Keep on Rollin'

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

09.21.2017

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

  1. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  2. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  3. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  4. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View
  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View
  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

    View