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The San Francisco Bay Trail is a colossal effort to create a 500-mile multiuse trail encircling its namesake bay. Along its course, the trail links 47 cities through 9 counties, providing numerous connections to local employment hubs, transit, parks and open spaces, and schools and other civic centers. More than 300 miles of trail are open, consisting of off-road trails with a mix of surface types, as well as stretches of bike lanes and sidewalks. As of now, gaps big and small separate the open portions.
About the Route
The San Francisco Bay Trail network is incredibly diverse, with the peaceful stretches through the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and China Camp State Park seemingly worlds away from the trail that bustles through the Port of Oakland or alongside the active Union Pacific Railroad freight and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor passenger lines in Bayview and Pinole. Plane spotters will appreciate the sections that offer panoramic views of both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport, while sports enthusiasts will enjoy easy access to AT&T Park, O.co Coliseum, Oracle Arena, and the former Candlestick Park site.
An urban highlight includes the rail-trail stretch of the trail on the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Here, the trail follows the path of the old State Belt Railroad, which transferred cargo from ships to main-line railroads and cars onto ferries for trips across the bay. The area is always crowded with tourists and locals out to enjoy walking, running, and biking along the bay and green space areas of the city. Serious cyclists will want to use the bike lanes on the adjacent street.
Another urban destination is Oakland's Jack London Square, which is easily accessed from the trail. Trail users can catch the ferry to San Francisco here, have a bite to eat, enjoy the historical statues and murals, or simply admire the views. From here, trail users can also use on-street bike lanes to connect to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and Portview Park, perfect for family outings.
The system features a handful of bridges over San Francisco Bay and its offshoots, providing perhaps the best opportunity to take in the sweeping water views. Short trails through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on opposite shores lead up to the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, which offers separated bicycle and pedestrian paths between San Francisco and Marin County. A 2-mile stretch called the Golden Gate Promenade is especially popular. Paralleling a sandy beach, the trail connects the city’s Marina District to the Golden Gate Bridge pedestrian and bicycle access. The trailside Crissy Marsh is also an excellent destination for birders.
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge likewise features a bicycle and pedestrian path—alternatively called the Alexander Zuckermann Bike Path or the Bay Bridge Trail—on its new eastern span between Oakland and a point east of Yerba Buena Island. Ultimately, the trail will be extended to the small island and the adjacent Treasure Island.
Even farther south, the Dumbarton Bridge—the southernmost highway bridge across San Francisco Bay—also offers safe passage for trail users between Menlo Park and Fremont, although the speeding cars just a few feet from the path (and separated by only a low wall) might unnerve first-time visitors. Two vehicular crossings of the Carquinez Strait also provide bicycle and pedestrian accommodations: the Carquinez Bridge links Crockett and Vallejo, while the Benicia–Martinez Bridge connects its namesake cities.
All in all, there are numerous ways to traverse the region along the San Francisco Bay Trail, and each trail user can choose their destination, difficulty level, and length.
Connections
The San Franciso Bay Trail is a monolith trail network that encompasses hundreds of individual trail segments including but not limited to the Palo Alto Baylands Trail, Alameda Creek Regional Trails, San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail, Stevens Creek Trail, Guadalupe River Trail, Coyote Creek Trail, Lake Merritt Trail, Ohlone Greenway, Richmond Greenway, Corte Madera Creek Path, Highway 237 Bikeway, Napa Valley Vine Trail, and the Aquatic Park Trail.
Some listed trails offer part of their route to the Bay Trail whereas others use the entire trail to form the route. See TrailLink Map for more information.
The San Francisco Bay Trail is part of the Bay Area Trails Collaborative, a developing trail network in the Bay Area, California.
The San Francisco Bay Trail encircles the entirety of the Bay Area with extreme endpoints at Hartle Ct (Napa) and Zanker Rd. (San Jose).
Parking is available at:
There are a plethora of options for parking, Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
I have a place in Point Richmond so I am basically lucky enough to be right on the trail.
I started getting into road biking so I'm taking the trail to new distances and exploring as I get more fit (and as my butt gets accustomed to the saddle...LOL).
This past weekend I went from Point Richmond to the Berkeley pier, a 25 mile round trip which was my personal best. It was a windy day and a small craft advisory out but I made it! (barely).
I absolutely love this trail. It's got spectacular views and is super interesting. You will never see the same thing twice. There are some sections that are more crowded than others and the pavement isn't super consistent (what do you want for free) so just be courteous to those that are moving slower (not that I'm all that fast yet).
Definitely a huge asset to the Bay Area. My goal is to do all 300+ miles of the trail which should take a while.
Started at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond and traveled south (clockwise) along the bay to the Central Ave intersection and return. A good portion of the trail is wide and plenty of room for walkers and bikers. The last couple miles we rode is a bit narrower, still enough room for both. Trail condition is great. A number of interpretative signs are placed, discussing the history and nature of this area. Well worth the visit. Take time to see the Rosie Visitor Center. Luck was with us when we visited and were able to attend a talk by the National Park Service’s oldest park ranger (97 yrs old). Betty Reid Soskin is an articulate speaker and recounted her time living in the area and working in the ship yards during WWII. If given the opportunity don’t miss out. Noted that the trail in this area had great signage and shouldn’t have any trouble following the route. Some of the trail going north (counterclockwise) was on the street with designated bike lanes. Looking forward to doing other sections of this trail when we visit again in the future.
When the trail begins at Ravenswood it is unpaved until Bay road if you take trail that goes along 101. If you decide to go along the Bay on the other side of the Palo Alto airport it will be unpaved until you get closer to the Shoreline park. It is paved throughout the park and pavement ends at the point where Bay Trail splits with Stevens Creek trail and is unpaved all the way to the I-237. After that you can finish the ride at the Baylands park or turn left and go towards San Tomas Aquino trail or keep on going all the way to the Guadalupe River trail that would take you to downtown SJ via SJ airport.
Hits many of the highlights of San Francisco with amazing views on clear days. GG bridge, Alcatraz, Bay Bridge and Coit Tower are just a few of landmarks you will see. Bring layers though as temperature/wind can change very quickly along the water. Also, the street areas are easier than mixed use as there are a lot of joggers and urban hikers using the trail.
This is more of a question than a review. I'd like to give this trail a try. Can anybody offer a source of information about which parts of the bay trail are paved and which parts are gravel? I'm riding a cruiser, so I'd prefer to stick to the paved parts if I can.
I rode my new Brompton folding bike on this and so much was rough unpaved gravel that I had to divert and ride another trail that was paved. It is ok if you have a serious off road mountain bike but not great for road bikes.
While traveling we love to find new walking and bike trails this is great for both... Very scenic and makes a 2 mile loop along the water.
I've rollerblades this trail and it definitely isn't all asphalt. Somebody should update this- it's really rather disappointing to get out and find you can't go all the way where you thought you could.
I was the first time in San Francisco and its the best trail to see highlights of the city. We stayed at a hotel on Richardson Ave, just a few minutes from Golden Gate Bridge. We booked it at http://san-francisco.hotelscheap.org/ . We also went to the Japanese Tea Garden. You get a wonderful view to Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay.
Although this is a very nice trail beware of where you park. On Oct 19 I parked in a small parking lot off of the frontage road between Ashby and Powell in Emeryville. I was gone about 45 minutes and when I came back my car was broken into. This was about 830 in the morning. The trail itself is nice and good scenery.
We were looking for a beginners bike path, which in the park would have been alright. But, if you are out of the area and not use to neighbor-hoods, which you may want to read between the lines here, you may not want to go to this area.
We ended up down the road on Hwy. 580, south to Albany, and right off of the road by a horse racetrack is a wonder paved path for bikes, walkers and a huge area were people take their dogs to run. This was wonderful!!! It runs along the bay and is just beautiful. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, San Rafael Bridge and like I said, it is just wonderful.
This trail goes past (or has views of) all the big tourist sites for San Francsico. Downtown, Embarcadero, Pier 39, Fishermans Wharf, Fort Mason, Marina, Presidio, Fort Point, and the Golden Gate Bridge!
If you are visiting San Francsico, or you have friends visiting, this is the trail to ride. The southern end is ATT park, home of the SF Giants. Going north the path passes right on the bay and ender the Bay Bridge.
The Southern section of the trail between King Street and Beach Street, is a wide sidewalk on the east side of Embarcadero. On a nice day there are too many pedestrians to bicycle the sidewalk, so use the bike lane in the road. Just to the east of the Embarcadero is downtown, then Chinatown, and the Italian North Beach neighborhoods. Lots of great bay views on this section.
Between Bay Street (pier 39) and Hyde St (aquatic park) there is no trail or bike lane. Beach street has relatively low traffic for the on street connection, or possibly North Point st. This section passes by Fisherman's Wharf.
After Hyde street ride through the Aquatic Park, and after Van Ness a trail roadway right along the bay to Fort Mason. This section has excellent views of the bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Next ride along the marina green; a big grassy area with lots of people enjoying the outdoors.
After Baker St, enter the Presidio, a former army base, now a large park. There is a paved trail along the road, or a earth trail next to the bay, with grasslands and wet lands in between.
Continue all the way to Fort Point right underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. If you still have energy, go up the hill and ride across the bridge, (it has sidewalks).
If you are visiting San Francsico, there are shops in the Fisherman's Wharf area that rent bicycles along with a map for how to ride the Golden Gate Bridge.
Great views of the Bay! Informative signs along the trail explain the area's past including ferrys, shipyards, and brick factories.
The Ferry Point Tunnel IS bicycle safe. There is a wide raised sidewalk and the tunnel is well lit.
Be sure to ride out to the Ferry Point and see the adandoned ferry terminal. (I missed the turn).
Some great maps of this trail and other Richmond trails are available here,
http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/map.htm
This trail offers sweeping views of the Bay, Bridges, and Islands. It passes through tidal wetlands with lots of wildlife viewing.
At the southern end its possible to ride around the west side of Golden Gate Fields and continue on the Bay trail all the way to Powell Street in Emeryville. At the Northern end its an easy connection to the Ferry Point trail and the Rickmond Pkwy trails.
The City of Richmond actually has lots of nice bike trails including the new Central Richmond Greenway. Trails for Richmond Action Comittee has a nice map here, http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/map.htm
The map is very helpful for navigating through the Marina Bay and Harbour Way developments; and connecting to the Ferry Point trail.
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