Urban Trails East Bay. Alexandra Kenin
transportation routes, when available, and parking options are provided here. A route summary is included to help you decide if the hike is right for you.
Get Moving. These turn-by-turn directions (along with the map) guide you along the trail, calling out every junction and the sites you will see on your route.
Go Farther. Look here to get information for extending your hike or about places you may want to visit after the hike.
If you can’t decide where to start, browse the at-a-glance chart in the front of the book and the appendix of trails by type in the back of the book. Those resources will help you evaluate hikes by such criteria as distance, elevation gain, and family-friendliness, as well as whether a given trail is near the bay or features views.
The Albany Bulb features quirky sculptures and art installations, many of which are made from recycled materials (Hike 1).
RICHMOND AND ALBANY
With more than one hundred thousand residents, Richmond is a significant population center for the East Bay. Much of the city sits between two highways: Interstates 80 and 580. West of the city is San Francisco Bay. Four of the five routes in this chapter take advantage of this scenic waterfront real estate.
This section starts out with a short and easy route not in nearby Albany. A former landfill, the Albany Bulb has been transformed into an outdoor art gallery with graffiti, sculptures, and installations of all types scattered throughout the park. You’ll also enjoy stunning panoramic views of San Francisco, the bay, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Just north of here and back in Richmond is Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, which I like to describe as an extremely scenic dog park. This route is short and easy, and it offers stunning views similar to those found at the Albany Bulb.
Next up is Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, a short but hilly route that features expansive bay views from Oakland to the Bay Bridge to San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin and everywhere in between.
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline offers a flat 4.75-mile loop with views of the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays as well as peaceful paths through eucalyptus groves.
Lastly, there’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, the only inland route in this chapter. This hike features beautiful rolling hills and views of Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais, San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
| 1 | Albany Bulb |
| DISTANCE: | 1.8 miles |
| ELEVATION GAIN: | 70 feet |
| HIGH POINT: | 50 feet |
| DIFFICULTY: | Easy |
| FITNESS: | Walkers, hikers |
| FAMILY-FRIENDLY: | Yes, with supervision; as a former landfill, the park has occasional hazards, including pieces of metal protruding from the ground, areas with uneven footing, and broken glass |
| DOG-FRIENDLY: | Yes |
| AMENITIES: | Restrooms, benches along the trail |
| CONTACT: | City of Albany |
| GPS: | 37°53'21.5628" N 122°18'54.414" W |
| MAP TO: | Albany State Marine Reserve, 1 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA |
GETTING THERE
Public Transit: AC Transit bus 80 takes you to the intersection of Buchanan and Pierce Streets, a 0.6-mile walk to the start of this route.
Parking: Parking is free just outside the park at 1 Buchanan Street in Albany.
Between 1963 and 1984, the Albany Bulb (so named for its bulbous shape) was used as a landfill. Over time, and with help from the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the city and community of Albany, this area was converted from a literal wasteland into a park that is home to countless colorful and creative art projects, including graffitied concrete, sculptures, and a stone labyrinth. People are always updating the eclectic collection, so the outdoor exhibit may look different each time you go. And art’s not the only attraction at this quirky shoreline park. The views of San Francisco are spectacular and the trails are dog-friendly.
A few notes on this hike before you go: first, none of the trails are labeled, so you may feel like you’re walking around a maze. Use the directions given here in conjunction with the map to stay on course. If you find yourself off course (especially in the middle of the route), don’t worry. Just try to use the map to get back on track, knowing you’ll be starting in the easternmost part of the park and walking to the west end of the park before returning to the start.
Next, the trail quality varies: One part of the route is almost nonexistent at high tide (consult tide tables before you visit), and another part can be muddy and slippery after a rain. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes (that you’re comfortable getting dirty) for this section especially.
Enjoy this short but sweet walk that shows off the quirky spirit of the Bay Area.
GET MOVING
Start your hike at the end of the parking area on Buchanan Street. Pick up the Albany Waterfront Trail (no sign), a wide paved trail. As you reach Albany Beach on your left after 325 feet, you come across The Cove, a sculpture designed by artist Carlo Ferretti in 1999. The piece, constructed from pieces of recycled Solano Avenue sidewalk, is a popular gathering spot.
Sculptures and views abound at the Albany Bulb.
As you pass The Cove, bear left (but not all the way to the beach) to pick up a wide dirt trail that runs along the water. You’ll see works of art painted on concrete on your right and views of the San Francisco skyline across the bay and to your left. This part of the trail is the long “neck” of the Albany Bulb.
At 0.4 mile, as you reach the end of the neck, the paved trail turns to gravel and goes uphill. Leave the wider trail and bear left on a narrower trail that runs along the water. Some parts of this section of the trail are almost impassable at high tide (consult tide tables before you visit).
After 0.2 mile on this narrower trail, look for a small path lined with pieces of concrete that leads to a house-like structure, also of concrete, uphill and to your right. This is Mad Marc’s Castle created by a former Bulb resident known by that name. (You’ve gone too far if you make it to the far west side of the park where the trail peters out.) After exploring the “castle,” look for a concrete path continuing behind the structure. Take this trail about 250 feet to intersect with a junction with a few narrow trails. Head right here—if you’re in the correct place, you’ll quickly arrive at a wide trail. At this wide trail, turn left.
After another 250 feet on this wide trail, head left when the trail splits. Follow this trail straight for 300 feet, then bear right to stay on the wider trail (narrower trails will branch off ahead and to the left of you). Then, as you reach a T-intersection after 200 feet, turn left. Continue another 100 feet. When you come across a large tree on your left, look behind the tree to see another tree and then a labyrinth slightly downhill from you (there is often a tree swing here). Walk around the labyrinth if you like, then