What? :
A local busy park that has a lot to offer, marshland and grassland covered
hills, bay front view with sunset view and bike trails for all levels.
When? :
Year Round
Due
note: Park has car entrance fee but if you are coming with bike you can park at
small parking lot at the entrance to the park road.
My
thoughts: From some reason I did not visit this place for many years, always thought
to do this “sometime”… Finally, I visit the park at early December 2020.
This is
a fun nearby park to visit with many things to see. I really enjoy the
afternoon visit and I’m sure I will re-visit this park soon.
The
visit:
There is
one road that get into Coyote Hills Regional Park, you pass the entrance fee satiation
and soon you will see on your left the first parking lot, after few hundred feet
there is another parking lot near the small Visitor
Center.
It is not so much important where you park and there is a trail
connecting them.
The park
offers many different activities as hiking, bicycling, bird watching, nature
exploration, and picnicking and even offer overnight campground.
Most of
the trails are accessible to bikes and they are also good for trail strollers. The
paved 3.5 mile is good for any stroller.
There are
2 sections of the park, the lower marshes on the east side of the park and to the
west hills and bay waterfront.
Water
marshes:
There
are many large water marshes at the south and east section of the park. There are
many trails that will take you need the water and offer nice bird watching viewing
points. You can go all the way to the north east park section and connect to
the long Alameda Creek Trail. At the east side of the marshes you will find the
2,000 years old native American village site.
Hills
and bay waterfront:
Many
trails are covering this section of the park. The hills are no to high so you
can hike all hill tops or there are many connecting trails that do not climb
the hills top.
The Bayview
Trail is relatively easy and cover this park section.
Hiking:
There
are many different hiking options and you can have short very easy stroll near
the north water marshes, do the 3.5 mils paved trail loop (Blue loop in my map) or climb the hills (Yello trails in my map). Once
you are done you can easily find the trail that will take you to your parking
lot.
Bike:
The Park
is very bike friendly and can offer trails in all levels, including for kids.
Most trails
including in the marshes are accessible to bike and if it is not it clearly
state in the map and with sighing that this is hiking trail only.
This is
not “mountain bike park” but rather for long epic rides.
Bayview
Trail:
A 3.5
paved trail loop that is relatively easy to ride (i.e. do not climb the hills).
The trail is passing both parking lots (so no matter where you park) and keep
going north near the marshes, it keeps going north and west to the waterfront. Then
it is following the waterfront and the foothills all the way south and back to
the south parking lot.
Red
Hill trail:
This is
a nice trail that is following the hills top from south to north. There are
some climbing to the hills top, but the scenic vistas of San Francisco Bay and
surrounding areas of Alameda County is worth it. Ramble 'round a marsh or climb
to the top of Red Hill to catch the breeze.
At sunset
you can be at Red Hill viewing point and see the wonderful scenic views of the
south San Francisco Bay and the peninsula mountain to the west as well as the view
to the east.
Nearby
parks:
The park
is also connected to nearby parks and trail system, on the south you can go to Don
Edward San Francisco Bay preserve (bridge over Highway 84) and on the north side
of the park it is connected to the Alameda Creek Trail system that can take you
far to the east. Both connecting trails are allowed for hikes and bikes.
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