This sign marks the entrance to the regional shoreline.
Not only is the park easily accessible from Amtrak, but the trains supply background for the park.
This train serves as a fitting "monument" near the park entrance.
The adjacent picnic area, as well as picnic areas in other parts of the park, would make a great place for a family dinner.
Other park facilities, largely at the east end of the park south of the Martinez Marina, include a soccer field, for baseball fields, a bocce ball court, and a horse arena.
This arch bridge is one of the distinctive landmarks of the Martinez Regional Shoreline, and it marks the entrance to the marsh area in the western portion of the park.
The signs below the bridge discuss the history and wildlife of the area, including the role of the Schooner Forester.
Just past the bridge, a spur trail turns to follow a slough toward the strait. Although the trail gets overly muddy before it reaches the water, the views to the west are interesting.
The views from the spur trail to the east (and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge) are also unusual.
This spur trail is used by bicycles, but is not nearly as wide as most of the other trails in the park.
As we continued along the Pickleweed Trail to the west, I saw several egrets, numerous ducks, and even a pheasant. Here is just one of the photos I managed to take after all the birds had left!
These ducks and the egret in the distance weren't quite as fast with their disappearing act! I'm sorry the photo is not as clear as it might be, but I have to prove there WERE birds here.
The views back toward the government buildings in Martinez show how close the park is to an urban area, yet how remote.
The ribbon of track along the southwest boundary of the park is part of the busy service between the Bay Area and Sacramento.
The Schooner Forester rests permanently offshore of the marsh.
The egrets eyed me before they flew away again.
The trail then heads south to the train track area, providing this close-up view of a "switcher."
The sign near the park office reminds park users that dogs are not allowed in the marsh area due to potential conflicts with the well-being of the wildlife here.
A short wooden walkway connects the Pickleweed Trail with the Duck Pond Loop trail. This is the only trail in the park that I found where bicycles were not allowed. There are other alternate routes for bicycles to reach the pond. The walkway offers more close-up views of the insects and small wildlife in the park.
The pond area offers yet more varieties of birds, including ducks and geese.
Again, these ducks took off as soon as I arrived to join other ducks and geese on the opposite shore.
There are several benches in this part of the park.
The riprap lining the shore and the grassy areas behind it are in marked contrast to the less developed marsh area.
This part of the park also features a memorial grove and monument to a group of Yuba City kids killed in a bus accident outside of town.
The grassy area here is the windiest part of the park and makes a great place to fly a kite!
A modern walkway parallels the historic pier to provide access to the fishing piers.
The western fishing pier provides views from the water of the marsh area.
The views from the eastern fishing pier are largely of the adjacent Martinez Marina.
The Bay Trail itself continues to the east in the form of a bicycle lane on Marina Vista. The Bay Trail virtual trail continues to the north with this link to the Benicia Waterfront and Marina.
