New Parking Lot Opens at Panther Beach

First Completed Milestone of North Coast Rail Trail Project

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is pleased to announce the opening of a new paved parking lot on Santa Cruz County’s iconic North Coast located along Highway 1 near Panther (Yellowbank) Beach. Construction of this new formal parking lot is part of the larger North Coast Rail Trail project, which will provide a new 7.5 multi-use trail between Wilder Ranch and Davenport with two new parking areas, amenities and wayfinding. The Panther (Yellowbank) parking lot is now open for public use in advance of completion of the full North Coast Rail Trail opening in Fall 2026.

“Construction of the new parking lot and associated visitor amenities that support the North Coast Rail Trail demonstrates the RTC’s commitment to multimodal access to the trail and is consistent with the multi-agency vision for new facilities in the project area,” said RTC Executive Director Sarah Christensen. “By opening the parking lot and restroom facilities ahead of the full trail completion, the RTC aims to enhance public access and convenience while progress continues on construction of the entire North Coast Rail Trail.”

The new Panther (Yellowbank) Beach parking lot includes accessible and multimodal parking, new restroom facilities, and a plaza with bike racks and benches. Improvements to the restroom facilities and other minor amenities are still underway and will be completed this month.

This project is being developed in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration Central Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA-CFLHD). The Federal Highway Administration team is leading implementation and has been an invaluable partner in delivering the parking lot and trail project and coordinating with all of the project stakeholders.

The project is primarily funded by a grant from the FHWA Federal Lands Access Program with matching funds provided by Measure D Active Transportation/Coastal Rail Trail category funds, and additional funding provided by the California Coastal Conservancy and Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. The trail will offer a car-free route between coastal attractions for cyclists and pedestrians while providing new access to coastal beaches and scenic vistas. Once complete, it will form a critical link in the larger 32-mile Coastal Rail Trail planned throughout Santa Cruz County.

The next phase of the project is expected to begin in 2028 and will construct a pedestrian overcrossing of Highway 1 that will connect the Coastal Rail Trail on the coastal side of Highway 1 to Cotoni Coast Dairies National Monument on the inland side of Highway 1.

In addition to coordinating with FHWA to develop new multi-modal facilities on the north coast of Santa Cruz County, the RTC is developing a plan for managing demand for transportation facilities and services on the North Coast of Santa Cruz County as part of the North Coast Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan. The North Coast TDM Plan is aimed at making alternatives to driving alone more appealing, safe, accessible, and affordable for all, which enhances the experience of residents and visitors alike. For individuals choosing to drive, this plan envisions managing parking in a way that reduces conflicts between users and improves functionality on Highway 1.

For more information on the North Coast Rail Trail, visit the project webpage or view the project fact sheet. For ongoing construction updates, visit the project construction webpage.