Accessible Trail: Yes (Paved Asphalt)
Mileage: up to 2 miles each way (up to 4 miles total)
Alameda Island is perfectly situated along the San Francisco Bay to take advantage of sunny days, bay views and sandy beaches. Like it’s neighbor to the north, Oakland, Alameda is named after the trees that the area was once known for.
You’d never know it, especially after crossing one of the four bridges or two tunnels to get there, but Alameda was once a peninsula connected to the main land. As the Bay Area grew and the Port of Oakland expanded, the demands of modern shipping practices required the dredging of a new channel. And so, in the early 1900’s, Alameda was separated from the rest of the East Bay thereby becoming known as “The Island.”
Crown Memorial State Beach takes advantage of all the best parts of Island life. It’s located slightly south of Oakland, which means that the fog coming in from the Golden Gate doesn’t affect the area as much; it’s right on the water, which means that you have great views across the bay; and it’s miles of paved trail and picnic areas make it easy for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.
A great place to start your walk along the shore is the Crab Cove Visitor Center. Enjoy the aquarium and exhibits showcasing the native animals, plants and peoples. Once you’re done learning from the exhibits inside, head outside and get some firsthand experience. As you head out from the Visitors Center take a right along the shore. In about 150 feet, you’ll notice a steel rail leading down into the water. Follow that railing! It’s part of an accessible path through the tide pools! This great feature is one of the only accessible tide pools in the area - be sure you can thoroughly enjoy it by checking the tide chart before you head to the park.
After you’ve explored the tide pools and the amazing plants and animals within them, head back up on to the shore. If you’d like, there is a dirt path that takes you toward the marina where you can see all the boats orderly docked next to the shore, patiently awaiting their next voyage. When you’re done exploring the area, head back along the shore in the opposite direction.
Continue past the Visitors Center and down the paved path along the shore, admiring the views of San Francisco and the peninsula across the bay. You’ll quickly come to an area of sandy beach with an adjacent bathhouse. In the summertime you’ll see children dressed in colorful t-shirts indicating which day camp group the belong to. It’s a great sight to see these children exploring and learning about their natural environments. If you're interested, beach wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitors Center.
As you pass behind the bathhouse, you'll notice colorful flowers popping up among the surrounding sea of grass. This garden is an installation of native plants - a great example of the beauty that can be found in the low-water species that call the area home. A crushed gravel path winds its way through the garden. As you walk through, interpretive signs provide more information on the particular plants and pollinators that can be found in the garden.
Once finished, continue making your way along the shoreline. You'll soon pass two picnic areas, Sand Castle and City View. Both are great places to stop for a snack with a view. Shortly after the City View area, you'll notice a small shack with a sign for Boardsports California tacked on the side. On a windy day, the area will be filled with kitesurfers blowing up their kites, getting ready to set sail.
The pathway continues down the beach, hugging the shoreline for another mile or so. At the end of the pathway, is the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary and the Salt Marsh Overlook - a great place for birdwatching. When you're finished taking in the sights and smells of the marsh, turn around and enjoy the return view back up the shoreline.
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