The Bay Trail in Richmond
Richmond stretches along the edge of an immense shallow estuary through which flows 40% of California's freshwater. Our region provides wintering grounds for tens of thousands of birds that migrate through the Pacific Flyway, a corridor reaching from Alaska to South America. A walk along our shores, therefore, can awaken you to an appreciation of our place in the world's ecology.
The San Francisco Bay Trail is a planned 500-mile recreational and transportation corridor encircling San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. Authorized by State legislation in 1987, cities and counties developed the Bay Trail Plan in 1989 under the auspices of the Bay Trail Project of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). Overall, about 60% of the Bay Trail has been completed.
Richmond not only has more shoreline than any other city on San Francisco and San Pablo bays — 32 miles — Richmond also has 26 miles of Bay Trail built, which is more than any other city.
On of the more unique aspects of the Bay Trail in Richmond, is the intersection with the "Bay Water Trail". A kayak accessible campground is provided at the Point Pinole Park.
The Bay Trail now links all of Richmond’s southern shoreline parks — Point Isabel, Shimada, Marina Bay, Barbara & Jay Vincent, Lucretia Edwards and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline where the 4.75-mile Ferry Point Loop has become a major recreational destination. If you're planning a visit to the area, you may want to download the high resolution map shown below, 250kb, or check here for information about planned outings. Check here for an interactive Eats & Treats map.
A guide for the Marina Bay section of the trail is available for downloading here.
Detailed maps and descriptions of our
4 regional shoreline regional
parks (Brooks Island,
Miller/Knox, Point Isabel and Point
Pinole — see map below) are available
at the website of
the East Bay Regional Park District.
Use the search menu in the upper right
of that page to get information about
these shoreline parks or about woodland
parks in the hills that ring the East
Bay. Happy hiking!