Keep on Rollin'

Easygoing Road Bike Ride on the East Bay's Alameda Creek Regional Trail

09.21.2017

Bike Rides, Dog Friendly

There are those who love to test their mettle with the pedal on road bike rides. Then there's the rest of us, looking for something more easygoing, yet still respectable in mileage! Great scenery helps, too! A mellow road bike ride along the Alameda Creek Regional Trail in Fremont is a great way to enjoy a breeze and the scenery of wetlands and salt flats.

The 24-mile (round-trip) trail runs from Niles Canyon, following Alameda Creek to the edge of the San Francisco Bay. Road bikers should follow the paved path on the south side of the creek. Snowy egrets flock to the quarry lakes south of the trail. The marshland turns to salt flats at the edge of the bay. Briny ocean air and whiffs of sulfur mix together. Stay strong, the smellier the trail gets, the prettier the ride.

The rolling hills of Coyote Hills Regional Park loom over marsh ponds, and the Dumbarton Bridge sits on the horizon. Add some twists and turns by following the Bayview Trail around Coyote Hills (it meets back up with the Alameda Creek Regional Trail and adds an additional 2 miles). The winding road follows the shore for unobstructed water views. Roll call!

TIP: Pack a lunch and enjoy views of the South Bay at the picnic tables at the west end of the trail.

Start your ride at the Niles Canyon Staging area in Fremont (map). Parking is available at the staging area.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

Afternoon on the Island
What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!
View
San Francisco's Middle Earth
No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.
View
Your Mission Is Less Crowded
Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.
View
Good Heavens
The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.
View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop
If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.
View
Bear Hug
This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).
View
Easiest Best Hike in the World
Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road
View
National Park City Walk
See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.
View