History of the Navy Railroad ROW

 

    The “Monarch Nature Trail” is located on the former Navy railroad right-of-way in North Huntington Beach. The Huntington Beach spur runs about 1.2 miles from Rancho Rd. to Edwards St. The corridor (which also passes through Westminster) was built during World War II, probably around 1944, and was used to supply the Seal Beach Naval Weapons station. 
    The last time the rail line was used for transporting munitions to the base occurred during the run-up to Operation Desert Storm in 1990. The rail line was mostly idle after that, and in 2010, when the weapons station stopped using its internal rail system to move munitions, the line was abandoned and the tracks were removed in 2012.
    In April 2016, the federal government granted its easement to Huntington Beach, but actual ownership of the tract remained with the successor company to the old Anaheim sugar company, which had farmed sugar beets in the area. 

    Nevertheless, in April 2017, Huntington Beach proposed a plan to store new cars on part of the site. That plan was dropped in the face of overwhelming opposition by residents who wanted the right-of-way preserved as open space. The city then put up fencing to keep out nuisance users while preserving pedestrian and bike access. 
    Community volunteers came together to remove trash on the site and begin habitat restoration with California native plants. The goal was to attract wildlife, birds, butterflies and bees to the area, including the many monarch butterflies that used to overwinter in former eucalyptus groves near the trail—thus making the open space come alive for residents and visitors! 
    On June 3, 2025, Huntington Beach approved a quitclaim deed with the sugar company to take full ownership of the trail at no cost.

​

*Thanks to Gregg Smith, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Weapons Station, for help with the historical information.

​