Silver Lining
Silver Strand bike ride in San Diego
Spanning prime Pacific Ocean coastline, the Bayshore Bikeway from Coronado to Imperial Beach is your 20-mile Saturday ride! Start at the Coronado Ferry Landing and bike along Tideland Park, underneath the mile-long Coronado Bridge and towards the Silver Strand—a path meant entirely for cyclists, runners, and rollerbladers. For the next 7 miles, pedal through coastal sage-scrub where bright yellow California bush sunflowers are as common as the brown pelicans flying parallel to the bike path.
If you’re lucky, you may spot the endangered least tern, a tiny pelagic bird that nests along the Silver Strand’s soft shoreline. More than 75 percent of San Diego’s least terns nest along here in the spring! At the end of the strand, turn around to make it a roughly 20-mile ride.
FOOD BONUS: After retracing the route, reward yourself at the Ferry Landing. Park your bike along Orange Avenue and head over to Tartine, a French-inspired bakery serving specialties like toasted baguette with homemade jam and chicken curry salad. For dessert, their Mexican wedding cookies can’t be beat. Roll with it!
From San Diego, take I-5 south to CA-75 to Coronado. Merge onto the Coronado Bridge (safely enjoying the views!) and follow to Orange Avenue. Turn right and drive to First Avenue; park in any of the metered parking spots along First Avenue. The Bayshore Bikeway begins at the Coronado Ferry Landing, on the waterfront side. Dog-friendly!
