San Francisco Bay Trail (Alameda, Oakland, Hayward Shoreline)

The Alameda Oakwood section of the San Francisco Bay Trail (SFBT) consists of several short segments, many of which are linked by on-road bike lanes. The route starts at Swan Way and Doolittle Drive just north of Oakland Airport. There are two routes on both sides of the Airport Channel. If you go to the east of the channel you will reach Arrowhead Marsh and San Leandro Creek. There is a small park at the marsh with picnic areas and a boardwalk to view wildlife. Continue north along the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline.

West of the channel along a mix of developed and undeveloped trail you will reach Bay Farm Island, with a chain of lagoons and several community parks. The most notable is Shoreline Park, which offers stunning views of San Francisco's skyline and the surrounding bay. A greenbelt encompasses the perimeter of the peninsula. From here, go over the bike/ped bridge to Robert Crown Memorial State Beach, a peaceful place to watch a variety of birds. You will then come to Crab Cove, where you can see clear across the bay to San Mateo County.

Oakland's Jack London Square is the perfect place from which to explore and is easily accessed from the trail. You 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 you can use on-street bike lanes to connect to Middle harbor Shoreline Park and Portview Park, perfect for family outings.

The Hayward Shoreline section of the SFBT begins at the ramp at the base of the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center along the slough trail. Here you'll find wetlands teeming with birdlife and small mammals, as well as a network of trails throughout the sloughs and marshes. The levee roads around the ponds, however, are not open to the public.

After about 1 mile, the trail reaches the bay, loops around the end of a pond and heads north. It eventually goes inland around a channel. At the fork, the right trail leads farther inland along the slough through the middle of Cogswell Marsh. The left trail goes along the bay and this is the trail you want.

For more details about the Hayward Shoreline section, visit the Association of Bay Area Governments.