The San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail is a growing network of designated launching and landing sites, or “trailheads,” around San Francisco Bay and is currently being highlighted by a pair of intrepid paddlers on an 11-day journey, as detailed in a San Francisco Chronicle article.
The Trail is operated through a partnership between the San Francisco Estuary Partnership and the State Coastal Conservancy, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways with the support of an advisory committee.
"We’re hopeful this journey will spark people’s interest and imagination to safely explore San Francisco Bay by kayak or other small non-motorized boat," said Ben Botkin, Priority Conservation Area Grant Manager with the Estuary Partnership, who helped map the trail. "We hope it will raise awareness of the incredible places you can paddle to — from remote sloughs in the North Bay to the bustling San Francisco waterfront — and what it takes to safely plan a trip and navigate these areas."
Each trailhead enables non-motorized small boat users to enjoy the historic, scenic, cultural, and environmental richness of San Francisco Bay and its nearby tributary waters. The Water Trail Program enhances public access, encourages environmental education, expands accessibility, and promotes regional planning and cooperation to promote safe and responsible recreation on the Bay Area’s largest open space.
The Water Trail Program concept began in the early 2000s with the non-profit Bay Access Inc., working with the National Park Service to develop a strategic approach to maintaining existing access and planning for new launch facilities.
The Water Trail Program’s signage and website provide detailed information on facilities, programs, rental concessions and guidance on how to minimize wildlife impacts and safely plan for tides, currents, and challenging conditions.
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