Central California Piers - Locations, Photos And History

Central California Piers and Wharfs

Extending out over the ocean, yet still connected to land – Central California piers and wharfs are an enchanting attraction. The Harford Pier at Avila Beach and the Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey are quite large and host restaurants and other businesses.

The pier is a lovely place for a romantic evening stroll with the accompaniment of the gentle surf below you. Time it right and you can view a moonset over the water. It’s a rare thing, but you may even get lucky and see some bioluminescence in the water.

On some summer days, the heat can extend right down to the waterline. If you find yourself at the beach on one of those days, take a little stroll down the pier.

You will find an invisible wall – on the shore side of the wall the temperature will be in the 90’s and two feet further, once you’re over the water, the temperature immediately drops to the 70’s. A strange thing and a wonderful relief.

History of Central California Piers

Before the advent of the railroad and easily traversed highways, most of the commerce in Central California was conducted by ship and piers and wharfs were vitally important.

Local products were shipped out to markets in San Francisco or Los Angeles and goods which weren’t produced here were imported.

Early on, during the Spanish and Mexican eras, ships anchored off the coast and goods were exchanged via small craft, powered by oar. That can be risky even in the best weather.

The earliest piers were enterprises underwritten by wealthy landowners or by stock, forming a company which owned the pier. This made the shipment and import of goods much easier and cheaper.

List of Central California Piers and Wharfs

Pismo Beach Pier
Avila Beach Piers (3, 2 public)
Morro Bay Piers (2)
Cayucos Pier
San Simeon Pier; just north of Cambria
Monterey Piers (3)

Central California Piers today

What with the railroads, highways and air transport, local commerce doesn’t need the piers as it once did.

Today they are more for recreation and for commercial fishing.

Piers are also good places to watch wildlife, both in and over the water.

If the water is calm and clear, you can see whatever might be swimming around down there. Being high overhead gives a good perspective into the ocean. The sea bottom under most of the central coast piers is light colored sand which gives good contrast. You may even see a shark!

Sea otters, now being protected, have done very well and are a common sight along the coast. They are fetching little animals and quite fun to watch. They like floating on their backs and using their chests as a table when eating something they’ve caught.