Alameda Creek Trail - Northside from I880 to SF Bay

Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel and the Alameda Creek Regional Trail

Introduction
Access
Trail Description and Views

Go to the Alameda Creek Trail - Coyote Hills to I-880 (southside) tour
Go to the Alameda Creek Trail - Southside from I-880 to Niles Canyon
Go to the Alameda Creek Trail - Northside From Niles Canyon to I-880
Go to the Coyote Hills Tour
Go to the Hayward Regional Shoreline tour
Return to Bay Trail Guided Photo Tours page

Introduction

The Alameda Creek Regional Trail runs on both sides of Alameda Creek and the Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel from Niles Canyon to San Francisco Bay. It is a major feeder trail to the Bay Trail, which begins at Coyote Hills Regional Park. Each side of the Alameda Creek Trail is about 12 miles long, making the entire trail one of the longest multi-use trails in the Bay Area. The southside trail is paved and used by bicyclists, pedestrians, and skaters. The northside trail is mostly unpaved and is used by equestrians, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians. Both sides run through some densely-populated areas and are heavily used. The sections of the trail from Ardenwood Blvd./Union City Blvd. to the Bay are parts of the Bay Trail (see this map). This tour describes the northside trail segment from just east of Interstate 880 to San Francisco Bay. It runs mostly through Union City, with a small segment in Fremont. It can be taken as a continuation of the northside tour from Niles Canyon to I-880, or it can be taken as a stand-alone tour, as described below.

This tour begins in William Cann Neighborhood Park in Union City. This is a large tree-shaded park with picnic areas and playgrounds. The Hop Ranch Picnic Area is here. The significance of this park is that it is located at the point where the real Alameda Creek branches off from the Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel. In contrast to the giant flood control channel, Alameda Creek from here is a tiny creek that runs through suburban neighborhoods and industrial areas all the way to the Bay. As it approaches Union City Blvd., it becomes a wider tidal slough. A partially-complete trail runs along Alameda Creek, part of the Union City trail network.

Access Information

There are many ways to get access to the Alameda Creek Trail. Since it runs through heavily-populated suburban neighborhoods, with several access points and side trails feeding into it, there are too many to mention (see this map or download this map). One way is to start from the tour beginning at Coyote Hills Regional Park, go east up the south side of the creek, then cross over the creek at either Ardenwood Blvd, Alvarado Blvd., Decoto Rd., or as far east as Niles Canyon, and head west down the north side.

To get to William Cann Neighborhood Park, take I-880 to the Alvarado-Niles Road exit. Head southeast and turn right at Hop Ranch Road. The park is at the end of Hop Ranch Road, where it turns left into Marsh Hawk Road. Follow the trail along Alameda Creek to reach the Alameda Creek Trail.

It is also possible to reach this park along the Union City recreational trail that runs along the real Alameda Creek (see this map). The Union City trail follows along the banks of the creek, with a few interruptions, all the way to Union City Blvd. Beyond that, a dirt road along the creek levee exists, but is not yet open to the public. It is possible to catch the start of the trail at Union City Blvd. north of Whipple Road and Kahoutek Way. Union City Blvd., which becomes Hesperian Blvd., from this point north is part of the Bay Trail route (see this map). The trail is at street-level, so street crossings are required, including a careful railroad crossing. There are bridges across the creek. There is a gap in the trail between Smith Street and San Andreas Park that requires taking surface streets and crossing through Casa Verde Park. From San Andreas Park, the trail ducks under I-880 and runs all the way to William Cann Neighborhood Park, with a couple of street crossings.
The final segment runs behind a large school yard at Cesar Chavez Middle School and is shaded by willow trees.

The Bay Trail route runs north along city streets from Alameda Creek, running mostly through industrial areas. It does not see much in the way of natural scenery until it crosses Hwy 92 and reaches the Hayward Regional Shoreline. To the south, it runs through Coyote Hills Regional Park and the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newark. A branch of the trail runs by Ardenwood Historic Farm. The Bay Trail also crosses the Dumbarton Bridge to Menlo Park and Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. (See this map.)

Trail Description and Views

Click on the following pictures to see a larger version. The mileage readings below are from a bicycle odometer. Your mileage may vary.

The tour begins on the north side Alameda Creek Trail at the edge of William Cann Neighborhood Park in Union City. From here, the I-880 bridge can be seen ahead. The trail is a wide, graded, gravel-covered levee road. It is frequently used by horses, so watch your step. The trail passes under I-880 after 0.4 miles. Beyond I-880 is a small northern corner of Fremont. Houses line the north side of the trail. At 0.7 miles, the trail goes under the Alvarado Blvd./Fremont Blvd. bridge. It also goes up to the bridge, which can be crossed to access the trail on the south side of the creek.

At 0.9 miles, on the west side of Alvarado Blvd. along Lowry Road is David Jones Park. The park has large grass playing fields, benches, and a playground.

At 1.0 miles is a rest stop on the trail and a ramp leading down to Lowry Road, which parallels the trail. Ahead is a railroad bridge.

At 1.3 miles, the trail runs under the railroad bridge. Walking along the railroad bridge is dangerous. The bridge marks the boundary between Fremont and Union City. Just beyond the bridge, a ramp leads down to Lowry Road, which continues to parallel the trail. There is a long, straight stretch of trail from here to Union City Blvd. At 1.8 miles is another access point from Lowry Road. The road curves away from the trail. Apartments and homes line the north side of the trail.

At 2.0 miles is the Ardenwood Blvd./Union City Blvd. bridge. The trail goes under the bridge, but ramps lead up to the road next to the bridge. The bridge can be taken to reach the south side of the trail, which is in Fremont. Beyond here, there are no other ways to reach the south side of the trail. The creek banks themselves are off-limits and are soft and muddy.

Just past the bridge is the Alameda Creek Stables Staging Area. There is a parking lot here, with a restroom, water, and picnic tables.

There is a grassy area here, shaded by willow trees. Beyond the parking lot are private horse stables, a riding area, and open fields. A gravel road parallels the trail.

At 2.3 miles, the gravel road comes up to meet the trail, providing an equestrian access. At 2.4 miles, a dirt road drops down from the trail to the north to farmlands, but the farms here are private property.

At 2.6 miles, there is a picnic table, shaded by trees, next to a large farm field. The trail from here is lined with pine and eucalyptus trees and coyote bush. A pond can be seen beyond the farm fields.

At 2.9 miles is another tree-shaded rest area, with a picnic table and a bench. A pond can be seen to the north. A sign here says that this is the Alameda Creek Ponding Area.

At 3.1 miles, tide gates can be seen on both sides of the creek. A channel runs north from here into the pond. Ahead along the trail is a small hill.

At 3.3 miles is a small channel along the base of the hill. Cattle may be seen grazing on the grassy slopes of the hill. On the south side of the creek are the Coyote Hills and the junction of the Bayview Trail with the Alameda Creek Trail.

At 3.6 miles, the small hill ends. Below it, a salt pond begins.

Looking back to the southeast, the Coyote Hills can be seen, with salt ponds to the west of them.

Ahead is a small hill surrounded by salt ponds. At 4.1 miles, power lines cross over the trail, leading to a pump station on a salt pond south of the creek. A levee road leads down through the salt ponds, but it is private property, with no trespassing.

At 4.2 miles is a pump station at the west end of the salt pond. Beyond it is a large marsh. At 4.3 miles, another levee road begins on the right, but again, it is private property.

At 4.7 miles, a salt pond with duck blinds can be seen beyond the wide pickleweed-covered marsh.

At 4.9 miles, the waters of San Francisco Bay, often topped with white caps on breezy afternoons, can be seen to the north beyond the wide marsh.

Alameda Creek begins to curve to the left. At around 5.1 miles, the mouth of the creek on the Bay can be seen.

Finally, at 5.9 miles, the trail ends at the edge of San Francisco Bay. A interpretive sign describes the creek. Across the creek, the end of the southside trail can be seen. On the south shore, the dirt Shoreline Trail (currently closed for several years while the surface dries) begins and heads south between salt ponds and the Bay, all the way to the Dumbarton Bridge. The Dumbarton Bridge can be seen in the distance, crossing the Bay to the south.

There is a picnic table here. The shoreline is too soft and muddy for further travel to the north. The San Mateo-Hayward Bridge can be seen spanning the Bay to the north.

After enjoying the views of the Bay, turn around and head back along the trail.

Developed: 8/29/2000, updated 10/10/2000 by Ronald Horii.

Information and opinions here are the responsibility of the author.