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“San Fran-
cisco’s
shoreline
is bus-
tling and
scenic,
and it’s a
great way
to take in
an urban
stroll or
bike ride
along the
Bay Trail.”
Laura Thompson,
San Francisco
Bay Trail Project
Manager
and takes in such sights as the soaring Bay Bridge, the
1890s-era Ferry Building, the crab stands and souvenir
shops of Fisherman’s Wharf, and the quirky beach scene
of Aquatic Park. Keep going north and west, and the trail
transitions to the forest-like path through Fort Mason,
the wide-open views of Crissy Field and, finally, the
Golden Gate Bridge.
Use of San Francisco’s Bay Trail is not limited to
tourists, however. On a foggy August morning, I set out
south on the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building and
wander under the Bay Bridge toward the bustling AT&T
Park district. Despite the cool mist, the Embarcadero
is alive with joggers, cyclists and young profession-
als sipping coffee as they power-walk along the wide
concrete pathway.
Laura Thompson, the longtime Bay Trail project man-
ager, ranks the Embarcadero as one of the must-see
sections of the Bay Trail. “This is the place that tourists
visit from all over the world,” she says. “San Francisco’s
shoreline is bustling and scenic, and it’s a great way to
take in an urban stroll or bike ride along the Bay Trail.”
Rich Railroad History
Central to the allure of the Embarcadero is the area’s
railroad past. Trains once were a common sight along
the entire section, and for about a mile and a quarter,
the Bay Trail follows the route of the old State Belt
Railroad, passing by Aquatic Park and heading toward
Fort Mason.
With embedded old rails still visible in places, the trail
offers a vivid glimpse into a time when the railroad con-
nected the Port of San Francisco with waterfront docks
along the way.
According to Thompson, the Belt Railroad is only one
example of key rail-trail sections included in the Bay
Trail. Just a few miles northeast of the Golden Gate
Bridge lies Tiburon Historical Trail, a picturesque ocean-
side section in Marin County that follows the route of the
old Northwestern Pacific line. On a recent visit there, I
watch cyclists, joggers and inline skaters take to the old
rail section that runs along the western edge of Tiburon
Peninsula, culminating at the historic Blackie’s Pasture.
In all, Thompson estimates that the finished Bay Trail
will take in more than 20 miles of old railbeds.
“A 25-Year Overnight Success”
It’s safe to say that many of the millions visiting the
Embarcadero and Golden Gate Bridge don’t realize that
the urban route is a part of a 500-mile loop. Even some
long-time residents are unaware.
During my visit, I meet Janet Bran, a licensed dog
walker, who has gathered with fellow dog walkers on the
sandy stretch of trail at Crissy Field Beach. Since 2008,
Bran has regularly used the scenic section of the Bay
Trail as a part of her route. “I walk in several different
areas,” Bran tells me, noting that Crissy Field Beach is a
favorite. But, she says, she didn’t realize the section was
a part of a much larger loop.
Corinne DeBra, on the other hand, is thoroughly famil-
iar with the Bay Trail and all its attributes. The East Bay
resident has walked the entire 500-mile route once and
is currently on her second time around.
Throughout her Bay Trail wanderings, DeBra has
talked to countless trail users. “When I first started
talking about it, nobody knew what it was,” she says.
While locals liked the access the trail gave them, they
seemed largely unaware of the bigger picture. That is
changing, though, DeBra says, joking, “It was a 25-year
overnight success.”
Bruce Beyaert, chair of the Trails for Richmond Action
Committee (TRAC), can attest to that as well. Over the
years, Beyaert and the all-volunteer TRAC board have
advocated for trails along Richmond’s shoreline, working
with the city of Richmond, the East Bay Regional Park
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RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2017
U N I F Y I N G T H E B A Y