is simple: follow the temporary signs to the Beach Range Road multiuse trail extension, then use the temporary connector to reach the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail beside Highway 1. Approaching from Sand City, enter at the west end of Playa Avenue. Do not continue onto a closed portion of Beach Range Road, cross barricades or treat the newly paved busway as a shortcut; MST identifies those surfaces as an active construction zone.
Construction schedules can move with weather and site conditions, so this is one outing to check on the morning you go. Salt Hound’s California Dog Adventure Finder starts with the same rule: “dog-friendly” is only the beginning; current access, terrain and the dog in front of you decide whether the plan works.
Are dogs allowed on the Fort Ord section?
California State Parks’ Fort Ord Dunes page, checked October 12, says dogs are allowed on leash on the recreation trail running north and south through the park. They are not allowed on the spur trails to the beach or on the beach itself because of sensitive habitat and endangered species.
The distinction is easy to miss when the ocean is right there: permission on a paved coastal trail does not extend to the sand. A detour also does not change the underlying park boundary. Stay on the signed, open route, keep your dog with you, and pack out waste. For the wider regional picture, use the California Dog Guide; for foxtails, surf, heat and changing outdoor conditions, check the California Dog Hazard Center.
What should dog walkers expect?
This is a working transportation corridor, not a quiet beach path for the duration of construction. Expect changing wayfinding, temporary fencing, construction noise and people moving at different speeds on a shared trail. A leash kept short enough to prevent your dog from drifting into a bike or scooter line is the courteous choice. Pause well off the travel lane if your dog needs time to watch equipment or let faster users pass.
If your dog is older, recovering, noise-sensitive or uncomfortable around bikes, the technically open route still may not be the right walk that day. Turn around early if the detour feels too busy, and choose a calmer, shorter option instead. Salt Hound’s Senior Dog Center can help frame outings around comfort and mobility rather than distance.
What should you check before leaving?
- Read the latest MST construction update; the completion date is currently open-ended.
- Use the signed Playa Avenue access and temporary connector rather than improvising through the work zone.
- Keep your dog leashed on the permitted recreation trail.
- Do not use the beach or beach spur trails with a dog at Fort Ord Dunes.
- Bring water and plan for a shared multiuse path with limited room to stop.
The coastal trail is still a real option for a dog walk. The good version of that walk is the one that respects the reroute, the habitat boundary and your dog’s comfort—not the one that tries to preserve an old route after the signs have changed.
Source notes: Route and construction timeline verified October 12, 2026, from Monterey-Salinas Transit’s SURF! construction updates. Dog-access boundaries and current trail status verified October 12, 2026, from California State Parks’ Fort Ord Dunes page. Conditions and detours can change; follow on-site signs.