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Taking the Bay Trail from Shoreline Park is such a great bike adventure! From the Shoreline Park Boathouse parking area, heading north on the Bay Trail yields better and better views the farther you go. The Bay Trail practically takes you out into the bay, into the marshlands. You are right on the edge of Silicon Valley and yet for a while you will feel so far from civilization. If you go far enough north (~3-4 miles) you will reach the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, which is very small but has a picturesque boardwalk, newly renovated as of Spring 2019! And to top it off, the Palo Alto airport is right past the nature center – you can bike right next to the runway. There is a surprising amount of air traffic on the weekends so the kids will love watching the little planes land and takeoff. Finally, after your bike ride is complete (whether it's long or short) stop by the very casual Shoreline Lake restaurant, located at the Boathouse (by the parking lot). They have food, coffee, beer, wine, etc., and you can enjoy it on a porch with nice lake views.
Bathrooms
Yes, at the boathouse where you park.
Playground
Yes, a small ship themed playground on the north side of the sailing lake
Kid transportation
Bikes are recommended for the Bay Trail to get maximum distance. Great place for kids to bike. Jogging strollers would also work well here.
Suggested Route
Park at the Boat House near the sailing lake. Make your way toward the bay to find the Bay Trail, and head north. As you encounter a couple of forks, keep staying right to hug the Bay. The trail will eventually become unpaved as it heads out into the Bay. If you go far enough north (~3-4 miles) you will reach the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center and the Palo Alto Airport. Head back the way you came.
Difficulty
Easy (you can make it harder by going a long distance with kids in a bike trailer)
Parking Situation
Abundant
Entrance Fee
None
Bonus
Palo Alto Airport (if you can make it ~8 miles roundtrip), and a great little cafe right beside the Boathouse (coffee or beer anyone?)
Official Park Website
Shoreline Park:https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/cs/shoreline/default.asp Shoreline Park Trail Map:https://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=11875 Bay Trail Detailed map:http://baytrail.org/baytrailmap.html
Date Updated
February 2019
