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San Francisco Bay Trail

Name: San Francisco Bay Trail
Rating: 2.70

Type: Trail

Length: 330.00 Miles

Elevation Gain: N/A

Cost: Free

Rating:

(2.70)5

Difficulty: 1star

(1.20)

Solitude:

(1.20)

ADA Accessible: Yes

Bikes Allowed: Yes

Dogs Allowed: Yes

Interpretive Guide: No

City: San Francisco

County: San Francisco

More Information: More Info

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The San Francisco Bay Trail is a massive undertaking to encircle San Francisco Bay with a 500 mile network of trails. From a hiking perspective, it's a work in progress. Though it's possible to join existing segments together it requires the inclusion of large sections of sidewalks, sometimes along busy streets, to connect disjointed trail sections.

For those portions of the trail that have been completed, they typically hug the shoreline of the bay and so the terrain is flat and easy to traverse. Most, if not all, of the trail surface is paved so the trail also attracts cyclists, rollerbladers and even parents with strollers.

Photos

A section of the trail running parallel to a nature preserve is sandy and uneven, but still fairly flat. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

A view of the paved section of the trail along the public beach. Downtown SF can be seen off in the distance. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

A view from the "end" of the trail looking back towards the old Ford assembly plant. Albany Hill can be seen in the distance just to the right of the plant. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Part of the monument to the men and women who worked at the shipyards during World War II and the changes to America that came about as a result. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Near the Richmond Marina the trail features some nicely landscaped borders as it passes by some houses with shore views. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

A large Swallowtail Butterfly seen along the trail. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Some of the wetlands along the trail in Richmond with San Francisco off in the distance. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

The view from Emery Point, looking towards San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

A view of the trail from Emeryville to Berkeley on the East Bay. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Log Entries

Busy beach stroll along San Francisco Bay on Alameda Island
By Austin Explorer on 5/25/2014
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Distance: 5.21 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 52 minutes

Coppertone and I did an out and back along the Alameda Island segment of the SF Bay Trail. It was a warm, sunny day so there were lots of people taking advantage of the weather to get outside and enjoy the beach. A few intrepid souls were also sailboarding in the Bay with wetsuits on.

The path is mostly paved and very flat, except the section marked by the waypoint "Unpaved Segment" on our track file. A short stretch here runs along the back a nature preserve and the trail surface is simply a well worn path in the sand. It's not hard to follow, but the footing's a bit more difficult.

Most of the trail here parallels a busy road, so it's something of a sidewalk. However, if you keep your eyes towards the Bay it's easy to ignore the passing cars.

Richmond Harbor
By Austin Explorer on 5/11/2014
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Distance: 3.80 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Coppertone and I started off where we last ended our walk along the SF Bay Trail and followed the remainder of the path around Richmond Harbor. There's quite a bit of history to be learned along this part of the trail with all of the markers, to say nothing of the Rosie the Riveter/Homefront National Park.

Just beyond the National Park building the trail ends at the waterfront. Technically the SF Bay Trail continues north on Harbor Way, but it's little more than a sidewalk at this point. We turned back and called it a day with our 3.8 mile out and back.

Point Isabel to Richmond Harbor
By Austin Explorer on 3/30/2014
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Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 53 minutes

Coppertone and I hiked another segment of the SF Bay Trail from the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline to the Richmond Marina and back. Got back to the car just as it started to rain, so the timing was perfect.

SF Bay Trail, Cesar Chavez and Eastside State Park all in one
By coppertone on 3/18/2014
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Distance: 8.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Enjoyed the trail and the views even with the traffic along part of the route.

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Distance: 4.36 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Hiked along the shore through Emeryville and Berkeley. Started off quite chilly, but warmed up as the Sun came out more. With the Sun there were also more people along the trail.

Turned back at East Shore State Park. There's a nice little food and drink store there and a hot chocolate was a nice break from the cold.