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05.6.10

Hike-in Beaches

Looking for a beach to yourself? With 7 million people in the Bay Area it takes a little work to find some sandy solitude. Here are three quick escapes accessible only by hiking or biking—and all on the Bay. It's a shore thing!  

Angel Island Perles Beach

Hidden Perles

You're gonna need a boat to get to one of the best beaches in the Bay Area. Fortunately, ferries leave on a regular schedule to the tranquil state park in the middle of the Bay, Angel Island. Most visitors stick to the Ayala Cove barbecue area near the docks. But venture just yonder and discover a beach less blanketed. Access Perles Beach via a 1.5-mile (one-way) walk or bike ride along Perimeter Road. It's a south-facing slice of sun and sand that sees only a handful of people. Spread a picnic and soak in an impressive art deco backdrop: San Francisco and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. Alcatraz seems within rock-skipping distance. There's no signed trail down to the beach, just a worn path found by in-the-know folks. This Perles a real gem.

The Blue and Gold Fleet operates ferries to Angel Island from San Francisco and Oakland/Alameda. The Angel Island Ferry operates ferries from Tiburon. The Angel Island Company rents bikes on the island for $10 an hour or $35 per day. To reach Perles Beach, walk or bicycle the Perimeter Road counterclockwise for 1.5 miles from Ayala Cove. When you reach the first view of San Francisco you'll see stationary binoculars. Just down the road is a wooden fence, and just past the fence is an unsigned trail to Perles Beach. Walk down it a few minutes to the beach. No dogs.

Activity
Hike, Bike, Relax
Region
San Francisco, North Bay
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline

Point Pinole Stroll

You're not going to find people in bikinis and board shorts on this Bay beach. Actually, you won't find much of anybody. Richmond's Point Pinole Regional Shoreline is home to a surprisingly serene and wholly rugged west beach meant more for lazy strolling than blanket sprawling. Reach it by hiking or biking the aptly named Bay View Trail for 1 mile, passing through a eucalyptus grove. Take a short side trail down to the rocky beach and walk below the only shoreline cliffs in this part of the Bay (which happens to be located above the Hayward fault). As the San Pablo Bay waters lap and retreat, Mount Tam beams in the distance and views can stretch all the way to San Francisco on a clear day. Point taken.

After crossing the bridge over the train tracks, look for the sign to the Bay View Trail and follow it. Don't take the first side trail that says "Beach Access"; keep going about .3 mile farther. Take the trail down that's marked only with a sign for no horses or bikes. (You can lock your bike here, or walk it down to the beach.) Walk the rocky beach as far you like and return the way you came. Dog-friendly!

Activity
Hike, Bike, Relax, Dog-friendly
Region
East Bay
Kirby Cove

Kirby Your Enthusiasm

Just west of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin is one of the Bay's most-accessible secluded beaches, Kirby Cove. The gate blocking the 1-mile fire road to the cove throws off the tourists; but hike or bike past it and make your way down to the beach with ease. On hot days the eucalyptus and cypress trees keep things cool. At the bottom, claim a picnic table and barbecue some burgers. Or unwind on the ample cove's coarse sand where the Golden Gate Bridge looks close enough to touch and the crowds at Baker Beach are a distant sight. The waves here tend to be gentle, but wade in with caution—there's no lifeguard on duty. Keep an eye out for playful sea lions bobbing close to shore. Kirby's calling!

TIP: Kirby Cove has four premiere—and popular—campsites. There's no water or wood, so you'll need to bring both, and the Park Service will give you a code to unlock the gate and drive a vehicle down. Reservations are essential.

The entry gate to the 1-mile fire road to Kirby Cove is off of Conzelman Road, near pullouts for Battery Spencer. A major project to upgrade roads throughout the Marin Headlands is under way. Traffic delays and detours are possible. Here's a map to Kirby Cove. No dogs.

Activity
Hike, Bike, Relax
Region
North Bay
TNT Tahoe Rim Trail

Social Climber

Hiking the famed Tahoe Rim Trail: amazing. Hiking it with a group of friends for a good cause: even better! The world's largest sports charity organization—Team In Training—is diversifying its portfolio of events in its fight against blood cancers. Lace up the boots and join the Team for a scenery-packed weekend of day hikes along the Tahoe Rim Trail. This isn't a race: it's just a great way to spend a weekend in the Sierra. And with most of the trail located along ridge tops, the vistas are as sweet as the feat. Put your foot down on blood cancers by stepping into the great outdoors: Join TNT and go hiking. (Or venture beyond NorCal with TNT's other hiking destination: Utah's Zion National Park.)

Also on TNT's calendar: The San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz. In its 29 years as a maximum-security prison, no one escaped alive from the menacing shores of Alcatraz. But this August, 1,800 athletes will escape from the Rock! Get in on the action with TNT! (Or venture beyond San Francisco with The Triathlon at Pacific Grove.)

Commit to being fit! Grab a friend and get to a TNT information meeting to learn more:

Upcoming information meetings in San Francisco, the East Bay, and the North Bay.

Upcoming information meetings in the Peninsula, the South Bay, Santa Cruz, and Monterey areas.

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